Learning and education

Our educational workshops are the perfect way for children and young people to engage with local history

y Gaer education service

y Gaer is an exciting and inspirational development bringing together the refurbished Museum and Art Gallery and a new 21st century town library.

The Museum is located within the Grade II* listed former Brecknock Shire Hall, and presents a restored Assize Courtroom, Victorian classroom, craft gallery, an art gallery and a temporary exhibition space. There are also two social history galleries, which are full of the history of Brecknockshire. The new Library includes a dedicated children’s library area and a Creative Learning Room, which doubles up as our school pack lunch area.

Make a booking

 

To make a booking/discuss your requirements, please contact the Education and Access Officer directly on 01874 623346.

About our offer

 

Whether you are planning a class visit to y Gaer or for the Education Officer to visit your school, we aim to link our facilitated sessions to the National Curriculum for Wales and, where appropriate and possible, to the history of the local area.

The workshops are delivered in a variety of ways and include ‘hands-on’ activities, which encourage children to think and find out for themselves. Sessions are available throughout the year and are based on the resources and artefacts at y Gaer. If there is a particular topic we have not covered, please ask, as it may be possible for us to accommodate your requirements. All sessions are tailored for a half-day and can be adapted for pupils from Foundation Phase to Key Stage 4.

We also offer additional workshops linked to temporary exhibitions, festivals and other events in Brecon; these are run in partnership with other organisations, sometimes at external venues, and are advertised separately.

Education workshops

The Victorians and 19th Century life

Victorian wash days
This is a very popular workshop where pupils will have first-hand experience of handling real and replica artefacts such as a dolly tub and scrubbing boards. Also suitable for work on water or homes in the past.

Victorian toys, games and pastimes
A fun workshop of learning how toys have changed over time. Pupils will have the opportunity to make some toys of their own and play Victorian parlour games.

Victorian homes
Using a handling collection of real and replica household items pupils will have the opportunity to see how Victorian housekeeping was managed without the aid of electricity. A practical rag rugging workshop is also available.

Victorian schooldays
Pupils will have the opportunity to re-enact a 19th century school day in our Victorian School room. Copperplate writing and experiencing pupil punishments from a strict Victorian teacher are all part of the educational role-play fun.

There is a class set of Victorian costumes for children to wear for any of the sessions listed.

Victorian seaside

This session uses a handling collection of real Victorian Seaside artefacts and allows children the opportunity to write a Victorian style Postcard, make a hand puppet and experience a ‘Punch and Judy’ theatre.

Llan-gors log boat

Pupils can learn all about the ‘crannog’ on Llan-gors Lake near Brecon. Who might have lived on this artificial island? They can discover some of the treasures excavated from the site that was inhabited during the 9th and 10th Centuries AD, this includes a log boat recovered from the lake bed in 1925.

19th Century transport

This workshop allows pupils to find out about 19th Century transport by road, rail and water, and how it compares to today’s transport systems.

19th Century law and order

Pupils will learn about Brecon’s original Assize Court, which is housed within y Gaer. The Courtroom has been restored to its original grandeur, and pupils can explore its holding cells and re-enact real local Victorian crime cases. 19th century law and order artefacts can also be investigated.

19th Century agriculture

Pupils will have the opportunity to see how 19th century Welsh agriculture has evolved to the mechanical farming industry of today. Our Brycheiniog Gallery displays an array of farming artefacts from butter pats to hand-fed winnowing equipment. The story of the ‘Epynt Lost Villages’ can also be taught.

The story of Tommy Jones

With the use of a locally made film and original photographs, the story is told of the little boy Tommy Jones, who went missing in the Brecon Beacons on August 4th, 1900. Pupils can see artefacts from the time in our Brycheiniog Gallery. This is an effective debate workshop - What did really happen to Tommy?

Celts workshop

Using replica artefacts and a time travel story, children can have an overview of Celtic life. Follow up activities include clay pot making and basket weaving.

The Romans

Pupils will have the opportunity to learn how we find out about the past by looking at what people leave behind. Roman artefacts and a replica handling collection are used to explore life in Roman times, including Life as a Roman Soldier and Roman Food.

Adelina Patti

Pupils will have the opportunity to find out about the life of Adelina Patti, the highly acclaimed 19th century opera singer who lived locally at Craig-Y-Nos Castle, South-West of Brecknockshire. There are many interesting Adelina related artefacts for the pupils to see in our Brycheiniog Gallery and they can hear a recording of her singing. There are also other Ystradgynlais-linked displays to see.

The Monmouthshire and Brecon canal

An illustrated talk is offered on the history of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, which can include a walk & talk along the Canal. Summer Term workshops in partnership with The Canal & River Trust are also available.

Welsh lovespoons workshop

Pupils can learn all about the tradition of Welsh Lovespoons and see a large range of crafted artefacts in our craft gallery. After learning about the different carved symbols, the pupils can have a go at designing their own lovespoon.

Changes in Brecon - town trail

This is a free resource using packs of old photographs of Brecon. Designed to be used on a walk around the town to see how it has changed over the last 100-150 years.

Loan of resources

We have Victorian, Roman and Tudor loan boxes, which can be borrowed by schools at a cost of £10 if collected/returned or £20 if delivered/collected by y Gaer staff.

Library visits

The library offers a range of additional activities for all ages, including the opportunity for a class story-time, Lego Club or Coding session. These relaxed activities offer a warm welcome to the wide range of events happening at y Gaer and give the opportunity for pupils to explore what their library and museum have to offer them and their families.

Facilities

 

Our facilities include:

  • Bus drop off/collection point directly outside the main doors on Glamorgan Street

  • Changing Places Room

  • Lunch area and gardens

  • All spaces are fully accessible for wheelchair users, apart from the Shire Hall Cells

Fees

 

For all outreach visits there is a standard charge of £65 per half day for the first booking by a school in a financial year; for second and subsequent bookings by the same school in the same financial year there is a charge of £55 per half day. 

Group visits to y Gaer will be charged at £45.00 per half day.

An additional small charge per head (£0.50-£2.50) for craft materials is also made where applicable and if required this will be discussed at the time of booking.

Workshops can be assisted by a Welsh speaking volunteer on request and all powerpoint text and worksheets are bilingual.

Risk assessment

 

All our activities are risk-assessed. Please contact the Education Officer for a copy of the relevant risk assessment form if required.

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