Whitland Abbey - Open Doors Event
Whitland Abbey – mother Abbey for the Cistercians in Wales, once a thriving community of over 100 monks, a place where princes were buried, a place closely linked by faith to both France and Ireland – now a largely forgotten ruin.
Well, that was the case until recently.
In 2021 for the first time Whitland Abbey was part of the CADW Open Doors celebration of the heritage of Wales. On Friday 24th and Saturday 25th September between 10.00am and 6.00pm there were a wide range of special attractions there that gave visitors some idea of what life was like when Whitland Abbey flourished in medieval times.
Many visitors arrived using the specially laid on park and ride service, others took the more medieval route and walked to the event, using the Whitland Abbey Byway from Whitland itself.
There was so much happening over the two days: informal tours, quizzes and children’s activities, demonstrations of archery, scything and medieval armour for example, as well as oversized outdoor games such as Jenga, Connect4 and Noughts and Crosses to keep all ages entertained. All this plus stalls with medieval related items for visitors to browse and buy. Light refreshments were available and proved very popular, as did just sitting in the late summer sunshine and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.
Thank you to the hundreds of people (seriously – there were at least 430 of you!) who came, and for your wonderful comments about the event. Yes, we have been inspired by how positive they were, and we are hoping to put more events on at Whitland Abbey in the coming months and years – watch this website!
Thank you especially to Mother Christine of the nearby Holy Cross Abbey who opened the event with a beautiful blessing, and who spoke of the history of Whitland Abbey, and its links with her Abbey and the wider Cistercian community.
Whitland Abbey is a CADW scheduled monument, recognising its importance in the history of Wales. Thank you for also recognising its importance and coming along to celebrate Whitland Abbey with us.
Abaty Hendygwyn ar Daf – Mam Abaty y Sistersiaid yng Nghymru, unwaith yn gymdeithas ffyniannus o dros gant o fynachod, mangre lle claddwyd tywysogion,
lle a chysylltiad agos crefyddol a Ffrainc ac Iwerddon – nawr yn ddim ond murddun anghofiedig.
Wel, dyna oedd y sefyllfa tan yn ddiweddar.
Nawr am y tro cynta’ mae Abaty Hendygwyn yn rhan o Ddathliadau treftadaeth Cymru Drws Agored CADW. Ar ddydd Gwener, Medi 24ain. a dydd Sadwrn Medi 25ain. rhwng 10.00y.b. a 6.00 y.h. fe gynhelir ystod eang o atyniadau arbennig i gyfleu rhyw fath o syniad o fywyd yn y cyfnod pan oedd yr Abaty yn ei anterth yn yr Oesoedd Canol.
Mae cymaint yn digwydd dros y ddau ddiwrnod: teithiau anffurfiol, cwisiau, gweithgareddau plant, arddangosfeydd saethu bwa saeth, pladuro a arfwisgiau ganoloesol er enghraifft, yn ogystal a gemau awyr agored anferth megis Jenga, Connect4 a Noughts and Crosses i gadw pob oedran yn hapus. Hyn oll a stondinau
yn cynnwys eitemau ganoloesol lle gallwch bori a phrynu. Fe fydd bwyd ysgafn ar gael a chan fod digon o le, pam na ddewch chi a’ch picnic eich hunan, eistedd nol a mwynhau’r awyrgylch?
Mae Abaty Hendygwyn ar restr cofebau CADW, sy’n cydnabod ei bwysigrwydd yn hanes Cymru. Mae wedi ei leoli allan yn yr awyr agored, gyda thir garw naturiol, felly cofiwch hynny – gwisgwch ddillad ac esgidiau addas. Prin yw’r cyfleoedd parcio, felly pam na cherddwch chi yno ar hyd lwybr cerdded yr Abaty i ddechrau eich hymweliad fel llawer i un arall ar hyd y canrifoedd?
Edrychwn ymlaen i’ch croesawu ar y 24ain. a’r 25ain. Cysylltwch a ebost@hywel-dda.co.uk am fwy o wybodaeth. Gwiriwch ein tudalen Weplyfr https://www.facebook.com/WhitlandAbbey/am fwy o fanylion am ddigwyddiadau a gweithgareddu. Os am wybod mwy am yr Abaty cyn dod i’n gweld, ewch i http://whitlandabbey.wales/
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