CLIO
The Clio’ was a Navy training ship for 250 boys between
11 and 15 years old. She was anchored in the Menai Straits. The ship was moved
from the River Dee to The Straits in 1877 where she remained until she was
demolished on Bangor beach in 1920.
Public money was used to pay the running costs of the ship.
At this time Llandegfan was, primarily, an agricultural community. Goods such
as milk, butter, cheese and potatoes were carried down to The Garth Hotel
(The Gazelle today) and from there loaded onto the ship. They were then transported
across The Straits to Bangor pier.
Life on board ‘The Clio’ was very hazardous. Accidents often occurred. Sometimes these accidents were fatal. The boys would then be buried in Llandegfan Church’s graveyard.
Most Training Ships were short of funds, and made extra money by taking visitors onboard for a quick tour of the ship, where they could see the boys training. These 'tourist' visits seem to have been available at most times, as the following article from a local publication('Bangor in Arvon illustrated'), states.
'The ship is well worth a visit by the curious and the philanthropist. Visitors may signal the ship from the Pier, for a well manned boat to convey them there and back, for a trifling fee'.
Mary Robinson
I have in my possession a description of a visit to TS 'Clio'
in 1881 made by an ancestor of mine Benjamin Goodfellow age 17, when en route
to Ireland on holiday. This is recorded in his Journal. I have copied the description
below
'Extract from the Journal of Benjamin Goodfellow of Bank House, Hatherlow, Nr
Stockport. The journal was started on 1st August, 1881, at which time the writer
was aged 17. He was accompanied by his cousin Jack (John Goodfellow) Ramsbottom
On his return from Ireland he enters this account into his Diary - August 29th
1881
Next morning, Wednesday 17th, I was up early, but had none too much time, and after a somewhat hurried breakfast managed to get away in good time for the 8 o'clock train at Romiley.
On arriving at London Rd Station I went to meet Jack's train from Alderley after which we walked together across Manchester to Victoria Station. On the way Jack bought a box of Cockle's Antibilious pills.
Having got our tickets - coupons somewhat under 2 feet long — we took our seats in the 10.05 express which took us as far as Llandudno Junction. There we had to change into the train for Bangor at which place we arrived about 5 o'clock. We put our luggage in the left Luggage Office and went a tour of inspection into the town. We fixed on the British Hotel and had the luggage taken there.
After an early meat tea we set out to walk to the bridges and after inspecting both the Suspension and Tubular, returned having walked nearly ten miles.
Next morning while Jack wrote a letter, I went into the town and bought some postage stamps and oddments; and then we went together to look at the training ship 'Clio' situated in the Straits.
We were taken to it in the ship’s boat manned by a crew of the lads, averaging in age from perhaps 11 to 14 years. One of the lads showed us round the ship, which is kept very neat and clean, and carried on, on the system of the lads doing all their own work.
Thus batches of them take their turn in the kitchen, laundry etc. and do the work for the whole ship for a certain time. They are taught even to make their own clothes and mend them.
It was altogether very interesting and we were glad we went though I must confess that at first, the fact that all those 250 lads had been sent there for some petty crime or theft, seemed to take away the charm of the thing, until I reflected what a fine thing it was to have put so many lads who would otherwise have been lost in evil in the way of earning an honest living for themselves, for on leaving the ship they can get situations with wages of about £2 per month.
We left Bangor at 3 o'clock that afternoon by train for Holyhead, after paying a swindling bill at the British, where we shan't go again. The trains at Holyhead run close to the steamers, and we got on board at once. They are paddle boats the swiftest and best appointed I ever was on, and belong to the L.&N.W.Ry Co. Ours was called the 'Bose' and she left punctually at 5.30, the weather promising favourably. ..........
This description is of particular interest to me as my father taught at an Approved School at Aycliffe, Co Durham 1941-65 and I remember some of the boys from there were sent to the Wellesley Training Ship at Blyth. The author of the journal later became a solicitor but I do not know of any contacts he and his cousin Jack with whom he travelled would have had with the 'Clio'