Hi,
Went to have another look round the area on Saturday. Previously I'd approached from the front and looked at the property from the garden gate, so looking at an angle from the right, so what was to the left of the property was hidden by large trees. Second time I approached from the back, along a footpath, so was the other side of the trees and within a few yards of the building. Plas Colli is attached to a large ruin, and possibly built on, or partly built, on part of a previous building site. So it would appear something happened to the original building, possibly a fire. The side walls of the ruin are low, but the gable end, including chimney stack is intact. There is a person who has written about the history of the area that I haven't yet contacted. Went to the Archives at Bangor University today, but failed to find anything about the history of the place. One possible interpretation of Plas Colli, is 'the Plas that was lost'. I've seen 3 different spellings for the place, Plas Colli/Colly/Colley.In 1838 there was, according to baptism records, a person surname 'Colling' at Bron y Foel. Is it possible that the name should be Plas Colling, but that people continued to refer to the place by it's old name ? I've seen the names 'Collfryn' and 'Ty Gwyn Collfryn' on places in the area, but I don't yet know where they are. So another possible interpretation of the name is that it should be 'Plas Collfryn'.A couple of fields away is a property now known as 'Bryn Rhedyn'(Bracken Hill).In the Censuses it's 'Bryn Hedydd' and 'Bryn Ehedydd', and on the Tithe map/schedule 'Bron Ehedydd' and 'Bron 'r Hedydd'. 'Bryn' and 'Bron' mean basically the same in a place name, and both 'Hedydd' and 'Ehedydd' are used for 'Lark'.
The Tithe map shows a property where Bryn Colli is now, but does not name it; only a few properties are named. All the fields are numbered on the map, and are listed, with number and name, on the Schedule, together with the owner and occupier. The fields around were owned by, Sir John Kennaway, and occupied by, Sir John Kennaway and other partners of Cloddfa'r Lon Quarry Company. The fields are listed under a farm called Cae Goronwy.
The first school opened in Y Fron in 1861, and the Log Books going back to that date are kept at Caernarfon Archives. I've had a glance at the entries for the first few years. There is an entry dated 15/09/1865, "All the children were treated with Tea and Bara Brith, by Mr Ellis Williams, Meillionydd, and Mr David Jones Bron y Foel Hall, and also by Mr Jones from Fron Quarry, with books". There is another similar entry re Williams and Jones at a later date. On 12/11/1868 is the entry, "Miss Williams Meillionydd gave sewing lessons as mistress (Ellen Jones) was busy working mourning".
I've found following in Llandwrog Parish Registers relating to the David Jones family:
27/11/1858 Marriage David Jones 25 Bachelor Quaryman Tyn Rhos (father - John Jones, labourer)
Elizabeth Jones 24 Spinster Wood Cottage (father- Robert Jones, labourer)
Baptisms
04/04/1859 Catherine, daughter of David/Elizabeth Jones Wood Cottage Quarry Clerk
do Winifred " " " " " " " "
So it appears Catherine was one of twins, but Winifred does not appear on 1861 Census. Did she die ?- can't find a burial - or was she brought up by somebody else?
06/10/1861 Robert David, son of David/Elizabeth Jones Wood Cotage, Glynllifon Park Quarry Steward
Burials
22/09/1869 Robert Joseph Jones Bronyfoel Hall 3months
I need to check the Registers again as there are obvious gaps in the info above.
Emyr
