Literary and Scientific Institution
The institute was formed in 1839 as a non political movement open
to all classes and creeds. It's initial meetings were held in "The
eagles" public house Quay street in Amlwch port. Among the initial
founders were, Owen Lewis, "Philolecturus", Joseph Jones "Chwaneg
Mon", Evan Evans, Mona Lodge, John Hughes, Tyddyn Dai, and Jonathon
Roose, Parys Farm.
By 1842 the movement became so popular that in a meeting in the
school house it was decided that it should look for it's own
premises. A Mr Lewis and Hughes were appointed as fund raisers. The
Marquis of Anglesey contributed £10 towards the fund. The aims of
the institution were :-
1) A decent private room for members to assemble.
2) That we should have a Library and a few apparatus.
3) That members should have access to the Library when ever they
please.
4) A general meeting should be held once a fortnight .. in order to
discuss.. topics approved off by the society.
5) Public lectures should be delivered every two or three months,
with the benefits of ticket sales going to the Institution.
Buildings were erected on the right hand side of Bull bay road just
before the national school in 1845.
There were three grades of membership each with a separate fee. The
highest grade, mostly gentry paid an annual fee of £2/2/= while for
£5 a membership for life was offered. Mechanics ie skilled works
paid 2/- annually.
The institute was open to members from 8am until 10 pm daily. Books
on religion, sport, travel, biography, tales and romances by authors
such as Dickens together with volumes on art, science, history and
poetry were in the library. A course of lectures was started every
year in October and terminated on March 1st when a lecture in Welsh
would be given.
(WM1594/44)
Sir T M Williams used the hall while he was a school teacher in
Amlwch as did Sir John Rhys the famous school teacher from Rhosybol
school.
In 1876 the Court Petty Season were also held in the building while the Town council also held regular meetings there until 1930.