Bridget Bevan
Encyclopedia
Bridget Bevan (baptised 30 October 1698–11 December 1779), also known as Madam Bevan, was a Welsh
educationalist and public benefactor. She was the chief supporter of the educational work of the evangelical Anglican
priest Griffith Jones
and the system of circulating schools they founded.
in Carmarthenshire
, Wales
in 1698. She was the youngest daughter of philanthropist John Vaughan (1663–1722), a patron of the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge (SPCK) schools in the county, and his wife, Elizabeth Thomas (d. 1721). On 30 December 1721 at Merthyr church, she married a local lawyer and Member of Parliament
for Carmarthen
, Arthur Bevan (1689–1743). She was the heiress of her uncle, John Vaughan of Derllys.
She followed her father's interest in philanthropy and, in 1731, financially supported a local preacher, Griffith Jones, to establish an experimental school in Llanddowror
, Carmarthenshire. This developed into the Circulating Welsh Charity School system, which moved from village to village and fostered education for children and adults throughout Wales. The education was given in the Welsh language
. Much of Madam Bevan's considerable wealth poured into these free schools. After Jones' wife died in 1755, he moved in with Bevan; after his death in 1761, she assumed management of the project. During the following eighteen years she displayed considerable business acumen and organizational skills. Between 1736 and 1776, 6,321 schools were founded and 304,475 scholars, both adults and children, taught. It is estimated that at this time half the population of Wales had attended a circulating school, and the nation achieved one of the highest literacy rates in Europe. By 1764 news of the success of this educational initiative had reached the ears of Catherine the Great
of Russia
, who ordered her ministers to make enquiries about the scheme.
She died at Laugharne, Carmarthenshire in 1779, and left £
10,000 of her wealth to the schools. Relatives however disputed her will and the case went into Chancery
, where it remained for a period of thirty years, and grew to over £30,000. In 1804 the money was released and devoted to the educational purposes intended by Mrs. Bevan.
In 1854 the schools were absorbed into the system of the National Society, effectively ending the system of circulating schools that she had fostered.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
educationalist and public benefactor. She was the chief supporter of the educational work of the evangelical Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
priest Griffith Jones
Griffith Jones (Llanddowror)
Griffith Jones was a minister of the Church of England famous for his work in organising circulating schools in Wales. His name is usually associated with that of Llanddowror, Carmarthenshire....
and the system of circulating schools they founded.
Life
Bridget Bevan was born at Derllys Court, LlannewyddLlannewydd
Llannewydd or Newchurch is a parish in Carmarthenshire in south-west Wales. It is 5 km north of the town of Carmarthen on the banks of the river Gwili. The church was rebuilt in 1829.-Notable residents:...
in Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in 1698. She was the youngest daughter of philanthropist John Vaughan (1663–1722), a patron of the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge (SPCK) schools in the county, and his wife, Elizabeth Thomas (d. 1721). On 30 December 1721 at Merthyr church, she married a local lawyer and Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Carmarthen
Carmarthen (UK Parliament constituency)
Carmarthen was the name of a parliamentary constituency in Wales which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom between 1542 and 1997...
, Arthur Bevan (1689–1743). She was the heiress of her uncle, John Vaughan of Derllys.
She followed her father's interest in philanthropy and, in 1731, financially supported a local preacher, Griffith Jones, to establish an experimental school in Llanddowror
Llanddowror
Llanddowror is a small, historic, relatively unspoilt village 2 miles from the town of St. Clears in Carmarthenshire in West Wales.- History & Amenities :...
, Carmarthenshire. This developed into the Circulating Welsh Charity School system, which moved from village to village and fostered education for children and adults throughout Wales. The education was given in the Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
. Much of Madam Bevan's considerable wealth poured into these free schools. After Jones' wife died in 1755, he moved in with Bevan; after his death in 1761, she assumed management of the project. During the following eighteen years she displayed considerable business acumen and organizational skills. Between 1736 and 1776, 6,321 schools were founded and 304,475 scholars, both adults and children, taught. It is estimated that at this time half the population of Wales had attended a circulating school, and the nation achieved one of the highest literacy rates in Europe. By 1764 news of the success of this educational initiative had reached the ears of Catherine the Great
Catherine II of Russia
Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great , Empress of Russia, was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia on as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg...
of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, who ordered her ministers to make enquiries about the scheme.
She died at Laugharne, Carmarthenshire in 1779, and left £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
10,000 of her wealth to the schools. Relatives however disputed her will and the case went into Chancery
Court of Chancery
The Court of Chancery was a court of equity in England and Wales that followed a set of loose rules to avoid the slow pace of change and possible harshness of the common law. The Chancery had jurisdiction over all matters of equity, including trusts, land law, the administration of the estates of...
, where it remained for a period of thirty years, and grew to over £30,000. In 1804 the money was released and devoted to the educational purposes intended by Mrs. Bevan.
In 1854 the schools were absorbed into the system of the National Society, effectively ending the system of circulating schools that she had fostered.
External links
- Bridget Bevan biography by Dr Mary Clement, Ph.D., at the National Library of Wales. Accessed December 2007
- Bridget Bevan Oxford DNB entry. Accessed December 2007
- Bridget Bevan (1698-1779) University of Manchester, John Rylands Library. Accessed December 2007
- Bridget Bevan Brief Biography at The Brooklyn Museum Dinner party database. Accessed December 2007
- Bridget Bevan portrait at The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion. Accessed December 2007