Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

The Tywi Centre is opening its doors for an open day next month and inviting people to find out more about Heritage. This event on Saturday April 21, which is free to all visitors, will open between 10am and 5pm will be held at the Tywi Centre, Dinefwr Farm, Llandeilo. Heritage can mean different things to different people, which is why a diverse programme of talks, demonstrations and workshops has been organised for the day. Anyone interested in old buildings can learn about the traditional skills that are crucial for maintaining and repairing old buildings appropriately. Heritage training officer Tom Duxbury said: “there will be a host of demonstrations and workshops during the day such as thatching, carpentry, stonemasonry and lime work which will give visitors a taste of some of the courses that will be held at the Tywi Centre.” During the day visitors can enjoy a series of talks including ‘Maintenance and Repair of Old Buildings’ with CADW’s Jill Fairweather, and enjoy an update o...

The Tywi Centre in Llandeilo is running a series of short courses aimed at rediscovering and developing traditional building skills. The courses will provide an opportunity for individuals to develop theoretical and practical skills and knowledge needed to look after old buildings and natural habitats in a traditional and sustainable manner. The courses are ideal for builders, building professionals, farmers, landowners and homeowners or any onewith an interest in heritage. Courses include thatching, building with lime, using traditional and ecological paints, hedge laying and dry stone walling, to name a few. All of the courses will be delivered by experts and specialists within their field. Given that one third of dwellings in Wales are of traditional pre-1919 generally solid wall construction, it is vitally important that the correct materials and methods are employed, otherwise Carmarthenshire is at risk of losing a substantial part of its built heritage. The Tywi Centre is at ...

A new scheme to train people in Heritage Building Skills has been officially launched at an Open Day in Llandeilo. Carmarthenshire County Council has been awarded a £662,400 Heritage Lottery Fund grant to provide local people with opportunities to acquire traditional heritage building skills. Training will be particularly targeted to attract younger people and women and will include lime plastering, stone masonry, slate and tile roofing, carpentry and joinery. The scheme will cover Carmarthenshire; Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. The Heritage Bursary Open Day was a great success with potential trainees travelling from far and wide to find out about the scheme. During the day visitors were able to learn more about the skills needed to restore and maintain old buildings effectively. These skills are currently in great demand but short supply. Visitors were given the chance to try their hand at plastering with lime under the guidance of Nigel Gervis from Ty Mawr Lime. Nigel also explained t...