WEST Wales-born writer and actor Sian Harries is encouraging people in Wales to visit the ‘inspiring’ National Wool Museum this summer, as she shares why the museum means so much to her.

It comes as the Drefach Felindre-based museum will increase its opening hours to five days a week from next Tuesday - opening from Tuesday until Saturday.

With more opportunity to visit this summer, Amgueddfa Cymru are encouraging visitors to return and share stories of their experiences there on social media using #MyStoryOfWales.

“Visiting the Wool Museum has always been particularly exciting for me because my great, great grandfather had his own woollen mill in his cottage in Blaenffos, Pembrokeshire.

“I never met him obviously, but I know he made beautiful blankets. We still have two of them and they're so heavy and beautifully made - a true 19th century weighted blanket: I fall asleep as soon as I'm under it.

“By going to the museum you’re not only learning how significant this industry was to Wales, you’re also learning how clever and inspiring industrious local people transferred their home-grown skills to the high yield manufacturing processed of the woollen mills of the industrial era, to produce immaculately crafted materials that were sold all over the world.”

The National Wool Museum tells the story of the woollen industry through working machinery, archive material, displays and a textile gallery.

Wool was historically the most important and widespread of Wales' industries and the National Wool Museum is housed in the historic former Cambrian Mills which made shirts and shawls, blankets and bedcovers and woollen stockings sold throughout the world. The museum houses a wide variety of historic machinery used in the woollen mills of Wales.

The museum remains free to enter. However, to keep visitors and staff safe, the museum has had to reduce visitor numbers on site and to manage this, all visitors will need to book a free ticket in advance at www.museum.wales/wool

Visitors are required to wear face coverings in indoor spaces at the museum in line with Welsh Government guidelines and to follow all safety procedures during their visit.

Ann Whittall, Manager of the National Wool Museum, said: “Since re-opening, it’s been incredible to see so many people safely visit our museums and be inspired by the collections and their experiences.”