Casgliadau Arlein

Wooden stool with a woven seagrass seat. Made by a residential patient in a woodwork class at Hensol Hospital. The items made by the patients were sold to staff, relatives, visitors, and to members of the public by word of mouth.

Collected as part of the 'Hidden Now Heard' oral history project. Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, this three year project (2014-17) led by Mencap Cymru captured the histories of residents, their families and staff from six former long stay hospitals in Wales for people with a learning disability. The hospitals included: Bryn y Neuadd Hospital, Llanfairfechan; Ely Hospital, Cardiff; Hensol Castle Hospital, Pontyclun; St David’s Hospital, Carmarthen; The North Wales Hospital, Denbigh; and Llanfrechfra Grange Hospital, Cwmbran.