National Wool Museum

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What will students see and do?

Explore the story of the Welsh woollen industry at The National Wool Museum.

The museum is housed in a former woollen mill in Dre-Fach Felindre in the picturesque Teifi Valley. The mill was built between 1902 and 1912 – the height of the industrial revolution.

A visit to the National Wool Museum allows students to explore and learn about how the wool industry here produced clothing, shawls and blankets for both the workers of Wales and the rest of the world.

The museum tells the story of textile production and the wool industry through demonstrations, displays of still-working historic machinery, a textile gallery and hands-on learning workshops for school groups. Topics include:

– Fleece to fabric
– The woollen industry and the Victorian era
– 60s fashion
– Feltmaking
– Weaving
– Explorer boxes
– Washday

Once the centre of the woollen industry in Wales, Teifi Valley bore the nickname, “The Huddersfield of Wales.” The growth of the woollen industry around Dre-Fach Felindre led directly to the town’s development as an industrial community. Wool mills remained the primary employers in the area until well into the 1980s.

In addition to a museum tour and workshop, students can experience the effects of the industrial revolution first-hand when they walk along the village trail. This self-led one-hour tour allows students to see to the sites of old factories.

Young people will discover the differences between the way the workers and mill owners lived and learn about the effects industry had on the town’s growth. This activity is appropriate for pupils in Key Stages 2-4.

You should plan for your students to spend at least three hours at the museum.

Minimum and maximum group size

A maximum of 20 people (students and adults) can visit each day. The museum recommends you use the following adult to student ratios:

Ages 5-8: one adult for every six students

Ages 8-11: one adult for every 10-15 students

Ages 11+: one adult for every 15-20 students

Opening times

April to September: 10am-5pm daily

October to March: 10am-5pm, Tuesday to Saturday

Pricing

Admission to the Wool Museum is free. However, there are fees for certain school programmes. A member of the learning team can review the available programmes with you and their costs (if any).

School groups must book at least two weeks ahead of their visit. Once confirmed, you’ll receive a written confirmation. To book your visit, phone 029 2057 3070.

Travel arrangements

The National Wool Museum in Dre-Fach Felindre is about four miles southwest of Newcastle Emlyn – a ten-minute drive along the A484. Brown road signs point the way.

It’s a 30-minute drive north to the museum from Carmarthen by way of the A484 or the B4333. From Swansea, it takes just over an hour to drive up using the A48. It’s a two-hour coach ride from Cardiff via the M4 and A48.

Coach parking is available in the large car park. Enter the first car park to offload then continue over the bridge to the large car park. Upon arrival, students should remain on the bus until the group leader has signed in.