Press Releases

Invitation to party with ‘Lady Hutt’

St Fagans: National History Museum will celebrate ‘Lady Hutt’s’ 100th birthday this Saturday 2 September 2006.

But this party with a difference will be held at the Museum’s newly restored vinery, because ‘Lady Hutt’ is a grapevine dating back to 1906, which can be found at St Fagans’ magnificent gardens, one of Wales’s premier garden sites.

St Fagans, one of Europe's foremost open-air museums, will mark Lady Hutt’s special birthday with talks during the afternoon (1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm) on the history behind the vine and how it is maintained today.

Juliet Hodgkiss, Senior Garden Conservator, who will be conducting some of the afternoon sessions alongside Stephen Harries, Garden Conservator said: “This is a special occasion for the Museum, which we wanted to celebrate. We are delighted Lady Hutt is still growing on site after 100 years – a reflection of the care and attention it has received from the experienced gardeners at St Fagans.

“We are very fortunate to have gardens that provide a real insight into the lives of Welsh people. From the formal gardens of the upper classes to the cottage gardens that provided food for the working families, they are an integral part of the museum’s story. It is, however, the details, such as Lady Hutt grapevine, which make the gardens so authentic and attractive to visitors.”

‘Lady Hutt’ was first bred in 1891 at the Victorian landmark Appley Towers, Isle of Wight. A favourite of Lady Plymouth, whose story is told through the gardens and castle at St Fagans, ‘Lady Hutt’ grapevine was planted at the site in 1906, making it the museum’s oldest vine.

The vinery at St Fagans produces many bunches of dessert grapes including Muscats of Alexandria, Fosters Seedling and Black Hamburg, which are available for sale in season.

Entry to the Museum and the event is free thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government, for more details please phone (029) 2057 3454.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales operates seven national museums across Wales. These are National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans: National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.