Powysland College of Art
Powysland College of Art
Powys County Archives

Education

Powysland College of Art

A school of art was built in Salop Road, Welshpool, in 1884, as part of the museum and library built by the Powysland Club. It was financed largely by public subscription. Classes, including lectures on agriculture, were held in both the day and evening right up to 1907. It attracted students from a wide variety of backgrounds, as can be seen from the following entries from the school register showing admissions for 1891.

Admissions Register

Admissions Register
Powys County Archives

Many of the students were girls and most came from Welshpool itself. Sarah Thomas' father was a builder:

1891 Census
9 Mount Street, Welshpool
Name Position in
household 		Marital
status 		Age Occupation Place of Birth English/ Welsh
speaker
Richard Thomas Head M 53 Builder Montgomery, Berriew English
Eliza Thomas Wife M 50   Montgomery, Castle Caereinion English
Alfred Thomas Son S 24 Clerk to builder Montgomery, Castle Caereinion English
Mary Emily Thomas Daur S 20   Montgomery, Castle Caereinion English
Richard Henry Thomas Son S 18 Joiner Montgomery, Castle Caereinion English
Sarah A Thomas Daur S 17 Pupil Teacher Montgomery, Castle Caereinion English
Rose Ada Ordish Niece S 3   Lancashire, Liverpool English

Doubtless Sarah's training in art would assist her as a pupil teacher.

Another student was William Wilkinson, the son of a railway clerk:

1891 Census
27 Salop Road, Welshpool
Name Position in
household 		Marital
status 		Age Occupation Place of Birth English/Welsh
speaker
John Wilkinson Head M 39 Railway Clerk Salop, Ludlow English
Clara A Wilkinson Wife M 35   Salop, Shrewsbury English
William Wilkinson Son S 11 Scholar Montgomery, Welshpool English
Ida Wilkinson Daur S 5 Scholar Montgomery, Welshpool English