Press Releases

The Second World War and its history belongs to us all as it had a profound and long-lasting effect on every man, woman and child who lived on the Home Front in Wales. Not since the Civil War had Britain faced such danger and adversity on its doorstep.

To remember life in Wales during these pivotal and turbulent times and the seismic changes in our work, entertainment, dress and diet, the Museum of Welsh Life will transform its grounds into a giant Home Front village for its annual May Bank Holiday Fair, complete with a war-time wedding, giant street parties, Anderson Shelters, air raids and plenty of spam fritters.

To mark the last weeks of the war and the coming of VE Day on 7 May 1945, this major event will look at the conflict through the eyes of those that lived in Wales, bringing to life the re-erected buildings of the period located around St Fagans, including the Oakdale Institute, the Blaenwaun Post Office, the tailor's shop and the Llwyn yr Eos farmhouse. Visitors can find out more about life as an air raid warder, evacuee, land girl, a soldier on leave and the home guard who will all occupy the village. This bank holiday will be a unique chance to learn about rationing, entertainment, air raid precautions, working on the land and fashion on the ration in addition to joining in the jive, experiencing an air raid and being fitted up for a de-mob suit.

Through a series of events and appeals, the Museum has been talking to and working closely with people who lived through the war and these memories and stories have greatly assisted the Museum in its research to create this special and timely bank holiday time machine.

Sunday the first of May marks the traditional welcoming of the summer with the raising of the May Pole at the centre of the Museum's lush rural parklands and this year's May Queen will be the civilian bride marrying her soldier fianc? at the Penrhiw chapel in her parachute silk wedding dress, complete with homemade confetti. Visitors will be able to witness the wedding with a Home Front wedding breakfast and dance at the Oakdale Institute.

To remember the thousands of street parties that were held the length and breadth of Wales on VE Day, a gigantic street party will be held on Bank Holiday Monday with traditional brass bands, village green games (except egg and spoon race - eggs were too precious as they were rationed to one a week!) and plenty of brown ale. The enormous changes in diet, design and music will also be examined with an exhibition of the ingenious interior furnishings made from the Make Do and Mend guidelines, ration recipe master classes and a chance to dress and make up 40s style with liquid stockings, turbans and home remedy make up. Using the stories of everyday people and their amazing war time experiences, the Museum of Welsh Life promises to turn this giant jigsaw of memory, history and nostalgia into one of its biggest and most memorable events, fitting to remember and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

Entry to the Museum is free thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government