Understanding Traditional Welsh Mills
Learn about traditional Welsh water and windmills: understand, record, and experience a working watermill
The Welsh Mills Society is offering three training days that are open to members and the public during Summer 2022.
Each training day will cover a different topic and participants are not required to attend all sessions.
Attendees need no previous knowledge of wind and water mills.
Participants will get an insight into the amazing heritage of mills in Wales and hopefully have a fun day out!
Attendance cost: £10 per event
Understanding
The first of the Training Days will be held at St Fagans National Museum of History (Postcode CF5 6XB) on Saturday 11th June 9.30 – 16.00. There will be a number of presentations in the morning, on the history and significance of the many uses of wind and water power, and on how mill sites can be discovered and researched. In the afternoon delegates will look at the variety of water powered mills now reconstructed on the museum site.
The number of attendees is limited to 25 and we will make use of the facilities at the Museum throughout the day. Please note that there is a charge of £6 per day to park at the museum.
Recording
The second day, on Wednesday 13th July 10.00 – 16.00, we will explore Felin Uchaf, a former corn mill at Ystradfellte in the Brecon Beacons (Postcode CF44 9JF). This will be a field based day. The mill site dates back to the fourteenth century, but went out of use in the nineteenth century. Walls have collapsed and the millstones and iron machinery lie part-buried under the rubble. The aim of the day is to carry out some hands-on surveying to record what remains of this important site. Due to the nature of the site attendees will have to consider Health and Safety issues in examining the mill. We will be moving some of the rubble in order to examine the machinery and make a record of the mill therefore a reasonable level of fitness will be required to fully participate. Because of H&S considerations attendance will be limited to 10 for this training day.
Experience
The third day, will be spent at a working corn mill, examining the processes and equipment in use, and learning about the craft of milling grain. This is a rare opportunity to experience a traditional working water mill and be shown how mills are run and maintained. We are very pleased that two millers have agreed to open their doors and so we can offer the following options:
Wednesday 17th August – Felin Ganol, Llanrhystud near Aberystwyth, https://felinganol.co.uk (Postcode SY23 5AL)
Saturday 20th August – Y Felin St Dogmaels, Cardigan https://y-felin.com (Postcode SA43 3DY)
For both mill days the numbers are limited to 12.
These training events are supported by Localgiving and the People’s Postcode Lottery
Booking arrangements
Bookings for each event will be available through Eventbrite using the following links.
Understanding
St Fagans Saturday 11th June – Book here
Recording
Felin Uchaf Wednesday 13th July
Experience
Felin Ganol Wednesday 17th August
Y Felin Saturday 20th August
Full details, joining instructions etc will be provided in advance. In the meantime, if you require any further details, please email us at membership.welshmills@gmail.com
Due to the nature of the training we are unable to offer refunds once booked, however you can transfer the ticket to someone else provided you send us their details.
Welsh Mills Society – public events terms and conditions
For all events the following will apply.
Welsh Mills Society training days are all about enjoyment, but to ensure our events are enjoyable for everyone, we do have a few Terms and Conditions.
We consider Health and Safety to be important for all Participants and require you to read and review this statement and indemnity waiver form which establishes our level of commitment to your health and safety.
Any participant who has symptoms of Covid-19 or is in close contact with someone with Covid-19, on the day of their planned event, must not attend.
Participants must adhere to the following rules:
- Participants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible adult who should remain on site for the duration of their stay.
- Welsh Mills Society will put in place all reasonable site specific safety measures and sanitisation procedures in line with Covid-19 good practice. guidance, participants accept that there is a possible risk of airborne or surface transmission of a variety of diseases, infection and viruses, which includes the possibility of Covid-19.
- All Participants are advised to wear face masks and other relevant safety equipment.
- Participants must always follow the instructions given by event organisers. We have the rights to terminate your activities should you not comply with our instructions. If this should happen you will not be entitled to any refund or re-booking.
- Participants will remain responsible for their own safety.
- Participants accept that, as outlined below, you have a duty to take reasonable steps to ensure your own safety, taking into consideration any personal medical conditions that you may have.
- Participants will agree to attend responsibly and not put the health and wellbeing of other participants at risk.
- By booking this ticket, you confirm that you have read and understood the safety requirements as set out above and will listen to all instructions from Welsh Mills Society organisers and venue staff.