The National Slate Museum turns 50 years old this week – only a spring chick! I’m ashamed to say that I’ve yet to visit in 2022 (I know!) so I have to pop over this week to join in with the celebrations. So what’s happening to celebrate a fabulous birthday?
Week Long Celebrations
As with any major birthday milestone, it’s no longer a day’s celebration but a week long celebration! They start today and according to the website here’s what’s going on:
- Weds 25/5 & Sat 28/5 – Wil Ffitar – former workshop fitter prepares for his first day of work as a museum guide
- Thurs 26/5 – What’s Wood Got To Do With it? – Peredur Hughes provides a talk and a tour about the role of wood at the Museum
- Thurs 26/5 (online) & Sun 29/5 (in person) – 5 Decades of Collecting – Cadi Iolen provides an online talk about the collection at the Museum.
- Fri 27/5 – Unique Inclinations & Wonderful Waterwheels – the slate incline and waterwheel will be in operation at various times of the day.
- Sat 28/5 – Slate Splitting Demonstrations – watch the fascinating slate splitting in action
- Sat 28/5 – Willow Weaving Workshop – create a bird feeder holder with Eirian Muse
- Sat 28/5 – Strike Off! Blacksmiths at Work! – the forge will be alive with the resident blacksmith and three other local blacksmiths going about their work.
- Sat 28/5 & Sun 29/5 – Family Activities – miniature train ride (yes!), art cart, traditional games at the Quarrymen’s Houses (*), foundry sand pit, slate decorating (sunday only)
- Mon 30/5 – Lates – Young People – special event for 12-15 year olds with screen-printing, willow weaving, seed planting, journal creating, pizza and more!
- Tues 31/5 – In Conversation with Dr Dafydd Roberts & Cadi Iolen – former Museum keeper Dr Dafydd Roberts chats with Cadi Iolen (curator) about the museum.
(* Fron Haul or as I call them “Tai Tanygrisiau” as they were taken down brick by brick from Tanygrisiau and rebuilt at the slate museum)
Highlights
I must say that it sounds like a wonderful week of celebrating! The events I look forward to seeing is the slate incline in operation on Friday, the family activities over the weekend, the 5 Decades of Collecting and In Conversation with Dr Dafydd Roberts & Cadi Iolen. Ok let’s be honest I want to see it all! Actually I’m definitely going to attend the event on Tuesday as I’ve had the pleasure of being on one of Dr Dafydd Roberts’ guided tours and he is fascinating!
I must admit, the special event for 12-15 year olds sounds fab! Unfortunately I’m way too old to attend! 🙁
Will you be attending any of the birthday events? Be sure to let me know if you do! So all let me round up this post by wishing the National Slate Museum a very big
