Bangor Normal College, for training Teachers for British Schools

The Normal College, Bangor ( cy, Y Coleg Normal) was an independent teacher training college, founded in 1858. It was created through the efforts of the

British and Foreign School Society The British and Foreign School Society (BFSS) offers charitable aid to educational projects in the UK and around the world by funding schools, other charities and educational bodies. It was significant in the history of education in England, suppor ...

and the educator Sir Hugh Owen, and was funded by £11,000 raised through subscription and £2,000 of Government money. Teaching began on temporary premises in January 1858 and the College opened on its permanent site in 1862. In 1979 it changed its name to ''Y Coleg Normal, Bangor'' or in English: The Normal College, Bangor and in 1996 it became part of University of Wales Bangor. The term "

normal school A normal school or normal college is an institution created to train teachers by educating them in the norms of pedagogy and curriculum. In the 19th century in the United States, instruction in normal schools was at the high school level, turni ...

" originated in the early 16th century from the French ''école normale''. The French concept of an "école normale" was to provide a model school with model classrooms to teach model teaching practices to its student teachers, thus acting as a teacher training institute. The old Normal campus is situated on the shores of the Menai Strait next to the School of Education and School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences and the closest residences to the School of Ocean Sciences in

Menai Bridge Menai Bridge ( cy, Porthaethwy; usually referred to colloquially as Y Borth) is a town and community on the Isle of Anglesey in north-west Wales. It overlooks the Menai Strait and lies by the Menai Suspension Bridge, built in 1826 by Thoma ...

. The site has two self-catered halls or residence: Neuadd Seiriol and Neuadd Arfon. In the 1960s one of the first pro-language campaigns in Wales was by 20 of the college lectures for Welsh salary cheques, led by

Owain Owain Owain Owain (11 December 1929 – 19 December 1993) was a Welsh novelist, short-story writer and poet. He also founded '' Tafod y Ddraig'' (The Dragon's Tongue), which became the Welsh Language Society's main voice from its birth in the 1960 ...

, which was successful. The college was originally set up through the efforts of the a local community and Sir Hugh Owen to the tune of £11,000 and £2,000 of government money. Among renowned students and lecturers are: * Owen Prys *

Gerallt Lloyd Owen Gerallt Lloyd Owen (6 November 1944 – 15 July 2014) was a Welsh-language poet who lived in Llandwrog. He is considered to be one of Wales's leading "strict-metre" poets. Works Owen began as a "political poet" in the 1960s, often using medieva ...

Ryan Davies Ryan Davies (22 January 1937 – 22 April 1977) was a Welsh comedian, actor, musician, singer, and songwriter. Though his career lasted just 11 years, he became widely known in Wales through his work with Ronnie Williams as the comedic double a ...

* John Lasarus Williams *

* Selwyn Griffith (Selwyn Iolen), Archdruid and crowned poet * Hafina Clwyd, journalist *

Windsor Davies Windsor Davies (28 August 1930 – 17 January 2019) was a British actor. He is best remembered for playing Battery Sergeant Major Williams in the sitcom ''It Ain't Half Hot Mum'' (1974–1981) over its entire run. The show's popularity resulted ...

, Teacher who became an actor *

, Welsh comedian, entertainer and musician. The college was integrated into

Bangor University , former_names = University College of North Wales (1884–1996) University of Wales, Bangor (1996–2007) , image = File:Arms_of_Bangor_University.svg , image_size = 250px , caption = Arms ...

(then University College of North Wales) in 1996.

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{{Coord, 53.2298, -4.1313, display=title University of Wales Bangor University Teacher training colleges in the United Kingdom Grade II listed buildings in Gwynedd 1858 establishments in the United Kingdom