The museum is situated at St. Fagans, four miles out of Cardiff on the A4232 and is free to get in. What makes this museum so remarkable is its sheer size and theme. Situated in 100 acres of parkland, it houses a collection of buildings documenting Welsh life from Celtic times to the modern day. Each of the buildings, from pig sties to churches, has been painstakingly taken apart brick-by-brick and transported to this site in South Wales.
With the exception of the Celtic village, which is an educated reconstruction, all of the houses were worked and lived-in by real people throughout history. Each house has a unique character and stands its own testimony to the passage of time including a number of folkloric traits such as the giant maypole and Kennixton Farmhouse, a large rustic home painted red to ward off evil spirits.
Being an outdoor exhibition many people choose to go during the summer when the weather is better, but being a solitary visitor wandering the streets of history on a frosty, overcast day can also have its own charm.
There are cafés and food counters dotted around the exhibition, plus a traditional tea-house and it is even possible to buy authentically stone-ground flour at the mill. Horses and traps run between sections and make a nice distraction for kids and adults alike. There are also regular events held including craft demonstrations and seasonal festivities (including May Day and national Gorsedd). You can find more information about events on their website.
One of its main attractions is St. Teilo’s church, a recovered medieval Welsh sanctuary which, beneath the reformation plaster, was revealed to hide original thirteenth century artwork which is now in the process of renovation. It starkly throws into question the pre-conceived ideas of what an austere, early-age church should look like as the patterns are vibrant and eye-catching.
As well as the buildings, the Museum of Welsh Life also contains a library, manuscripts collection and video-audio archive documenting life in Wales through the ages. Amongst the collections are a number of specific themes such as "cultural life", including musical instruments and costumes; "agriculture": farming equipment from the 18th to the mid-20th century; "corporate life" housing business and trade items. There is something for everybody.
The museum is open 10am-5pm daily, including bank holiday Mondays and as it is one of the National Museums of Wales, there is no entry fee, which makes it a perfect day out on a budget. Most of the site is wheelchair accessible appart from certain historical buildings. Disabled parking is available and wheelchairs can be booked on request from the centre itself. For enquiries, telephone: +44 (0)29 20573500.
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