Tomorrow (Saturday, November 8), there will be a celebration of the completion of the Vortipor Project in the Millennium Hall in Llanfallteg.

The results of the project achieved in the two phases of the project and information about the grant scheme will be on display. Complimentary refreshments will be available in the hall from 2-4 pm and everyone is welcome to attend.

The Project

Between August 2011 and the conclusion of the project in October 2014, the Henllanfallteg Community Association and the Llanfallteg History Society were successful in obtaining grants in excess of £17,000 from the Carmarthenshire Landscape and Heritage Grant Scheme to fund the Vortipor Project. The money were awarded on the basis of match-funding and volunteer work being contributed by the two associations.

The Vortipor Project initially provided an interpretive panel that details the history of the Vortipor stone and the making of the replica. It uses the stone as a focus for other information about the communities of Henllanfallteg and its environs. The interpretive board contains a QR Code (Quick Response Code) that can be scanned so that additional information can be accessed through dedicated pages on the village website.

The grant also allowed us to establish three trails or walks around the village.

Subsequently, the the facilities at the hall have been upgraded to enhance the ability to explore and communicate more about the cultural and historical heritage of this area of West Wales.

It is intended that the project will increase awareness of the history and culture of the Llanfallteg area and the wider region. Many of the sites and much of the local history is forgotten or obscured by time and neglect.

The trails will encourage visitors to explore the countryside and the flora and fauna in the area more widely and to engage with the local scene.

The following volunteers gave freely of their time, their knowledge, experience and expertise to make the Vortipor Project a success. The work included research, writing, translation and proof reading, computing, photography, illustrations and graphic design as well as coordination and project management and budgeting. Mike and Heather Bearman, John and Janet Cooper, Eve Edwards, Mrs. Eynon, Peter Icke, Dave King and Graham and Lynn Meredith.

Graham Meredith acted as project manager.

The Community Association and History Society are grateful to Jamie King Media, Phil Wait Design and Monddi Design for their work on the website, the panels and the books and to Eirian M. Williams for the translation services.

A great deal of thanks is due to Emyr Price the grants officer and his colleagues at the Twyi Centre in Llandeilo for their help and advice throughout the duration of the project.