Museums, Exhibitions and Events

National Slate Museum Slate Quarrymen swap Industrial workshops for Castle splendour!  

For the first time in history slate quarrymen are working at Penrhyn Castle – the home of one of the wealthiest Slate Quarry owners in North Wales.  

Our demonstrating Slate Quarrymen, who usually hold demonstrations at the Museum in Llanberis, are instead demonstrating their skills and craftsmanship at the Castle.  

This astounding turning point comes as we are temporarily close to the public for redevelopment but we didn't want to stop telling our story so decided to take our story to other locations important to the story of slate and which are part of the World Heritage designation for the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales.  

Penrhyn Slate Quarry established by the Pennant family, dominated the Welsh slate industry for almost 150 years and was notorious for its harsh working conditions. In 1900, over 2000 workers went on strike for better wages and working conditions - a culmination of several years of dissatisfaction and unrest. 

Known locally as the Penrhyn Lockout, the strike lasted for over three years and was one of the longest and most bitter industrial disputes in British history. It caused incredible hardship for the Quarrymen and their families and ripped apart a community, dividing it into strike ‘faithful’s’ who remained on strike or left to find other work elsewhere, and ‘bradwrs’ (traitors) who returned to work. 

Many in the local community still regard the Castle as a symbol of wealth and oppression. Historically, Quarrymen would not have crossed the threshold to the Castle and many of their families have struggled to do so since then. 

Now managed by National Trust Cymru, Penrhyn Castle and Garden have been working with artists and the local community for over a decade to share more about this history and re-engage with its local community as Ceri Williams, General Manager at Penrhyn Castle explained: 

“Over the last decade and more we’ve been working to re-address the way we share our industrial and colonial connections at Penrhyn Castle. Each year, we've achieved new milestones, but welcoming the Quarrymen into the castle marks a significant leap forward in reconnecting the community with this historic site. 

Already, crowds have been gathering to catch a glimpse of the live slate-splitting demonstration that not only celebrates local craftmanship but provides authentic experiences that resonates with the castle’s industrial history. As we continue to work with the National Slate Museum over coming months, we look forward to combining our offers and providing visitors with a unique and memorable visit to Penrhyn Castle.”

For us, the opportunity to have our Quarrymen demonstrating at Penrhyn Castle is a key feature of our redevelopment programme - in particular our Museum on the Move campaign in 2025 as Elen Roberts, Head of the National Slate Museum explained: 

“We’re very grateful to the team at Penrhyn Castle and to National Trust Cymru, for giving us this unique opportunity to work with them as part of our redevelopment programme for the National Slate Museum.  We’ve worked closely with the Trust over the years to share the story of slate and this opportunity to share our Quarrymen’s skills and stories is an enormous thing from both sides. Relocating here – and to other sites around the World Heritage designation during our Museum’s redevelopment - will allow us to engage with new audiences and ensure our story continues beyond the walls of the museum. 

Our staff will benefit from continuing to interact with the public which will enhance their knowledge of the slate story, and hopefully visitors will benefit from encountering Museum staff in new locations – which, alongside the National Trust’s existing offer to visitors at Penrhyn Castle, will offer a fresh perspective on the story of slate”

Both attractions are key parts of the World Heritage Site for the Slate Landscape of North West Wales. Lord Dafydd Wigley, Chair of the Llechi Cymru Partnership welcomed the development:

“Cyngor Gwynedd and its partners have worked together over many years to develop a strong partnership to deliver the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales World Heritage nomination and subsequent inscription. The results of this strong and active partnership is now bearing fruit as we not only see significant investment of over £30m through the Llewyrch o’r Llechi programme of activities - such as those at Amgueddfa Lechi Cymru and others across the Slate Landscape; but we are also seeing new and innovative ways of working together to reach new audiences, provide new experiences and to share our monumental and global story of how north Wales roofed the world.”

The Quarrymen are at Penrhyn Castle on a daily basis during 2025.                                         

For more information about the history of Penrhyn Castle visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/penrhyn-castle-and-garden

Day 1 

What did we do today?

On our first day we went for a walk around the area expanding our understanding of the history of the quarries. In addition, we visited the Quarry Hospital learning more about illnesses and diseases that the quarries would face.

What skills did we learn from the experience?

School pupils had come to visit the Museum, so we learned how to work with visitors - especially younger children, and learned more about the area from listening to the presentation. While walking around the area, we certainly learned a lot more about the history of the quarries and the quarrymen.

Day 2

What did we do today?

Today we went to Penrhyn Castle. Here, we walked around the castle and watched a slate splitting demonstration. At the demonstration we learned more about the influence of slate, not only in Wales, but across the world. We also gathered feedback from viewers. While visiting the Castle, we discovered a bed made entirely from slate!

What skills did we learn from the experience?

When gathering feedback from the audience of the demo, we developed public engagement skills and received feedback and it was a means to gain confidence and communication skills.

Day 3

What did we do today?

A historic day today at the Quarry Hospital. We were able to expand our historical understanding of the hospital, the area, the quarries and the quarrymen. We then came back to the office to work on our blog and for a meeting.

What skills did we learn from the experience?

By working on the blog we have strengthened our design, proofreading and language skills. And of course, by spending time at the Quarry Hospital we were able to expand our historical understanding.

Day 4

What did we do today?

A historic day today at the Quarry Hospital. We were able to expand our historical understanding of the hospital, the area, the quarries and the quarrymen. We then came back to the office to work on our blog and for a meeting.

What skills did we learn from the experience?

By working on the blog we have strengthened our design, proofreading and language skills. And of course, by spending time at the Quarry Hospital we were able to expand our historical understanding.

Day 5

What did we do today?

Today we helped set up the Slate Museum stand for the Snowdonia Trail Marathon 2025. After that we came back to the office to finish our blog and the reels.

What skills did we learn from the experience?

By setting up the stall we strengthened our teamwork skills and our physical skills! By finishing the blog and the reels it allowed us to strengthen your editing and technology skills.

Head over to Facebook to see a Reel Cari and Mali made to document their time on work experience! 

In June 2023 Amgueddfa Lechi Cymru started a craft volunteering role to create 6 rag rugs for the education programme. We recruited 6 volunteers, and Isabel de Silva was part of the group. She started volunteering while she was finishing her master's degree at Bangor University, and her reason for volunteering was to gain experience for a job or career.

As well as creating rag rugs, Isabel and the volunteers had to engage with visitors at the Chief Engineer's House to explain how they were made and share the history of the tradition. When Isabel started volunteering, she was quite shy and lacked confidence. To work on this further, Isabel volunteered to help us at Christmas with rag wreath making workshops too – it was a busy and lively environment! Her confidence grew as she spoke to more and more visitors and dealt with the many questions about the rugs from enthusiastic visitors.

"Volunteering with the Slate Museum helped me to improve my confidence, improve my communication skills and learn a new practical skill." - Isabel de Silva

Isabel has since graduated and completed her master’s degree, and since gaining confidence and developing work skills, has now got a job with the Gwynedd Libraries Service and at Storiel, Gwynedd's museum and gallery. Isabel also completed a wonderful rug by herself by July 2024… it took a year of volunteering once a week!

"Through my volunteering I learned so much about the history of the local area, and the impact of the quarry on the lives of the people of North Wales today. That knowledge inspired me to do my part in preserving and sharing the history of Wales, and I have had the opportunity to do that through my job at Storiel." - Isabel de Silva

Celebrating positive mental wellbeing through engaging with heritage, creativity and community on Diwrnod Santes Dwynwen:

On 25^th January 2025 Amgueddfa Cymru marked Diwrnod Santes Dwynwen, the day for the Welsh Patron Saint of Love, with a festival to celebrate positive mental wellbeing supported by creativity, heritage and community. Across various of our seven museums, different activities and performances took place, designed to eliminate stress, improve mood and help people deal with everyday challenges. These included collections-inspired creative arts workshops, music recitals, choir performances, blacksmithing taster sessions and poetry workshops. In addition to this, we also hosted information marketplaces at St Fagans and Big Pit where organisations offering services to support peoples’ wellbeing could engage with the public and share information and advice.

St Fagans

At St Fagans we welcomed the Sally’s Angels Community Choir to St Fagans who sang on the Community Stage in the entrance hall of the museum as visitors arrived in the morning. This was followed by further performances on site at Penrhiw Chapel and the Oakdale Workmen’s Institute later in the day. The choir performed a range of songs in Welsh and English, including a stirring rendition of the ever-popular Calon Lan. Visitors responded really positively to the joyful and uplifting atmosphere the choir created throughout the day. Thank you to all the wonderful choir members who helped to make it such a special event.

The information stand marketplace also took place in the main entrance hall, with several organisations hosting drop-in craft activities such as decorating cardboard heart-shaped frames. These activities were very popular with children and adults alike and enabled the partner organisations to talk with visitors about their services in more detail as people spent time at the stands engaging in the crafts on offer. There was a total of eight stands, which included Velindre Cancer Centre, Oasis Cardiff, the Hapus Project (Public Health Wales), Memory Jar dementia support group, Mydiad Mythrin/Cymraeg i Blant, the Wales Ambulance Service and Platform  - the mental health charity, as well as a Museum stand promoting the Amgueddfa Cymru Health and Wellbeing programme, in particular the Museums Inspiring Memories Project. 

We estimate that in total the marketplace engaged with approximately 165 people throughout the course of the day. 

Across the day various activities took place at St Fagans which aimed to provide a stress-free environment to enjoy and engage with the museum's collections in a creative way. These included wool craft and weaving workshops using our replica Iron Aged handlooms, mindful nature walks exploring the outside spaces, flora and fauna at the museum, and a make your own paper Love Spoon workshop inspired by the Love Spoon collection in the Gwiethdy gallery, run by artist Nia Skyrme. 

The weaving workshops where participants were able to make their own woolen bookmark to take home proved very popular.  The feedback was very positive with many people sharing how relaxing and mindful they found the activity and how lovely it was to do something for themselves whilst spending time with family and friends. Many parents who took part in the session told us how lovely it was to do something they could have a go at themselves, alongside their children, learning a new skill and enjoying the creative process together. The children who took part appeared to be very engaged, enjoying the workshops and leaving very pleased with their woolly bookmarks! 

Participants on the mindful nature walks reported how relaxing and peaceful they found the experiences, whilst also being interesting and informative. Ian Daniel, who led the walks, was able to share mindfulness techniques which participants could take away with them and build into their daily lives, as well as sharing interesting facts about the flora and fauna they encountered on their walk. 

Artist Nia Skyrme, who led the drop-in Love Spoon activity in Gweithdy, had a very busy afternoon with at least 95 people dropping in throughout the session to take part. Participants made beautiful paper love spoons representing what they held important, inspired by the lovely display in the Gweithdy gallery next door to the workshop space. 

Families with older children were able to engage in this accessible art activity together, whilst giving those parents of very young children an opportunity to peacefully enjoy a creative activity whilst their little ones slept. It was a lovely way to encourage visitors to connect with the collections in a different way; the feedback was very positive.

The weather on 25^th January was absolutely beautiful. The sun shone all day, attracting lots of visitors to St. Fagans - far more than we might usually expected on a late January day. This gave the festival such a boost and allowed us to promote ‘museums for wellbeing’ to a wide audience.

Big Pit

At Big Pit a range of drop-in and bookable activities were on offer. 

Throughout the day, Len Howell, who has over 50 years experience of working as a colliery blacksmith, led smithing sessions in the forge at Big Pit. These were pitched at helping men deal with stress by participating in physical activity and ‘hitting the anvil hard’. With guidance, participants were able to work with hot steel and make a mini heart to take home. 

Poet Patrick Jones led ‘Writing for Wellbeing’ workshops designed to beat the January blues. Through a fun and light workshop of reading, listening and discussing poems, participants also took part in writing exercises designed to lift the spirits. Participants all reported that their level of contentedness and happiness had risen by the end of the workshop, and everyone was happy to share their thoughts and feelings in a short film that was made on the day.

Families took part in a ‘Make a Love Spoon’ activity, and found out about the various symbols and meanings, before designing and making their own. This engaging activity gave people the chance to relax and chat to workshop leaders, and many people also took the opportunity to dress up in mining costumes against a historic backdrop, whilst exploring the theme of ‘Cynefin’ (Belonging.) 

A number of organisations who can help with positive mental wellbeing and signpost to further information attended the marketplace on the day. 

Andy’s Man Club, Torfaen Take a Stroll walking group, Sport in Mind, Torfaen Talks CIC, Alzheimer’s Society Cymru & Public Health Wales all had opportunities to engage with the public and promote the support, advice and guidance they provide. Visitors enjoyed having a play (or the odd more serious tournament) on the table tennis table supplied by Sport in Mind. Public Health Wales were able to encourage organisations to sign up as Hapus supporters.

National Wool Museum 

At the National Wool Museum, visitors were invited to grab a cuppa, pick up a heart shaped Welsh cake and listen to the soothing melodies of harpist Delyth Jenkins. Delyth performed throughout the day, and gave the Museum a sense of peace and calm, which was very much appreciated by visitors. 

National Museum Cardiff

At National Museum Cardiff we took the opportunity to trial our newly developed Mindful Art Trail. Louise Rogers, one of our facilitators in the Learning team has spent time over the past year developing the resources for what will become a self-led trail and invitation to experience the art galleries in a mindful way. On the day, Louise led 2 guided mindful trails, encouraging participants to look at art purely from a mindful perspective, without any pressure, and to enjoy the simple art of ‘looking’.

According to research, most people view a work of art for approximately seven seconds, but the session encouraged people to take longer to look and absorb what they were seeing, instead of rushing though the galleries. This opened up discovery of more detail in each work, and using the senses and imagination allowed people to visualise potential stories about the artworks. This was a new experience for all participants, and everyone relaxed into their own way of interacting with the art. We hope that resources like these will encourage people to view the galleries as a safe and non-judgmental space to take a break from busy daily routines, and to enjoy moments of calm.

Diolch to all our fantastic partner organisations, the members of the wonderful Sally’s Angels Choir, the brilliant workshop leaders and all those who came and took part. We couldn’t have done it without you. 

People who attended the events at the different museums shared that they appreciated being able to drop into sessions free of charge, taking away the stress of entertaining children during difficult financial times.

A special thanks to the Public Health Wales Hapus Project for supporting the festival with funding, enabling us to offer more opportunities and work with the freelance creatives who helped make the event such a success. Follow the link to find out more about the Hapus Project and sign up as a supporter. 

Thanks also to all the museum staff who supported the event, led sessions and helped with the logistics on the day. 

As a legacy of the festival, we have produced a series of short films which are launching during Mental Health Awareness Week. Thank you to Glyn Roberts and Tom Maloney for working to capture all the wonderful activities and beautiful moments shared during the day. We’re excited to share the results! 

We will also be working on developing mindfulness resources in collaboration with Mindfulness Wales for our museums as well as welcoming freelance creatives to deliver dementia friendly wellbeing workshops inspired by our collections. Watch this space for further details. 

Hi Helen, tell us a bit about yourself and your role at Amgueddfa Cymru.

I’ve been with Amgueddfa Cymru for a whirlwind 12 months. I am on secondment from Conwy County Borough Council where I usually look after the museum, library, arts, and archives services. Before moving to North Wales 14 years ago I worked across the Scottish islands as an archaeologist and community development worker.

My mum is from North Wales, and I always wanted to learn Welsh. It has taken me 14 years to get there, but I would say that a year at Llanberis has certainly supercharged my learning experience!

My role as Project Director means that I’m responsible for the overall management and delivery of the National Slate Museum Redevelopment project. I lead a number of wider project teams and report on progress to the Project Board. I’m charged with ensuring that the project stays on schedule and within budget and that we are meeting the expectations of our funders and stakeholders. Its also my job to make sure that we all share and drive forward the same vision to deliver the project together with our communities in a way that meets their own needs and aspirations.

The Llanberis project is really exciting, what can you share about it, as it progresses?

We refer to it as a once-in-a-generation opportunity and that really is true. Since the Slate Landscapes of Northwest Wales were designated as a World Heritage Site back in 2021, strategic funding opportunities have made it possible for us develop a really ambitious scheme. We will be able to create a brand new shop, café and learning space to transform the visitor experience. We are also going to install a lift to the first floor pattern lofts for the first time, as well as provide more accessible spaces throughout and better toilets (including a changing places toilet).

We are trying to create a nuanced balance between respecting the sensitivity of Gilfach Ddu and providing a contemporary experience. Visitors, locals and staff alike tell us that they love the site just the way it is – as though the workers have just downed tools and gone home for the day. That’s the spirit of the historic workshops that we are trying to honour, whilst at the same time making more significant improvements to spaces that have historically seen a lot of change already. For example, in our new gallery spaces, we will be able to show off more of our national collection, but also develop our role as a gateway to the wider slate landscape WHS.

We have just finalised our RIBA4 stage, which is the technical design phase where all the detailed specifications and materials are agreed. We have gone out to tender for the main works and with all being well are starting on site in April.

What’s happened to the collection while the renovation works are happening and can we still visit?

Almost the entire collection – around 10,000 objects - have been moved off site to a new dedicated accessible collections centre at Llandygai just outside Bangor. Anything that can move, has moved! This is to protect the collection but also to keep it accessible while the museum is closed temporarily. Our activity programme over the coming year will provide lots of opportunities for people to visit, experience and work with the collections in their temporary home and help select objects for display and decide how their stories will be told.

Is the Llanberis site open while works happen, it would be cool to have a tour of the empty museum!

The museum is closed temporarily, partly to keep staff and visitors safe because of the scale of the works, but also because we are working to a very tight timescale! We are offering some ‘Silent Spaces’ tours at the moment for the local community as we prepare to hand over to the contractor, and we will look to offer more sneak peak and behind the scenes tours over the coming months.

We’ve seen the Development and Llanberis Redevelopment Team working hard to secure funding, whose contributed to the project that we can shout about!

Goodness me, there are so many people doing extraordinary work. Certainly in the last 6 months I have been bowled over by Cadi, our curator, and the wider site staff for the work they’ve done to prepare the museum for closure. Kerry Vicker is my hero. She got me through our Stage 2 National Lottery Heritage Fund bid for just under £10m.

What sustainability measures are being considered, to protect the future of the museum and the collection?

We have Victoria Hillman working on the project team as part of the redevelopment so that we can keep a focused eye on sustainability and environment. There are so many elements to this which are a combination of preventative measures and new initiatives.

In terms of the collection we are being pragmatic and responsive to the types of industrial collections we have. We are conserving some elements – such as Una the engine – who will be brought back into steam through the project. The environments we achieve for the main gallery spaces will achieve a new level of conditioning, which will help us to display more sensitive objects for the first time.

We have also been working with Cardiff Met university on a climate adaptation pathway exercise and building this into the specification for things like landscaping materials, managing run-off, breathability of buildings and design of rainwater goods. We are also looking to achieve:

• BREEAM excellent for the new buildings
• New bat and swift boxes
• Translocation of lichens and mosses
• Planting of native and rare species
• Rainwater harvesting
• Highly sensitive lighting strategy
• Sustainability and environmental learning outcomes embedded across all interpretation

The list goes on!

What are you most looking forward to about the redevelopment?

I can’t wait to see my two young children playing in the spaces we create. I’m hoping to see nothing but delight and wonder on their faces as they explore.

Finally, we love asking this - what’s your favourite piece in the Amgueddfa Cymru collection?

Well, I haven’t been here very long, but I would say my favourite object so far is our beautiful Caban Eisteddfod Chair in the NSM collection. What a simple, beautiful expression of life in the slate quarrying communities and the lived experience of those who sat together in the Caban.