Work is beginning on exciting new improvements to the visitor experience of life in the 17th century at Llancaiach Fawr Manor.
The scaffolding is going up and over the top of the much loved Valleys landmark to completely encase it temporarily to enable the roof to be removed and the new one to be laid.
Servants quarters will be built in the attic spaces under the new roof, with funding from Cadw and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The existing roof will be replaced with a slate covering which will last for the next hundred years and more, while floors laid in the attics and vertical oak partitions will allow the he wild residents- the Brown Long Eared bats- to live side by side with the staff who portray the servants of 1645.
Horn lanterns is being installed and specially commissioned pieces of oak furniture are being made to encase the background heating that protects the furniture and furnishings which show life as it was during the civil wars of the mid 17th century.
Fireplaces are being opened up and the chimney stack for the Great Hall is being re-instated so that a roaring fire can once more warm guests in the Great Hall as it did since the Manor was originally built around 1550.
The manor will remain open to the public during the work so that visitors can find out more about the building itself and how specialist building conservation is carried out.
Practical activities relating to the different stages of the work will be available for visitors who can have a go at traditional skills.
Diane Walker, General Manager at Llancaiach Fawr and the project leader said: “I’m really pleased that at last we are getting started on the building works.
“It has been a long time in the planning to make sure that all the details have been carefully worked out to achieve a sympathetic solution to the problems of how to have heat and light fit for 21st century visitors in a recreated 17th century interior.
“I am especially delighted that at long last we will be able to make more of the manor accessible to people with mobility difficulties and that more rooms will be open to our visitors.”