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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.

  

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.


Further information Grid

 

Location:

National Wool Museum, Dre-Fach Felindre, Carmarthenshire

Ceremonial County: Carmarthenshire

Grid Reference:

SN355390

Map Link:

Multimap

Aerial photo: Google Aerial Photo

Route(s):

 

Best Times to Visit:

 

E-mail:

 

Website:

Own

Wiki

Other useful websites:

BBC Virtual tour

Nearby Locations:  
Other Relevant pages:

Living History Section

List of Living History Museums

Living history museums introduction

Classification:

Living History

Date Updated: 07/2008
 

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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:

 

What to take:

 

Nature highlights:

 

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:

 

Other Restrictions:  
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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