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For the last 20 years the Mills Section of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings has organised National Mills Weekend and this year, the National Wool Museum, which explores the woollen industry in Wales, will join the campaign to celebrate the country's milling heritage.

The Museum’s National Mill festivities will offer visitors the opportunity to experience a working woollen mill and experienced craftspeople will hold talks about the fascinating working machinery.

"We will be displaying current products from the working woollen mills of Wales in the Museum’s textile gallery," said Ann Whittall, Museum Manager. "Other activities include guided tours and machinery demonstrations at the Museum, a weavers lunch at Y Gorlan/The Fold Café and you can see Melin Teifi, one of the remaining working mills in Wales in operation."

On 12 and 13 May a waterwheel workshop will be held at the site, Keith Rees, a Technician at the National Wool Museum will host a talk on the woollen industry and guided tours will continue in Welsh and English, depending on demand.

Mrs Whittall continued: "During the late nineteenth and first part of the twentieth centuries, the woollen industry sustained the Welsh rural community and people in Wales depended on spinning and weaving for their livelihood. Dre-fach Felindre, home to the National Wool Museum, was once the hub of the industry.

"The Museum is housed at the site of Cambrian Mills, previously one of the largest woollen mills in West Wales. It is therefore fitting that we dedicate a week of activities to mark National Mills Week and remember the significance of wool to the history of Wales as well as celebrating the industry today."

More information on activities at the Museum can be found at www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/whatson/.

Admission to Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales is free thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.

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.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales celebrates its centenary in 2007. For more details go to the 07 pages on our website – www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/centenary/.

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For further information, please contact Catrin Mears, Communications Officer on 029 2057 3486 or email catrin.mears@museumwales.ac.uk.