Working Behind the Scenes at St Fagans, National Museum of History

A chilly morning Sunrise at St Fagans National Museum Of History

Since joining the Building and Estates team at St Fagans National Museum of History, I’ve had the chance to be part of something truly special. The museum isn’t just a collection of buildings—it’s a living, breathing site of Welsh history, and I feel proud to help care for it.

I work alongside conservation carpenters, stonemasons, and traditional craft makers, supporting the upkeep of the site and helping preserve its historic structures. Watching these skilled craftspeople apply age-old techniques—whether it’s timber framing, lime plastering, or hand-forging iron—has deepened my appreciation for traditional building methods and their place in the modern world. It’s a constant reminder that sustainable, thoughtful work has always existed, and still holds relevance today.

One of my favourite parts of the job is talking to visitors from all around the world. Whether it's answering questions about a particular building or explaining how something was constructed, I enjoy sharing the history behind the work. There's something powerful about connecting people with their heritage through material and craft.

The hands-on experience I gain here feeds directly into my own sculptural practice. It reinforces my belief in working with care, using local materials, and respecting the stories embedded in place and process. St Fagans is more than just a workplace—it’s a source of inspiration and a reminder of the value of keeping tradition alive.