Dr Williams' School

Dr Williams' School was a school founded in Dolgellau in 1875. It opened its doors in 1878 and continued until it was closed in 1975.^[1][2]

Buildings which housed Dr Williams School, Dolgellau

Samuel Holland was actively involved in setting the school up and became its first Chairman of the Board of Governors.^[1]

The site of the school is now occupied by Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor.

Notable people associated with Dr Williams School

• Bessie Craigmyle was a teacher here in the 1880s.^[3]
• Margaret Lloyd George was educated here.^[4]
• Bahiyyih Nakhjavani was also educated here.
• Dilys Elwyn-Edwards was born in Dolgellau and attended DWS in the 1930s.   In an interview with her recorded in 1984 she talked about the school's influence on her musical career.
• Marion Eames was a pupil at DWS from 1932 to 1937. She is considered to be one of the foremost Welsh historical novelists. Her first novels, Y Stafell Ddirgel (1969) and Y Rhandir Mwyn (1972), are historical novels based on the Quakers of Dolgellau and their emigration to Pennsylvania.
• Bronwen Astor, Viscountess Astor (Died 28 December 2017) attended Dr Williams' School during World War II and wrote a graphic account of her experiences at that time.
• Eluned Morgan was born in 1870 on board the Myfanwy en route to the Welsh settlement in Patagonia.  She is regarded as one of Patagonia's leading Welsh-language writers. She was the daughter of Lewis Jones, one of the founders of the Welsh Settlement.

Arms

Coat of arms of Dr Williams' School

Notes Granted 27 October 1932 [5] Escutcheon Or a pile reversed Sable ensigned on the top with a fire-beacon Proper on a chief of the second three mullets of six points of the first. Motto Ardua Semper (Always to strive)