Press Releases

Do you remember the Oakdale Institute?

The Oakdale Workmen’s Institute which was moved to St Fagans National History Museum in 1989, has proved one of the most popular exhibits at the Museum. Now staff at Fagans National History Museum want to hear you stories about the Institute in special event at Oakdale Community Centre, Oakdale from 2pm on Wednesday 18 May.

St Fagans National History Museum are planning to bring the Institute alive again and are looking for new stories and photographs relating to the building up to the time it was moved. Did you play snooker or billiards there? Maybe you went to one of the many gigs at the Institute during the 1980s or were a member of the amateur dramatic group? Whatever your story, the Museum would like to hear from anyone who can tell them something about the iconic building.

The Workmen’s Institute was built in Oakdale in 1917 from funds raised by the workers and became central to community life in the village until it was moved to St Fagans. The building is visited by around 500,000 people each year and also serves an important role as a venue hire facility, hosting conferences and wedding parties.

Sioned Williams, Principal Curator: Modern History, St Fagans National History Museum, said, “The Institute was once the hub of the town and there is so much history to the building.  100 years on, we want members of the community to come and share their memories and tell us what they remember of Oakdale.

“The event will be a great opportunity for local people to learn more about what we’re doing and hear about reinterpretation project with staff from St Fagans.”

The project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Armed Forces Community Covenant Grant.

 

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Admission to all Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum sites, including St Fagans National History Museum, is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Government.