Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1567-1921 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.315 cubic metres (10 boxes, 2 volumes); 7 large boxes (September 2011); 1 folder (August 2018).
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The Welsh School in Ashford, Middlesex, England started as the British Charity School in London, where it was established in 1718 by the Society of Ancient Britons. The institution was supported by voluntary contributions. It moved to Ashford in 1857. In 1882, it became a single-sex school, renamed the Welsh Girls School. It is now named St David's School. The school accumulated some papers of related organisations, including the Society of Ancient Britons, the Cymmrodorion, the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (an educational publisher) and correspondence with Llandaff Bishopric Committee concerning the appointment of a Welsh Bishop in 1849.
Archival history
Many of the printed books and pamphlets became the property of the Welsh Charity School when the first Cymmrodorion Society was dissolved in 1785.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited by the Most Honorable and Loyal Society of Ancient Britons in 1939.
A further deposit was made per Ms Penny Briscoe, St James' School, Ashford, September 2011.
Ms Jacqueline Flindall; Romsey; Donation; August 2018; 99126320302419.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Welsh School, Ashford, and British Charity School, Board of Governors and trustees minutes, 1718-1848; House Committee minutes, 1830-1905; cash books and financial records, 1792-1905; applicants books, 1826-1844; correspondence and papers, 1760-1904; correspondence and records of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge in Wales, 1849-1851; correspondence relating to Llandaff Diocesan Commitee, 1849; and deeds and legal correspondence relating to lands in Ashford, Middlesex, 1845-1893; minute books of the Society of Ancient Britons, 1823-1856, and of the Cymmrodorion, 1828-1849.
A further deposit of papers comprising committee minute books (5), 1905-1987; household wages books (4), 1949-1958; accounts books (3), 1846-1974; receipts and payments books (7), 1813-1963; apprenticeship book, 1852-1853; letters book, 1839-1849; Schoolmistress report book, 1868-1882; attendance and fee register, 1923-1940; confirmation book, 1916-1964; school reports, 1848-1873; house mark book, 1941-1956; House Committees visiting book, 1880-1891; cash books (3), 1932-1956; general fund book, 1949-1958; inventory and valuation book, 1946; school numbers book, 1945-1957; and an investments book, 1940-1949.
Papers, [1939]-2007, pertaining to the school, accumulated by Jacqueline Flindall, a former pupil of the Welsh Girls' School, including letters and items relating to the 150th anniversary celebrations in 2007.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
All records have been retained. Some of the deposited papers were returned to the depositors in 1985.
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged into the following: volumes of minutes, etc.; correspondence (general, Llandaff Bishopric Committee, Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge in Wales); deeds and documents; indentures of apprenticeship; and miscellanea.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual copyright laws apply.
Language of material
- English
- Latin
- Welsh
Script of material
Language and script notes
English, Welsh, Latin.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title based on contents of fonds.
Note
Some papers pre-date the existence of the school.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Project identifier
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- British Charity School (London, England) -- Archives (Subject)
- Society of Ancient Britons -- Archives (Subject)
- Society for the Diffusion for Useful Knowledge -- Archives (Subject)
- Welsh Girls' School (Ashford, Surrey, England) -- Archives (Subject)
- Welsh Charity School -- Archives (Subject)
- Welsh Charity School. (Subject)
- Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (Great Britain) (Subject)
- British Charity School (London, England) (Subject)
- Society of Ancient Britons. (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Description follows ANW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.; AACR2; and LCSH
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
March 2003.
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: NLW, Schedules of Welsh School, Ashford, Middlesex, Papers; St David's School website (www.isinspect.org.uk), viewed 12 May 2003.
Archivist's note
Compiled by Annette Strauch for the ANW project.