The group of volunteers who look after Whitland Abbey organised an exhibition last week at Whitland’s Memorial Hall, displaying pictures, diagrams, articles and artefacts associated with the Cistercian Abbey ruins.

The aim of the event was to show local people what information had been collected about the Abbey recently and encourage them to get involved with the preservation of the ruins.

The exhibition lasted all week, allowing members of the public to visit on any day from Monday to Sunday. Local schools brought groups of children to the exhibition who enjoyed seeing what the Abbey probably looked like and marvelled at the sheer size of the church in its heyday. Visitors were able to dress up as monks or nuns, practise writing using calligraphy and using a quern to grind corn or wheat to make flour - just like the ancient monks used to do.

“I really enjoyed reading all the information and dressing up as a nun.” said a pupil from Ysgol Dyffryn Taf.

A slideshow included random photographs of past open days at the Abbey and stone work recovered during the latest excavations. A Narberth visitor’ commented that it was an “excellent exhibition with such informative displays,” while a Whitland resident complimented the “really interesting facts and splendid visuals.”

The organisers were pleased with the turnout, with visitors from as far afield as Rhondda and Telford, and they hope to run further events for the general public in the future.