Hi Joy, My wife's Price family lived at the Gro Farm in the Elan Valley before the Dams were built, and had to leave then to Rhayader. There is much written about that era, and a Visitor Centre is now by the old school and first Dam area, with lots of books and other things to buy and see re the history there. Our local Powys FHS man and Cronicl Editor Lloyd Lewis in Rhayader can also help you in this I think, as he gave us a very good talk on the Elan Valley recently. The school records are lost I think, but Powys Archives here in Llandrindod Wells will have some records, and some of these are online for Schools,etc. Go to Internet:http://archives.powys.gov.uk and/or Email _archives@powys.gov.uk_ (mailto:archives@powys.gov.uk) for more info. A good small book to read is "The Elan Valley Railway" by Kidner ?? , with lots of history and many photo's of the early days there, and the Dams, School, and Village buildings, but many early ones were just wooden huts!!! I will send you the book details asap, as my copy is not to hand today. A GOLDBY family of engineers I know also went to NZ like yours and Lloyd Lewis has their history too. Best regards, Dennis Cleaton, RAD, Powys _dcleatond@aol.com_ (mailto:dcleatond@aol.com)