Bryntail Cottage Charity

Bryntail Cottage has been an integral part of Central Grammar School since 1915.

In the early part of the 21st Century, the 28 year lease that had been signed by Central Grammar School on 1973 came to an end, and with that the future of the Cottage became somewhat uncertain.

In Late 2019 the Bryntail Cottage Charity was formed to ensure that this amazing place would continue to give Children from Birmingham the very unique experience of Bryntail. Watch the video to see how Bryntail has changed the lives of Birmingham children since 1915.

I was twelve years old when I first attended Bryntail. I had never seen a sheep, I had never walked/run up a mountain, I had never seen a waterfall, I had never jumped into a freezing cold river, I had never been on holiday. It was a life changing experience for me

One of the first tasks for the new Charity was to conclude negotiations with Severn Trent which began in January 2017. These were finally completed on 15th December 2020! This provided the security of tenure justifying and enabling investment.

Securing the legacy of Bryntail for the next 100 years

Photo Credit – Phil Pomeroy

Background to the formation of The Charity

It was the year 2019, and the Cottage’s future was far from certain, mainly due to the protracted negotiations regarding a new Lease.

Tile Cross Academy had been born in May 2017 out of the former schools – Central Grammar School for boys, Byng Kenrick Grammar School for Girls, Sir Wilfred Martineau School and The International School. The Academy, now part of the Washwood Heath Multi Academy Trust, occupies the former Central Grammar School buildings in Gressel Lane. The new Academy was keen to offer it’s students the unique experience of visiting Bryntail Cottage that previous generations of students had enjoyed for over a century.

With this desire in mind, 2019 saw another year of pestering and hectoring by Neil Mackintosh at the Academy, culminating in strongly worded letters to Severn Trent’s Chief Executive from both Neil and the Academy’s local M.P. Liam Byrne. Following this, Severn Trent finally made the offer of a new lease for the cottage and associated buildings. Whilst this was not ideal at the time, it did allow a period of a nominal rent to put the buildings in order before a more commercial rent is due, with the exact terms to be negotiated.

To this end, a group was convened to work out a way forward in order to get the cottage operating again. Neil Mackintosh (representing The Academy), Old Centrals – Gordon Griffiths, Don Abbey, P.J. Smith, Roger Pinkney and Richard Fryer, were joined by Andy Hiorns and Adrian Murphy, two Bryntaillers from Eric Sant’s time who had expressed an interest in reviving Bryntail’s fortunes. Together the group had expertise in planning, dealing with Local Authorities, and building regulation and renovation. In addition some of the group had been successful in raising funds through grant applications.

At that meeting, it was agreed that the best plan was to set up “The Bryntail Cottage Charitable Trust” to negotiate with Severn Trent. and to prepare bids for funds. The proposed trustees will be Paul Marano (Head of Tile Cross Academy), Chris Etheridge (The previous Head), Neil, Andy, Adrian and Richard Fryer. Money previously raised in a “Bryntail Fund” was placed in the Trust’s name and thus safeguarded.

As a result, the charity were successful in negotiating a new 30 year peppercorn rent lease but there is a schedule of works to be completed in the first two years in return – This is basically ‘phase one’ (roof, windows, doors, floors, heating, rewiring…) requiring an investment of around £90,000 including professional fees.

The group realise that this will be a long-term project, and that the Bryntail which will emerge will have to be a very different place than previous Old Centrals and others have experienced. But the Trust will ensure, however, that the spirit of the place will be preserved so that more young people will be able to enjoy the Welsh countryside just as previous generations did.

Trustees

After much form filling the Bryntail Cottage Charitable Trust was officially registered with, and recognised by the Charity Commissioners in July 2020.

The first Trustees Meeting was held (via Zoom due to the Covid-19 Pandemic) and Trustees duly appointed:

Neil Mackintosh – Head of Social Mobility at Tile Cross Academy (Chair)
Paul Marano – Head of Tile Cross Academy
Chris. Etheridge – Ex. Head of Tile Cross Academy, now Head of King’s Heath Boys School
Andy Hiorns – Ex. B.K.C and Town Planning Consultant
Adrian Murphy – Ex. B.K.C. and Company Director (Treasurer)
Richard Fryer – Old Central and Retired Head Teacher

The first meeting agreed the way forward was to develop the cottage as hostel accommodation for small group use (two mini buses of students and staff plus luggage) and making it available for use by all age ranges in the Academy group and also to the wider Community including the local Llanidloes area.

The money in the “Bryntail Fund” (£3914) was agreed to be transferred into a new Trust Account.

The Vision

The charity has launched a campaign to ensure that future generations of young people will continue to have life changing experiences at the cottage. For the last 105 years improvements and maintenance has been conducted by adult volunteers – enthusiastic amateurs.

However, the time has come for professional expertise to refurbish the fabric of the buildings, not least because they are now grade two listed because of their mining heritage. In addition the facilities need to be improved to enable as wide a spectrum of children and adult supervisors to access the experience – not just the hardiest! Everybody has their own personal journey to make outside their comfort zone. The garden needs landscaping work done to secure the boundary and allow a return to the cottage’s roots by enabling it to host camping in the grounds.

The work can be done in stages and the trustees are applying to grant making trusts to support the work.

You can see more about our supporters and how you can help by clicking HERE

The Bryntail Experience

Some of the happiest days of our innocent schooldays were spent staying at the cottage- no electricity- and walking in the surrounding valleys, another world- idyllic – for us schoolkids from the big city of Birmingham

Lifetime friendships were made, new skills learnt, and adventures shared which are still recounted decades later. It would be wonderful if young people could once again share similar experiences and form similar bonds by visiting this unique place in its beautiful setting

It was summer 59 or 60. On our arrival we had to fill our palliasses with straw and take them to the steel tent which was to be our home for the next two weeks. Camp duties, paper chases, chapel on Sunday, hard boiled eggs and porridge for breakfast. Skinny dipping in the icy cold river ( we were told the lead in the water would rot our swimming trunks ).Great times, good friends. Fond memories.

Set me up for walking and camping. Still love to be snug in a tent when it is raining outside. The sound of the rain on the roof is unforgettable…. and brings back memories of camping trips long ago. Happier to be in a caravan now with a comfy bed for the night. Happy days, fond memories.

I remember the late night walks searching for Bats and hiking further than I thought was possible. After every hill was conquered there seemed to be another bigger one behind it.

The Redevelopment Proposals

Bryntail Cottage

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The Miner's Cottage

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The Outcomes of the Redevelopment

Complete refurbishment of the fabric of the buildings to comply with current building regulations and listed building status
Dormitory accommodation for children in each building to enable coeducational visits
Twin en-suite rooms for staff in each building to enable adequate overnight supervision
A new kitchen
Refurbished ablution block for the students
Landscaping of the grounds and removal of the old Portakabin to allow a return to the Bryntail camping heritage
New bunk beds and furniture
Replacement of the garden fence
Environmentally friendly green technology for heating, hot water, and lighting to reduce bills and to act as a teaching resource