CRICCIETH has received a cash boost to commemorate its contribution to the First World War.

Criccieth Town Council has received a grant of £10,000 from the National Lottery (World War One: Yesterday and Today) for the project in partnership with Ysgol Treferthyr, Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor and Criccieth Memorial Hall.

Over the next few months the children of Ysgol Treferthyr and a group of students at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor will be researching and learning about Criccieth’s contribution to the First World War and the effect it had on the town, the area and its people.

They have already had very successful visits to Criccieth’s Memorial Hall, Robert Cadwalader’s studio and the National Library of Wales at Aberystwyth.

Visits to the Lloyd George Museum and Caernarfon Castle are in the pipeline. They will also take part in workshops by specialists on heritage including Dan Snow and Professor Merfyn Jones.

The children and students will also work with poets, musicians and local artists Twm Morys, Gwyneth Glyn and Ffion Gwyn to create exhibitions, displays and memorials to be unveiled and displayed in a series of community events in November 2018 to note the centenary of the end of the First World War.

The project will provide opportunities for everyone to come together to remember and commemorate Criccieth’s contribution and that of the area to that war, with the emphasis on peace and reflection on the effect it had on the area and how the area’s children and young people have learnt about and interpreted this today.

Criccieth has a unique heritage in regards to the First World War. The Memorial Hall is a testament to 49 local individuals who fought and died, and many of the families and descendants of these individuals still live in or near Criccieth today and have many stories and records.

Criccieth was also home to David Lloyd George, Prime Minister during the First World War, and during his time in No 10 Downing Street many Welsh speakers from Criccieth worked there and many of their families and descendants still live in Criccieth and the area today and have stories and unique memories which are not to be seen in the usual history books.

The children of Ysgol Treferthyr and students from Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor are holding and open day at Ysgol Treferthyr on Wednesday, 7 March, from 1.30pm until 6pm.

The doors are open to everyone to bring any records and stories they have to share and to provide the students with an opportunity to create a digital record of them for a digital exhibition and to ensure that they are not lost.

Cllr Sian Williams Chair of Criccieth Town Council said: “Criccieth Town Council is thrilled to have received support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

“This gives an opportunity to the area’s children and young people to research into the history and the effect the First World War had on the area, with an emphasis on peace and reflection. This grant provides an opportunity to collaborate with partners and well-known specialists in a broad range of areas to realise the aims of this exciting project, which would not otherwise be possible.”