Press Releases

Organised in partnership with Coed Cymru, St Fagans' free ‘Wood Weekend' will be held at the open air museum from 10am - 5pm on the Saturday and Sunday. Find out how wood was used by our ancestors and see traditional craft skills that are practised today.

Coed Cymru will be displaying their version of the T? Unnos (house in a night) - an exciting and innovative low cost affordable housing system using home-grown timber.

Geraint Parfitt, one of only a few left in the UK who makes hand-made clogs using raw materials is a full time demonstrating craftsman at St Fagans. He will be showing how he makes traditional Welsh clogs from sycamore wood.

On the Saturday senior carpenter Ray Smith - one of the key members of the team who restored St Teilo's Church - will be talking about his hand-carved rood screen, made especially for the Church. He used the same tools, materials and techniques as were employed hundreds of years ago.

Visit the Smithy where the wheelwright and blacksmith will be making tyres from iron for wooden wheelbarrow wheels and there will be an exhibition by the South Wales branch of the British Woodcarvers Association.

Welsh furniture will be under the spotlight during drop-in sessions with furniture conservator Emyr Davies, artist Gudrun Leitz will be demonstrating her skills in chair making and on the Sunday author Richard Bebb will lead a discussion on ‘The Evolution of the Chair in Wales.'

There will also be an opportunity to admire Eisteddfod chairs from the Museum's collections. Dr Sioned Williams, St Fagans' furniture curator will explain to visitors the importance of the bardic chair in the Eisteddfod tradition. She said:

"GorSEDDI, the current exhibition at Oriel 1 gallery (3 May - 11 August) not only looks at the history of competing for a chair in Wales, but also the different styles of chairs carved. Each chair on display has its own special story.''

Entry to St Fagans: National History Museum, as all other Amgueddfa Cymru sites is free thanks to 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.