National Wool Museum
Dre-fach Felindre, Carmarthenshire
Although we think of Coal as being the
major industry within Wales, historically and into the 19th Century Wool
was the most important and widespread industry, and the village of
Dre-fach Felindre, near Newcastle Emlyn in the Teifi valley was once the
centre of a thriving woollen industry, also known as 'The Huddersfield
of Wales'. Shirts and shawls, blankets and bedcovers, woollen stockings
and socks were all made here, and sold in the surrounding countryside as
well as the rest of the world.
Today's museum is located in the former
Cambrian Mills, built in 1852 and in its heyday was the largest mill in
West Wales employing over 250 workers. The original building was
destroyed by fire in 1889 and rebuilt in 1902 and remained in continuous
operation. In 1976 it was launched as the Museum of Welsh Woollen
Industry and following a two year refit reopened as the National Wool
Museum in 2004. |
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The mill and village are a national
heritage site and a European Regional Route of Industrial Heritage.
A visit to the museum will give you a
background to the woollen industry in Wales and how people depended on
spinning and weaving for their livelihood and you get to see the restored
listed mill buildings and historic machinery like the Whiteley Spinning
Mule. There is a raised walkway which gives a unique view of textiles
in production at Melin Teifi, the site's commercial woollen mill, while
gallery displays show aspects of the National Flat Textile Collection which
includes blankets and shawls. There is a specially designed trail, 'A Woolly
Tale', where you can create your own guide to making and using woollen
cloth, trying out skills such as carding, spinning and sewing along the way.
Being one of the National Museums of Wales
and funded by the Welsh Assembly, entry to this site is free.
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Planning Grid
Location: |
National Wool Museum, Dre-Fach Felindre,
Carmarthenshire |
Grid Reference: |
SN355390 |
Getting there: |
Located 4 miles east of Newcastle Emlyn, 16
miles west of Carmarthen off the A484. Follow brown tourist signs for
National Woollen Museum. |
Access: |
Flat paved routes into the museum. There is a
downward slope from the road to the museum entrance |
Parking: |
Yes. 4 disabled parking bays in car park
before crossing the bridge |
Facilities: |
Coffee shop, picnic area, Gift shop |
Things To Do,
See and Photograph: |
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What to take: |
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Nature highlights: |
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Address: |
Dre-Fach Felindre,
Llandysul,
Carmarthenshire |
Postcode: |
SA44 5UP |
Telephone: |
01559 370929 |
Opening times: |
Apr–Sept: 10am–5pm, daily; Oct–Mar: 10am to
5pm, Tues–Sat. |
Charges: |
FREE ENTRY |
Photo Restrictions: |
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Other Restrictions: |
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Special Needs Access: |
Lift or level access to most areas of the
site. 2 wheelchairs available on site, issued on first come first served
basis. Seating available at various locations around the site. Lift to 1st
floor or main building and stair lift in the Weaving Shed. |
Special Needs Facilities: |
Toilets off the main reception building and in
the Resource and Collections centre. |
Children Facilities: |
Baby changing facilities and high chairs.
Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. |
Dogs Allowed: |
Aid dogs only. |
CIN Page Ref: |
nat_wool_museum |
Date Updated: 07/2008 |
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