Hywel Dda Centre
Hywel Dda Centre
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
About
Amazing historical information centre and symbolic gardens run by volunteers. Dedicated to the laws developed by King Hywel Dda .
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
11 reviews
Excellent
6
Very good
4
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Myrddin78
8 contributions
Apr 2023
There is a lovely coffee shop in the atmospheric interpretive centre and the wall panels give a fascinating insight into the development of laws that were fair to all. I was told that guided tours are possible by arrangement and give more in depth details on aspects of the laws. The pocket gardens are divided into different themes representing the laws. It was very peaceful sitting in the gardens overlooking the moon shaped lily pond. There is no fixed entry fee to the main building but donations are welcome. The gardens are free and there were leaflets there to describe the inscriptions on the decorative slates.
Written April 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StellarSofWales
S of Wales169 contributions
Aug 2012 • Friends
This is a fascinating insight into the progressive laws of 10th Century Wales. It is a small but highly tasteful concept of interpretive history, designed beautifully to show one of the most advanced legal and social frameworks of its time.
Book a tour guide as this will help you understand and interpret the gardens. We had an excellent tour, and did not notice time passing while we strolled through the 6 gardens each of which represents a different aspect of the laws of Hywel Dda.
The garden which details the laws for women is particularly well thought out.
The design is all related to feminine features, the rights of women in society were more advanced in 10th century Wales than in Victorian England!
There are interpretive slate plaques beautifully illustrated showing each law. Why was the 'Sarhead' the best form of punishment for wronging? How do you claim compensation from buying a poor horse? How much does a cat cost when it can catch mice? How did they deal with murderers?
A must for anyone interested in the world of the Celts!
Book a tour guide as this will help you understand and interpret the gardens. We had an excellent tour, and did not notice time passing while we strolled through the 6 gardens each of which represents a different aspect of the laws of Hywel Dda.
The garden which details the laws for women is particularly well thought out.
The design is all related to feminine features, the rights of women in society were more advanced in 10th century Wales than in Victorian England!
There are interpretive slate plaques beautifully illustrated showing each law. Why was the 'Sarhead' the best form of punishment for wronging? How do you claim compensation from buying a poor horse? How much does a cat cost when it can catch mice? How did they deal with murderers?
A must for anyone interested in the world of the Celts!
Written August 4, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lynn S
Carmarthen, UK23 contributions
Jul 2013 • Friends
An interpretive centre with a series of small gardens each with its own symbolic tree reflecting on the different divisions of the laws of Hywel Dda or Hywel the Good, "King of all Wales" in the tenth century. Peaceful and well maintained. Entrance is free but the plaques on the walls are in old Welsh so it is best to pay £2 a head for a guide who will explain all in either English or Welsh! The laws of Hywell Dda were very progressive - women could divorce their husbands and emphasis was put on restitution for the victim.
Written July 17, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew H
Tenby, UK173 contributions
Apr 2019 • Solo
My heart sank when faced with a wait of over an hour between trains at Whitland. It's a peaceful little town but not, perhaps, the most exciting in Wales, Then, wandering aimlessly round the streets and checking my watch, I stumbled on this gem of a place. I was greeted by a very helpful volunteer who stopped his gardening work to give me a brochure and guide and then left me in peace to read them. The story illustrated by the Gardens & Interpretive Centre is fascinating but, most of all, the place is an oasis of tranquility. It was very relaxing to sit in the garden in the sunshine, read the information and listen to the volunteers conversing in Welsh as they tidied up the shrubbery. I expected nothing of Whitland but found far more than I deserved.
Written April 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katherine R
Carmarthen, UK19 contributions
Sep 2019 • Couples
It’s expensive for what it is. A lot of it you have to ‘imagine’ they say. Interesting but a hard read. Staff were a mine of information . Once is enough.!
Written September 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lifshitz
7 contributions
Jul 2017
Very informative centre focussed on the laws and life of king Hywel Dda who died in 949/950. The main building is constructed to reflect a mediaeval style and houses a detailed history of Hywel Dda. It even contains a facsimile of the Boston book which is beautiful.
The information is all bilingual inside, and an English guide book is available to translate the garden stones in the original Welsh. The garden comprises of different areas of Welsh law and is very well kept and peaceful.
Inside is also a small section of relevant books about Wales and hywel dda for sale, amongst other objects. This is very fairly priced.
Entry cost is £3 for an adult which is great value compared to national trust houses etc. There is a donation box inside for those who feel this is too little to pay to visit.
Thank you to the helpful young woman who welcomed us and recommended places for lunch. Good luck :-)
Diolch
TG
The information is all bilingual inside, and an English guide book is available to translate the garden stones in the original Welsh. The garden comprises of different areas of Welsh law and is very well kept and peaceful.
Inside is also a small section of relevant books about Wales and hywel dda for sale, amongst other objects. This is very fairly priced.
Entry cost is £3 for an adult which is great value compared to national trust houses etc. There is a donation box inside for those who feel this is too little to pay to visit.
Thank you to the helpful young woman who welcomed us and recommended places for lunch. Good luck :-)
Diolch
TG
Written July 27, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emyr T
Crymych, UK27 contributions
Nov 2016 • Family
cyfres o erddi addurniadolo yn portreadu bywyd hywel dda - person dylanwadol a gyflwynodd gyfresw bo gyfreithiau sylfaenolo i'r gentry slawer dydd. rheolir y ganolfan gan nifer o leolion dylanwadol, a chynhelir byn achlysurolo nosweithiau diwylliannol, gydaqg arlwyadau danteithiol tu hwnt. i'w argymell yn gynnes am ymweliad trwy drefniant ymlaen llaw
Written July 17, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Owen P
Aberystwyth, UK74 contributions
Aug 2016 • Business
Beautiful centre in a lovely Welsh town, commemorating one of the world's first enlightened lawmakers - Hywel Dda (Hywel the Good)
The centre itself is packed with historical details about how the laws were made and their relevance to the 9th century and today; free to enter!
The interior of the centre is lovely, but the piece de resitance is the garden - ornamental, and split into five secition representing different aspects of lawmaking. Compact and serene, strangely calming being in the proximity of artifacts.
Well worth a visit, it located quite close to the A40 so has good access
The centre itself is packed with historical details about how the laws were made and their relevance to the 9th century and today; free to enter!
The interior of the centre is lovely, but the piece de resitance is the garden - ornamental, and split into five secition representing different aspects of lawmaking. Compact and serene, strangely calming being in the proximity of artifacts.
Well worth a visit, it located quite close to the A40 so has good access
Written August 24, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary K
Farnham, UK103 contributions
Jul 2014 • Couples
Unfortunately it was raining but we still found it a fascinating place which deserves more visitors. The garden interprets the first written laws - completely unique. They could do with some better signposting in the town!
Written July 6, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
valleysgirl2015
Neath, UK63 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
We had passed by on the A40 many times and never had time to stop, so finally made the effort to make a special trip. It is quite small, but well designed and incorporates a lot of modern artwork to tell the story of Hywel Dda who codified the laws of Wales in the 10th century. These laws were very enlightened and still have a great deal of resonance today. It is particularly interesting to note the role of women in the society and also the emphasis on restitution rather than punishment,
Written July 8, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beverley T
Berkshire, UK5 contributions
Hello, when are your opening times, thanks
Myrddin78
8 contributions
Garden open daily all year, Centre open for tours by arrangement September to May then open most days in the summer
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Claim your listingHywel Dda Centre - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Hywel Dda Centre
- Hywel Dda Centre is open:
- Mon - Mon 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Tue - Fri 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Sat - Sat 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
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Hywel Dda Centre Information
Excellent Reviews | 6 |
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Very Good Reviews | 4 |
Hywel Dda Centre Photos | 15 |