
National Wool Museum
Museum, free entry
Dre-fach Felindre,
Near Newcastle Emlyn,
Llandysul,
SA44 5UP
Details
The National Wool Museum displays tell the story of the Woollen Industry through working machinery, archive material, and exciting hands-on displays and textile gallery.
Wool was historically the most important and widespread of Wales's industries and the National Wool Museum is housed in the historic former Cambrian Mills which made shirts and shawls, blankets and bedcovers, woollen stockings and socks sold throughout the world. The picturesque village of Dre-fach Felindre in the beautiful Teifi valley was once the centre of the thriving woollen industry, earning the nickname 'The Huddersfield of Wales'.
On your visit to the museum which holds the National Textile Collection, you can follow the process from Fleece to Fabric and visit the sympathetically restored listed mill buildings.
The Museum houses a wide variety of historic machinery used in the woollen mills of Wales including the electric powered Willower - the ‘willy’ or ‘devil’ - is used to disentangle wool with its large revolving drum, covered with rows of iron spikes, opening up the wool in preparation for carding.
The Carding Engine was invented in the 18th century. The carding engines comb the wool after it has been willowed, preparing the fibres for spinning. Cambrian Mills had four carding engines, 20 meters long and weighing 10 tons each. They were vital for mass production, because poorly carded wool would keep breaking when spun, wasting time and money, and reducing the quality of both the yarn and cloth woven from it.
A raised walkway gives a unique view of textiles in production at Melin Teifi, the site's commercial woollen mill, while the Textile Gallery displays aspects of the National Flat Textile Collection.
The National Wool Museum has excellent visitor facilities and a café and shop and not only tells the fascinating story of the wool industry in Wales but also supports the production of fabrics in traditional Welsh patterns by a working mill, which can be seen in operation within the museum.
Opening Details
Open all the time
April - September: seven days a week from 10:00 - 17:00
October - March: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 - 17:00
Open public holidays excluding Christmas and New Year.
Prices
Free entry
Address
Dre-fach Felindre,
Near Newcastle Emlyn,
Llandysul,
SA44 5UP
Location and nearby places
Directions
Map reference: SN 355390 Lat: 52.02495 Long: -4.39902
Located 4 miles east of Newcastle Emlyn, 16 miles west of Carmarthen off the A484. Follow the brown tourist signs for the National Wool Museum.
Parking: free
Accessible by Public Transport: 16 miles from Carmarthen station
Facilities
Baby changing facilities
Coach parties accepted
Credit cards accepted (no fee)
Disabled toilets
Education/study area
Facilities for groups
Facilities for educational visits
Gift shop
On-site catering
On-site light refreshments
Picnic site
Public toilets
Wheelchairs available
Accepts groups
Facilities for conferencing
Children welcome
Mobility Accessibility Facilities
Dogs not accepted (except guidedogs)
Smoking not allowed
Self-Assessed Accessibility Details
Parking
Designated parking for guests with disabilities
Within 50 metres approx. of entrance
- The surface of the car park and pathway leading to entrance:
is solid
Drop-off point for guests outside entrance
- The route from the parking area to the entrance:
Is flat (i.e. without steps)
Public Areas
- Level access (no steps/thresholds) or access by ramp or lift:
From the entrance to reception / ticket area
To a specially adapted public toilet suitable for wheelchair users
To the gift shop
Good contrast between the floor and walls
Baby changing facilities
Hearing loop installed in public areas
General
Hearing loop system
Seating available for visitors with limited mobility
Clear signage
Good colour/tonal contrast for visually impaired visitors
Wheelchairs provided
Free
Routes/pathways suitable for wheelchair users or visitors with limited mobility
Displays at suitable height for wheelchair users / children
Audible alarm system
Visual alarm system
Entrance
Entrance is well lit
Food
Level access (no steps/thresholds) or access by ramp or lift to cafeteria
Good contrast between the floor and walls
Menus available in large print (14pt and over)
- Restaurant / cafe provide meals for visitors with special dietary requirements:
Sugar free (diabetic)
Gluten free (coeliacs)
Lactose free (dairy free)
Low potassium
Low sodium
Nut free
Additive free
Organic
Vegetarian
Vegan
Seating suitable for wheelchair users, ie moveable and good height for person sitting in a wheelchair
High chairs for children
Children's menu