Bangor Heritage College

Welcome to the College

Explore Bangor!

Welcome to the Bangor Heritage College, where there are plenty of exciting and interesting learning opportunities and you can gain credits for taking part. We try to make learning enjoyable by encouraging you to work closely with friends, members of the family and the local community so that you can get to know the area you live in better. On this page, you will find lots of suggestions for things to explore about Bangor and the local area. You can look for information online; ask friends and family; visit local places; or go for a walk to find the answers.

You can start with any module you like so have a look through the topics and choose what interests you!

Once you’ve found the answers to the questions, remember to let us know so that you can get your credits! You can earn certificates for collecting credits:

50 Credits = Bronze

150 Credits = Silver

300 Credits = Gold

Further Information

Bangor Heritage College is designed to support your class to grow their sense of belonging and ‘cynefin’ in their own area. This project is based on the work conducted by the Holy Island Landscape Trust. Every child who takes part in this work becomes a student of the Bangor Heritage College and will receive a membership card.

These modules can be completed by a whole class or by students independently or with their friends and family. We ask that you:

Help the students you work with to understand how the college works
Give students time to explore the modules that are available to them
Where possible, embed one or more of the modules in your classroom activities
Encourage engagement with the modules
Keep track of how many credits students have achieved so that they can receive their ceritificates!

There is no marking scheme for credits. Credits are given for engagement with the module. Answers are provided for clarification, discussion, and further exploration.

We hope that you will find this a useful and enjoyable resource for you and for the students!

The Bangor Heritage College has been developed by Bangor University’s Community Engagement team in collaboration with the North Wales School of Education. This work is inspired by the Cybi Heritage College developed by the Holy Island Landscape Partnership for Anglesey County Council. We are grateful for their permission to develop their ideas for the Bangor area. Further information about this project can be found here:

https://www.anglesey.gov.wales/en/Business/Regeneration/Holy-Island-Landscape-Partnership/projects/local-learning

The College is funded by Bangor City Council and Bangor University. We would like to thank Mervyn Jones for his work in sourcing and collating the content of these modules and supporting the development of the College

We would also like to express our gratitude to all those who have contributed ideas for modules. This includes the academics who have shared their areas of interest, partners from locations and services across Bangor City, and the children and young people from local schools.

Finally, we would like to thank you for taking the time to explore Bangor City and its diverse heritage. We hope that you learn something new about Bangor and about your connection to the city as you work through these modules.

For further information about the Bangor Heritage College, please contact Dr Nia Young by email: nia.young@bangor.ac.uk

Modules

Below is a list of the modules that you can complete. Click on a module to find out what you can discover. Remember, you can start with any module you like! Once you have the answers to the questions, remember to let us know so that you can receive your credits!

Online Activities

Please remember to take care of yourself online. These modules suggest ideas for you to research but we can’t check everything that’s on the internet. Remember to only use websites that you’re familiar with and to check with an adult you trust if you’re unsure about anything.

Note for Responsible Adults: Bangor University is not responsible for the online safety of those who are pursuing these modules. Please ensure that all safety measures are taken to protect children and young people as they research these areas.

There are many interesting facts about education in Bangor.

Things have changed quite considerably.

Come and learn a little more about them.

1. Where was Bangor University's first location?

2. When was the University established?

3. What is the college’s motto in English and Welsh?

4. There were two other teacher training colleges in Bangor, what were their names?

5. When was Friars Grammar School established?

6. Who was responsible for setting up the school?

7. What was the focus of education at Friars at the beginning?

8. Why did the school close in 1861?

9. Tryfan secondary school was the first Welsh medium school in Bangor. When did it open?

10. When did Bangor Normal College merge with the University?

A number of places across the world are called Bangor.

Let’s find out where they are.

1. With which city in Germany has Bangor Gwynedd been twinned?

2. How many places around the world contain the name Bangor?

3. How many of these are there in the United States of America?

4. What village near Wrexham contains the word Bangor?

5. Where in Wales is Bangor Teifi?

6. Where in Northern Ireland is Bangor?

7. Where in Tasmania is Bangor?

8. Name two places in America where you will find Bangor?

9. Name one place in Canada where you will find Bangor?

10. Where in France is Bangor?

Wars impact on everybody’s lives.

Come and learn a little about the effects of wars on Bangor.

1. Where in Bangor is the North Wales Heroes’ Memorial Arch?

2. Who designed the memorial in the Cathedral?

In memory of those killed in the 1914-18 war

Oswald Griffiths

3. Which school in Bangor did Oswald Griffiths attend?

Thomas Glyn(ne) Williams

4. Thomas received a degree in which subject?

Thomas Barron Winter

5. Where was Thomas killed?

John Pritchard

6. Where is John buried?

Second World War

7. At the start of the Second World War a military army camp was set up at King George V playing fields. Where are they?

8. Which army was based there in 1944?

9. Which famous GI (American soldier) stayed there, referred to as the ‘Brown Bomber’.

10. Prisoners from which country were held there?

Amazing place full of controversy.

Come and learn about the influence of one family on the area.

1. Who was the architect who designed and built Penrhyn Castle?

2. The castle was built in which style?

3. Name two materials used to make the furniture?

4. Who became the 1st Lord Penrhyn of Llandegai?

5. Where did he represent as a Member of Parliament?

6. Which Queen visited the castle?

7. Where was the plantation where the Pennant family made their fortune?

8. Apart from building ‘Porth Penrhyn’, what else did Richard Pennant build?

9. What took place in Penrhyn Quarry in 1900?

10. When did Penrhyn Castle come under the care of the National Trust?

How would you like to work in a slate quarry as young as 14?

Life was hard and very different to today!

1. Who was the owner of Dinorwic quarry in the 18th century?

2. Where did the family live?

3. When did the quarry start producing slate and when did production end?

4. In what did the quarrymen who travelled from afar such as Anglesey live?

5. What was significant about the villages of Deiniolen and Clwt y Bont at this time?

6. What was introduced in 1825 to ease the carrying of slate?

7. Which two famous engineers influenced the development of new technological ideas at the quarry?

8. What was established in 1874 to look after the interest of the quarry men?

9. What was developed in the quarry after it closed?

10. What opened in Gilfach Ddu in 1972?

Bangor City football club has had a great deal of success over the years.

Come and find out what some of them are.

1. When was the club formed?

2. In which season did the club win the Welsh Cup?

3. Which club did Bangor play in the European Cup in 1962?

4. At which club was the replay played?

5. Who were Bangor’s opponents in the FA Trophy match at Wembley in 1984?

6. A former Bangor City player became the Chief Executive of the English Football Association in 2004-05. Who was he?

7. When did the club join the new national league for Wales?

8. Who managed the club in 1998?

9. The club won the Welsh Cup in 2008. Who did they play against?

10. Who took over the club in 2019?

1500 years since establishing the cathedral in Bangor. Who was Saint Deiniol?

Come and learn more. The answers to this module can be obtained on - www.pererinysgolion.cymru

1. During which century did St. Deiniol live?

2. In which year did he die?

3. What was the name of his father?

4. What were the names of his brothers / sisters?

5. When is St. Deiniol’s day?

6. To which area did Deiniol move with his family when he left the Old North, and before coming to Bangor?

7. With which Saint did Deiniol study?

8. Which King gave financial support to Deiniol when he came to Bangor?

9. The saints believed in wells – what did people believe the water from these wells could do?

10. Where was Deiniol buried?

You will gain some interesting information about your area by learning about significant events that took place in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.

When...

1. Did the coach service between Chester and Holyhead start?

2. Was Port Penrhyn built?

3. Did the Penrhyn quarries develop?

4. Was Thomas Telford’s Road to Holyhead built?

5. Did the Menai Suspension Bridge open?

6. Did the railway between Chester and Holyhead start?

7. Did the Britannia Bridge open?

8. Was Bangor Football Club established?

9. Did Bangor Swimming Bath open?

10. Did Ysbyty Gwynedd open?

Interesting facts about the city. E.g. What was conferred by Queen Elizabeth II on Bangor in 1974?

Come and learn them!

Is Bangor a town or a city?
In which county is Bangor?
What is the meaning of the word Bangor?
With which city in Germany has Bangor Gwynedd been twinned?
What was conferred by Queen Elizabeth II on Bangor in 1974?
Today Bangor is best well known for what?
When did Bangor university open?
What is the cathedral celebrating in 2025?
What are the names of the two bridges that connect Bangor to Anglesey?
Bangor has two rivers within its boundaries. Which are they?

A Scotsman who was a ‘Superstar’ of his time.

A builder of roads, canals, churches and much more.

Learn a little about him.

1. Who was responsible for improving the A5 road from London through Bangor and on to Holyhead?

2. What was his father’s work?

3. In which country was he born?

4. Where is he buried?

5. What is the name of the bridge he built in Betws y Coed?

6. Apart from bridges he was also famous for building what?

7. What opened in 1826?

8. Name one other place on Anglesey that Thomas Telford was responsible for building.

9. Before 1826 how did people cross the Menai Strait?

10. What was the name of the hotel on the shore of the Menai Strait where travellers stayed before crossing to Anglesey?

200 years ago, there was no railway in North Wales.

Things changed after 1848. Why I wonder.

When did the station open?
What railway was Bangor a part of?
Who designed the station?
Travelling to Anglesey was a lot easier after 1850, why?
What happened to the Britannia Bridge in 1970?
Before 1850 where did the railway to Holyhead start on Anglesey?
During World War II the station was used for what?
Steam trains used to run through Bangor to begin with. When were they replaced by diesel?
Why was improving transport links between London and Dublin important in the 19 century?
Who manages the railway today?

A person who contributed a great deal to improve the lives of the people of Bangor.

What’s his link with Bangor City’s football ground I wonder?

Come and learn more about this gentleman.

When was Isidore Wartski born?
In which country was he born?
What sort of goods were sold in Isidore Wartski’s shop in Bangor?
When was Isidore Wartski appointed mayor of Bangor?
Which hotel did he develop to be a first-class hotel?
Where in Bangor was his first shop?
What did the shop on Mostyn Street Llandudno sell?
Wartski’s widow bequeathed some fields to the city. Where are Wartski’s fields?
Which Prime Minister was the firm’s lawyer for a time?
To which English city did the family move their business to?

Neolithic and Roman remains, a village for quarry, men and a luxurious castle.

Here’s an interesting mix.

What was discovered at the Bryn Cegin site in 2006 and 2007?
During which war was there a battle at Dalar Hir in 1648?
Who developed the village in 1800-1886?
What was prohibited in the village at this time?
Who established the church?
From when does the current church date?
How many bells does the church have?
Who was the school built for initially?
When was a school for boys built?
Who are the owners of Castell Penrhyn today?

A king buried in Bangor Cathedral. Who would have thought!

Owain Gwynedd was the king of where?
What was his father’s name?
Who was his mother?
How many children did he have?
When was Owain Gwynedd born?
What was the name of Owain Gwynedd’s older brother who was killed in battle ?
Who was the King of England when Owain Gwynedd was born and who was the king of England when he died?
Which English King did Owain Gwynedd fight against?
Where was Owain Gwynedd buried?
What’s the name of his brother who is buried in the same place?

The second longest pier in Wales.

A Bishop operated a service there.

Pretty Victorian kiosk along its length.

Well worth learning more about it.

When did Bangor pier open?
Who was responsible for operating the ferry ‘Porthesgob’ across the Menai Straits in 1292?
What was on the site of the pier before it was built?
To where in 1891 was there a service twice a week from Garth’s landing jetty?
What was the steamer called?
Approximately how much did it cost to build the pier?
Who was the engineer who led the project to build the pier?
Who officially opened the pier?
What was the length and width of most of the pier at the time?
In the 60s the pier had to close for a long period. When did it reopen?

Keeping in touch with each other is very different now to what it used to be.

Come and see how letters and parcels were delivered in times gone by.

When was Bangor Post Office on Deiniol Road built?
Who carried the Royal Mail between London and Holyhead in the 16 century?
How did they travel?
What did the Post Boys wear?
How was the Royal Mail carried in 1785 before the railway was built through Bangor?
How often did the horses need changing?
Before 1826 how did the mail cross the Menai Straits?
How did things improve in 1826?
There are three names on a milestone in Wales, what is their significance?
Why did the service end?

The difference between the rich and the poor, an extravagant and comfortable lifestyle. How I wonder?

When was Richard Pennant born?
Where did he represent as a politician?
For how many years was he a member of parliament?
He was the owner of which local castle?
How did he amass his wealth to begin with?
How many plantations did he own in Jamaica?
Where did he first quarry slate?
What was the annual income of the Penrhyn slate quarry in 1859?
Where did he build a port to export the slates?
Where in America in 1809 did a ship laden with slate sail?

Another famous engineer who has left his mark on Anglesey and Gwynedd.

Come and learn more about him.

Which famous bridge was built by Robert Stephenson to improve the railway journey between Chester and Holyhead?
What type of bridge was it when it was first built?
When was the bridge built?
What happened in 1970?
What’s different about the bridge today?
What is located on both sides of the bridge?
Who built the other famous bridge that crosses the Menai Straits?
When and where was Robert Stephenson born?
Where was he buried?
Robert Stephenson was the son of another famous engineer. Who was he?

Did you know that Felinheli is also referred to as Portdinorwic.

The name is a clue to its past history. What I wonder?

What was the village formerly known in English?
What’s the name of the river that flows through the village?
Originally, there were two villages in Felinheli. What were they called?
When was the mill built closer to the sea?
What was the reason for the area’s transformation in the 19th century?
Who were the owners of the Dinorwic slate quarry?
When was the new dock built?
Today, the harbour is a centre for what?
When was the by-pass built?
No longer in existence but when was the railway for passengers opened?

One of Bangor’s oldest buildings dating back centuries.

Well worth visiting this place of worship.

An opportunity to complete other modules too.

Who was the first Bishop of Bangor?
When was the Cathedral founded?
What is the meaning of the word Deiniol?
Who was Saint Deiniol’s father?
What denomination is the Cathedral?
Where was Saint Deiniol buried?
Name one other church in North Wales that had been dedicated to Saint Deiniol.
Name one Welsh prince that’s buried at Bangor Cathedral.
George Guest was associated with the Cathedral for what?
Which well-known singer and presenter is associated with the Cathedral?

How would you like to attend this type of school?

Very different to what you experience today.

Is it fair to call it a ship for naughty children. What do you think?

When did the ship Clio arrive at the Menai Strait?
How old were the boys that were on the ship?
What was the purpose of the ship?
Describe one way of keeping discipline?
What did the boys sleep in?
About how many boys lived on the ship?
Name two places where the boys came from
In 1887 a boy from Llandudno was sent on the ship. What was his crime?
What time in the morning did they start work?
What was the nature of the breakfast that they received?

Bangor has plenty of natural spaces and interesting environments to explore.

Find out a bit more about them by looking at maps of the area online!

Name two Nature Reserves that exist in Bangor City
Note two things that you can see or do in these Nature Reserves
Name two National Nature Reserves that are within 10 miles of Bangor City
Why are these National Nature Reserves important for protecting nature?
Where is the nearest play area (for example, a park) to you?
Where are the Bible Gardens in Bangor?
Who can use the Bible Gardens in Bangor and when?
Where are Treborth Gardens?
What special kinds of flowers are being potected in the Treborth Gardens greenhouses?
What is the name of the National Cycle Path that starts at Bangor and goes to a lake?

Like every city, Bangor needs resources to keep everything running!

So where does it all come from?

Research how Bangor gets energy, water, and more here!

Where in Bangor is the main office for Natural Resources Wales?
What do Natural Resources Wales do?
Where is the closest recycling centre to Bangor?
Who is the recycling centre run by?
When people turn on their taps at home in Bangor, drinking water comes out. Where has that water come from?
Where is the closest hydroelectric energy station to Bangor?
What does ‘hydroelectric’ mean?
Where is the nearest wind energy farm to Bangor?
Why are these kinds of energy being used?
What else do you think Bangor needs to help keep it running well?

A great deal has changed at Penrhyn Slate Quarry over the years.

Let’s learn a little of its history!

1. When did the quarry open under the ownership of Richard Pennant?

2. How many worked at the quarry during its heyday?

3. By today it’s been superseded by slate mainly from where?

4. From where was the slate exported?

5. When was the first strike at the quarry?

6. What was the second strike in 1900 called?

7. How long did the strike last?

8. What was written on the windows of those that did not cross the picket line?

9. Who was one of the founders of the North Wales Quarrymen’s Union?

10. What is the main tourist attraction at the site today?

Believe it or not, Bangor Rugby club has been in existence for over a hundred years and has produced players of the highest standard.

Who are they I wonder?

1. When was the club founded?

2. How many players are there in a rugby union team?

3. What is the name of their ground today?

4. When did the club move to their new ground?

5. Where did they use to play?

6. What was the name of the ground?

7. Which three players represented their country when the club was established?

8. How many players have represented Wales?

9. Where in Wales did representatives of the club go to set up the Welsh Rugby Union?

10. When was the rugby team reformed after World War 1?

By today, there is a mixture of religions in Bangor.

Let’s find out what some of them are.

1. What is the most prominent religion in Bangor, Gwynedd today?

2. What is the second largest religious Group in Bangor?

3. When did Saint Deiniol established the Cathedral?

4. Bangor Cathedral is a member of which church??

5. The 2021 census identifies two other religious groups in Bangor. What are they?

6. According to the 2021 census how many Muslims live in Wales?

7. Where do most live?

8. Where is the main Muslim centre in Bangor?

9. Which day of the week do Muslims regard as particularly important for praying?

10. Which two major festivals do the Muslims celebrate?

No Menai Suspension Bridge nor a Britannia Bridge. The Ferrymen were the ones who carried people across the Strait.

Essential but very dangerous work.

A great number of tragedies!

1. The feries were far more essential after which Act of Union?

2. Name three Ferry points along the Menai Strait.

3. How many people survived after the awful tragedy in 1785?

4. How many drowned?

5. Which two things made crossing the Strait trecherous?

6. How many tides are there daily in the Strait?

7. At low tide what is the depth of the Strait in some places?

8. How many hours did it take to travel from London to Holyhead in the 19^th century?

9. What was the name of the hotel on the shores of the Menai Strait where passengers stayed before crossing?

10. Things changed significantly in 1826; why?

Bangor gave sanctuary to many children during the war; a very difficult time for children from the cities.

1. What is an evacuee?

2. Where did the evacuees come from to Bangor?

3. Approximately how many children came to Bangor?

4. How many children were moved out of towns and cities in Wales?

5. Why move the children?

6. When did the children arrive in Bangor?

7. Name one school in Liverpool that the children came from

8. How were they transported?

9. Who was responsible for finding a home for them?

10. How did the government refer to the Process?

How would you like to be put in a stranger’s house far from your home and with someone you didn’t know. Very sad and frightening I would imagine. This is exactly what happened to Maurice Giddins from Liverpool.

Let’s see what he has to say.

1. When was it announced that the Second World War between Britain and Germany had started?

2. How old was Maurice when he came to Bangor?

3. What belongings did he have when he moved to Bangor?

4. From which station in Liverpool did he leave?

5. Which school in Liverpool did he attend?

6. What was Maurice’s brother called?

7. Other than his brother, who was the other boy who lodged with them?

8. Where was the toilet in the house?

9. What were they expected to do what on a Sunday?

10. How long did they stay in their new home in Bangor?

The remains of a Neolithic and Iron Age house unearthed in Parc Bryn Cegin close to Llandygai village.

Roman remains too! Fascinating finds!

1. When did the Archaeological trust conduct their ‘dig’ at Parc Bryn Cegin, Llandygai?

2. What is the area around Llandygai significant for?

3. Who from the Bronze Age did they find buried at the Parc?

4. Around what time did he/she live?

5. What did he/she wear?

6. Where might the amber beads have come from?

7. What else was buried with the body?

8. What did the Romans build to protect the people?

9. From which period was the cemetery?

10. What’s on the site today?

Madoc was the son of the King Owain Gwynedd who is buried in Bangor Cathedral. A Folklore says that he sailed to America 300 years before Christopher Columbus.

What do you think?

1. Where was Madoc born?

2. How old was he when he died?

3. What is the meaning of the name Madoc?

4. When is it claimed that he sailed to America?

5. When did Christopher Columbus sail to America?

6. Where is it claimed that he sailed from in North Wales?

7. The story of Madoc became well known during the reign of which queen?

8. Is there any evidence that Madoc and his voyagers intermaried with native Americans?

9. Which town in North Wales has been named to honour Madoc?

10. Who owns the ship Prince Madoc which sails from Menai Bridge pier?

Here is a village that has changed its name a number of times.

Why I wonder?

1. What is the name of the river that enters the sea in the village?

2. Who changed the name to Port Dinorwig?

3. Who changed the name back to Felinheli?

4. In a busy year, approximately how many ships would leave the port?

5. Where in the world did they sail to?

6. What is the name of the well-known meat company associated with Felinheli?

7. When does the Memorial Hall and Clock date from?

8. What is the name of the village church?

9. Who was the architect that designed the church?

10. When was the church built?

How many of these interesting and successful people do you know?

Each one with a connection with Bangor and having made a mark in their particular field. Let’s find out!

1. In what field was Sir David Brailsford well known?

2. What did Duffy do?

3. Name three clubs Wayne Henessey played for.

4. Name three clubs Iwan Wyn Roberts played for.

5. In which successful TV serieses in the 60s/70s did David Barry (christened as Meurig Wyn Jones) play a part?

6. In which successful TV series in the 80s did Ben Roberts play a part?

7. After appearing on which TV show did Tammy Jones (born Helen Wyn Jones) become well known?

8. An engineer for which car company was Richard Parry Jones?

9. What sort of singer is Aled Jones?

10. Which Welsh actress played a part in Hedd Wyn, Rebecca’s Daughters and Under Milk Wood?

‘Roman Camp’ above Siliwen Road! Did you know that the Romans never went there.

Let’s find out who did live there many centuries ago.

1. Who built a fort on the hill referred to as ‘Roman Camp’?

2. What sort of castle was built there?

3. How many of these castles were built in Wales?

4. Who was the first Norman King of Britain?

5. In which battle did he defeat Harold II, king of England?

6. Where did the Normans originate from?

7. What type of house did the peasants live in during Norman times?

8. What was their basic diet?

9. What was the ‘Bloody Code’?

10. Apart from the king what else influenced the life of the people?

A varied and interesting history for the estate over the years. Who would have thought that there was once a zoo there.

Come and learn more about the influence this estate has had on the area.

1. When did Thomas Assheton Smith become the owner of the Vaynol Estate??

2. When did he take responsibility for running Dinorwic slate quarry?

3. He was the owner of how much land at this time?

4. How much slate was exported from the Dinorwic quarry in 1806?

5. When did Thomass Assheton Smith’s son take over the running of the Vaynol Estate?

6. What was his favourite passion?

7. Like his father he was strongly opposed to what?

8. When did George William Duff become the owner of the estate?

9. Who was the Prime Minister that stayed at the Vaynol in 1888?

10. What sort of animals did George William Duff keep on the estate at one time?

The only way to cross the Menai Strait to Anglesey many years ago was across the Lavan Sands. No Menai Suspension Bridge and no Britannia Bridge. Strong and dangerous currents every day.

Let’s find out a little about the sands.

1. What is the Lavan sands?

2. What happens at high tide?

3. How wide is the Menai Strait at low tide near Beaumaris?

4. Why is the area known as an area of scientific importance?

5. Who do historians speculate that crossed here to carry out their first assault on Anglesey?

6. When did this happen?

7. Before the Menai Suspension Bridge and the Britannia Bridge opened, how did people cross the Menai Straits?

8. What was the name of the ship that sank on Lavan Sands in 1831?

9. Because of the disaster, what was established at Penmon?

10. What was the name of the Lighthouse that opened in 1837?

We’re all very familiar with the Menai Strait and have crossed it many times, I’m sure.

How much do we really know about it I wonder. Let’s learn a little more about it.

1. The Menai Strait seperates which two places?

2. To which sea does the Menai Strait flow?

3. Between two which bays is the Strait situated?

4. How long is the strait?

5. How wide is the strait between Fort Belan and Abermenai Point?

6. How wide is the strait between Puffin Island and Penmaenmawr?

7. There are two bridges crossing the Menai Strait. Which two?

8. Which road crosses the Menai Suspension Bridge and the Britannia Bridge?

9. Which part of the strait is the most dangerous?

10. What was the name of the training ship that went into difficulties in 1953?

Most of us like eating fish I’m sure and the fishing industry has played a significant role for centuries in the life of the area.

Let’s see how things have changed.

1. The fishing industry in Bangor dates back to which period in history?

2. In the early days of the industry, the Irish sea was well known for what type of fish?

3. Name two other types of fish that were in abundance during the early days.

4. During the Industrial Revolution, Bangor developed rapidly. What was the reason?

5. What was the name of the port from where the slate was exported?

6. In the 18^th and 19^th century what type of ships were introduced to help the expansion of the fishing industry?

7. By the middle of the 20^th century there was a significant decline in the industry. Why?

8. Which port in South Wales had better facilities to continue to prosper?

9. Why did the port in South Wales succeed?

10. By today the industry realises almost exclusively on what?

Apart from the ship Clio there was another well-known ship on the Menai Strait in the 19^th century. Its purpose however was very different.

Let’s find out.

1. What was the role of HMS Conway?

2. Where was the ship’s first home?

3. When did the ship move to the Menai Strait?

4. When did it go on fire?

5. Who lived at Plas Newydd on the edge of the Menai Starit?

6. Where did the school move to when the ship was destroyed?

7. What part of the Menai Strait is notorious for dangerous currents and tides?

8. When did the Naval School at Plas Newydd shut?

9. The first person to swim between England and France was a pupil at the school. Who was he?

10. England’s rugby coach between 1969-1974 was a pupil at the school. Who?

Locations

The next modules suggest some places that you could visit to learn more about Bangor. Remember that things can change over time so always check with a responsible adult if you would like to visit one of these places.

Is absenteeism a problem in schools today? It was in the 19th century!

You could be punished for speaking Welsh too. Why I wonder?

Who was likely to receive education before 1870?
What was the official language of Wales in the 1500?
What was the official language of the Catholic Church in the 1500?
Where did the majority learn to read during this time?
What happened to pupils who spoke Welsh in school?
What was used when children spoke Welsh?
Who was the Chief Inspector at the Welsh Department of the Education Board in Wales in 1907?
Absenteeism was a problem in the 19th century. What was the reason for this?
Who left land for Friars school to be built in 1577?
For whom was Friars School built initially?

Work was very different a century and more ago. Imagine how hard things must have been!

Which industries would people likely to say were the most popular historically in Gwynedd?
Name two other local industries
What clever use is being made of the quarry landscape today?
What traditional Industries have had a long association with Gwynedd?
For what was Conwy important in the past?
For what was the water from Ffynnon Cegin Arthur known for?
What was said that the water contained?
What does DMM, 2015 sell?
Who used a tally stick?
When was the tally stick used?

We still hear about the atrocities of wars across the world today.

How were things in Bangor during the 1st and 2nd World Wars I wonder?

How many soldiers from Wales were killed during the First World War?
What was abandoned at the 1915 National Eisteddfod in Bangor?
When did the Second World War start?
To whom did North Wales become a home towards the end of 1939?
Who donated the gift of embossed brass boxes to soldiers during the First World War?
What did everyone had to do during the war?
When was a bicycle lamp with a cap used?
What was the rank of William H Allchia in the army?
Where were the valuable art work from the London Portrait Gallery kept for safe keeping during the war?
Who received the tankard for his work in helping to find homes for people from Liverpool?

There is every modern convenience to be had to make life easier in the home today to make life easier.

That’s not how it used to be. Let’s compare.

The objects relating to the home contains a tin; to make what?
Note three things the rural population of north Wales were likely to eat before 1900.
When did most villages in north Wales get electricity?
Before electricity what was used to heat the home and for cooking?
What was eaten most days?
Pewter is a mixture of which two alloys?
Since when has pewter been used?
What replaced pewter?
How was sugar sold?
How was it formed?

One of Manchester United’s most famous players played for Bangor City. Who I wonder.

How do you unwind today, spending time on your phone, in the gym or participating in sports? How things have changed!

What sort of leisure activities would you find in the past?
Very often, these societies were associated with what?
More of what existed in the past?
What movement encouraged people to stop drinking alcohol?
Who did Bangor play against in the FA Trophy final?
What was the final score in the replay?
Which famous Manchester united player played for Bangor in the Eingl-Eidalaidd cup in 1978?
What was Henry Paget 5th Marquess of Anglesey well known for?
What sort of hat did Morgan Jones wear in 1880?
What was snuff?

Would you walk 26 miles barefoot to obtain a book?

What if someone told you couldn’t dance! It was like that once.

What did nonconformist groups establish in the 16th century?
What came to Wales in the 1730s?
Who translated the Bible into Welsh?
What was used in Sunday Schools to learn to sing?
What was used to give the initial note?
Who was one of the Calvinistic Methodists most gifted preachers at the time?
Who was one of the most prominent leaders of the Methodist movement in Wales?
Who walked 26 miles to obtain a Bible from Thomas Charles?
What was found buried in an earth bank near Holyhead in the 1870s?
What did the Methodists condemn?

A number of industries that were very prominent about two hundred years ago have almost been forgotten by today.

Let’s learn a little about them!

1. What evidence of the slate industry can still be seen in the Bangor area today?

2. Name one ornate and useful thing the quarrymen would create for their home.

3. Name one ornate feature

4. How many writing slates were produced at Porth Penrhyn in 1778?

5. How many companies in Bangor produced writing slates in 1880?

6. Why was using a writing slate ideal for practising handwriting or drawing?

7. Where were Roman tiles found?

8. From when does the Llanfaglan flat axe date?

9. Who started to produce his own money when mining copper on Parys Mountain, Amlwch, Anglesey?

10. How did miners prepare the rock on Parys Mountain so that it was ready to be mined?

Policing is very different today to what it was 500 years ago.

Let’s see what has changed.

1. In the past punishment was often harsh. Give two examples.

2. Who often presided at the Quarter Session Court between 1536 and 1972?

3. How was a thief punished by the court in Caernarvon in 1557?

4. How many were executed between 1822 and 1830?

5. What was their crime?

6. When the police could not cope with the disturbances, who was called to help?

7. When T.P. Williams was appointed Chief Constable, how much did he earn?

8. Who was likely to earn more than the Chief Constable?

9. When was the Gwynedd Constabulary formed?

10. When was Gwynedd Constabulary renamed North Wales Police?

Wales is very proud of its culture and traditions.

Come and learn a little more about some of them.

1. When was the cultural revolution in Wales?

2. Why was there a need to protect the Welsh language?

3. What was important to the daily life of the people in Wales?

4. Who devised a false alphabet around 1791?

5. Who made the 1907 Corn Hirlas (Horn of Plenty?

6. When is the Corn Hirlas traditionally used?

7. The Crown was won by R Silyn Roberts at the Bangor National Eisteddfod in 1902. For what?

8. Who made the print of Salem?

9. When is the Corn Dolly made?

10. Who established Urdd Gobaith Cymru?

Being a sailor in the 18th century was not an easy life. Conditions were extremely tough.

Would you have liked the job?

1. What sort of goods were imported to the ports of North Wales?

2. The ships were generally owned by whom?

3. Things changed significantly in the 1880s; why?

4. When does the contents of the medicine cupboard date from?

5. How many guns were there on the ship HMS Nile?

6. When was the receipt from the ship ‘Susanna May’ written?

7. What was the beeswax used for?

8. From which ship did the cannon ball come from?

9. What was the original cost of the ship ‘Colony’?

10. What did sailors tend to keep in their lockable containers?

Archaeologists, farmers and antiquarians discover a range of interesting artefacts about life in the past regularly.

Let’s have a look at a few local examples.

1. What did Sir Thomas Assheton Smith gift to the University in 1884?

2. What did David Lloyd George give to the museum?

3. What was used to discover where an archaeological find originated from?

4. The early hand axes from the Thames Valley enabled students to study which period?

5. How are collections recorded today?

6. What made weapons more effective?

7. The lack of ores in some places led to what?

8. Approximately when was the Palstave axe made?

9. When was the Roman sword found at Segontium Caernarvon?

10. When was the lead coffin discovered on Anglesey?

A range of interesting artefacts.

Let us learn a little more about them.

1. What do many of the museum’s collection reflect?

2. In which countries did the missionaries mainly work?

3. Whose passport can be seen in the class cabinet?

4. Who was being persecuted in Russia?

5. When were they persecuted?

6. When was the Boer War?

7. To whom did Charles Dickens write a letter?

8. Who brought the bank notes back from Argentina?

9. Where were the tomahawk, silhouette, bullets and medals retrieved from?

10. Who do they honour?

Two iconic bridges with the Menai Suspension bridge being the largest in the world when it first opened.

The Britannia railway bridge built to ease journey time between London and Ireland.

1. Before 1826, how did travellers cross the Menai Strait?

2. Who was appointed to design the suspension bridge?

3. Why did the bridge have to be of a certain height?

4. How high is the bridge?

5. Who designed the Britannia Bridge?

6. When did the Britannia Bridge open?

7. When did fire badly damage the bridge?

8. What lies on either side of the bridge?

9. What is the value of the paper money depicting the Menai Suspension Bridge?

10. When was the last ticket issued to cross the Menai Suspension Bridge?

There are protests going on somewhere in the world almost on a daily basis. Wales has played a prominent part in such activities over the years.

Come and learn about some of them.

1. Give two examples of strikes over workers’ rights and injustices.

2. Which organisations in Wales have been established as a result of protesting?

3. What happened after David Lloyd George became Prime Minister?

4. When did the longest industrial dispute start in Britain?

5. What appeared in the windows of some houses?

6. What was the protest song that Dafydd Iwan sang in 1969?

7. When was the Spanish Civil War?

8. Meibion Glyndwr were well known for what?

9. Who campaigns for the Welsh language and its communities in Wales today?

10. What was organised in 1983?

Old churches are fascinating and interesting.

Saint Tegai Church is no exception. Well worth a visit to explore!

How many churches have been built on the site?
The present building dates from when?
Who paid for the current church to be built?
What relation was Saint David, the patron saint for Wales to Tegai?
Which Evangelist are noted on the Good Shepherd Window?
How many bells are there in the Bell Tower?
Who was the well-known sculpture in Victorian times?
How old was Archbishop John Williams when he died?
In honour of whom was a wooden canopy placed on the font in 1909?
Where did the original organ come from?

It’s surprising how much you can learn by looking at just one information board. You will learn a great deal in a short time.

Come to Felinheli to see for yourself. Location: Information board opposite the pub Garddfôn.

What protected the Fort at Dinas?
How old are some of the church walls?
According to local tradition, what is said to have happened to the original church?
What happened in 1282?
What happened to the English army?
What did the drovers do in the ‘Garden of Anglesey’?
How did they cross the Menai Strait?
What did Dinas become a hub for?
How many ships were built?
What happened to the schooner ‘Ordovic’?

No doubt John and Ioan worked extremely hard in all weathers for very little wages. Barely enough to keep a family.

Would you have liked to do their work? Location: Information boards at the start of Lon Las Ogwen by the fish shop Port Penrhyn .

Information Board - OGWEN

For how many years did John Jones count the slates off the horse drawn carriages?
What changed in 1879?
What was being placed between the stacks of slate on the schooners?
How many tons of slate was exported in 1883?
Name the cities where slate was being exported to.

Information Board – DYFFRYN OGWEN

When did the last train load of slate leave Port Penrhyn?
When did the Pennant family start building the port?
How was the slate packed for shipping after 1960?

Information Board- CEGIN VIADUCT

How many wagons of slate was being pulled by two horses?
When did the steam railway start?

This challenge is like a treasure hunt. You need to be really observant to look for the answers. Lots of fun, I’m sure.

Who are Jesus’s disciples named in the second stained glass window?
What has been written on the front of the pulpit?
What has been written in the middle of the High Altar?
When was Sir Michael Duff Bart born?
When was John Charles Jones Bishop of Bangor?
Who was Owain Gwynedd’s father?
Where in the Cathedral are they buried?
How old was the Reverend Hugh Hughes when he died?
For how long was Owen Gwynedd Prince of Wales?
Who was his brother?

Walking Trips

These modules include directions for going on a walk around Bangor. Remember to check with an adult before you go out and ask if they will come with you. Always make sure someone knows where you’re going. Remember that things can change and paths that are suggested here may have altered. Never go anywhere that looks unsafe or if you feel uncertain about it. There are plenty of other paths around Bangor that you can use to explore the area too.

Note for Responsible Adults: Bangor University is not responsible for the safety of people who undertake these walking trips. Paths are subject to change. Always ensure that you accompany children and young people on these walks and check that paths are suitable before following them.

Come to find more about the area while at the same time enjoy wonderful scenery.

Start at Hirael Promenade and make your way to Penrhyn Port. The walk ends here.

You may of course continue along Ffordd Ogwen to Glasinfryn or even Bethesda. More information boards on the way!

Information Board – Isidore Wartski

Give one example of how the area is described a long time ago?
Where was Isidore Wartski born?

Information Board – Port Penrhyn

Give one reason what was responsible for the growth of Hirael during the 19th and early 20th century?

Information Board – Abercegin Penrhyn Port (Near the bridge by the fish shop)

What changed in 1879?

The metal bench

What is written on the bench?

Information Board – Birds of Cegin Valley

Name three birds that can be seen in the valley

Information Board – The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales

In which Country were the sugar plantations?
What type of ships carried the slates to begin with?
When did the last load of slates leave Penrhyn Port?

Information Board – Ogwen (is on the bridge and can easily be missed)

How many slate wagons did two horses pull?

Come for a walk down Bangor High Street and you will learn a great deal. You need to look down carefully at the ‘Time Line.’ Plenty of places for refreshments afterwards.

Start near the Cathedral and follow the ‘Bangor Time Line ‘plaques along the High Street.

The walk ends by Dean Street. You may wish to visit the Cathedral and/or Storiel and complete more modules.

How old are the Flint arrow heads?

2. When were the Romans in the area?

3. When was a hoard of Viking coins found?

4. When was Friars school established?

5. When did the Caernarfon and Anglesey Infirmary open?

6. Which disease started in 1850?

7. When was the clock built?

8. When did the BBC come to Bryn Merllyn?

9. Which famous pop Group visited Bangor in 1967?

10. When did the Olympic Torch come to Bangor?

Come and see some wonderful views and end at the City’s unique pier. A slightly more challenging walk!

Before you start or on your way back you may wish to visit the Cathedral and/or Storiel and complete more modules.

In the car park: Walk in the direction of the city. Storiel will be to your left. You may wish to visit Storiel and do modules 1 - 6

1.What’s the name of the garden on the right?

2.What’s the date on the gate leading to the garden?

Continue walking towards the bus station.

1.When was the building where the city council offices are located built?

2. You will see a number of signs for bikers and walkers on your route. What’s written on the sign?

Return pass the police station and turn left to make you way to the crossing.

1.Who presented the fountain to the city?

2.What is the date on the back gable end of Storiel?

Cross carefully and walk parallel to the A5 road and follow the path through the new park; turn left and make your way to College Road Upper Bangor. Turn right and walk to Meirion Road. After passing the B.B.C. cross carefully to the pedestrian and cycle path. On reaching Siliwen Road you will see an information board on your left!

1.What is the project called?

2.What was erected in the field for the 1931 National Eisteddfod for Wales?

Make your way down Siliwen Road to Bangor Pier.

1.When was the pier restored?

2.Who was the Civil Engineer responsible for restoring the pier?

How observant are you? A sort of treasure hunt this task. The answers are all dates. Look carefully at the buildings around you.

1.When was the clock built?

Make your way down the High Street.

1.When was the HSBC bank established?

Carry on down the High Street.

1.What is the date on the Canada – Australia plaque on the Jubilee Building?

By the Skerries pub, turn left down Glynne Road and left again when you reach the Main Road (A5).