Handmade Preserves at our shop at Felin Wen
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Since 1992 we have been based at Felin Wen (Welsh, meaning White Mill). In the mill we have a small shop and tasting area, so that visitors can try out the preserves.
The mill was a corn mill built in the mid eighteenth century on the site of an older mill. It was worked until the mid 20th century, and since it was water powered, it is sited between two streams. As well as being a mill it was a farm so there is a farmhouse, granary, dairy, cowshed and pigsty - all built in the same local stone as the mill.
Some of the stone is known locally as "bluestone". It comes from the Preseli Hills in mid Pembrokeshire and is the same stone used to build the inner ring of Stonehenge. How it got from here to Wiltshire four thousand years ago is still a mystery.
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There are only five acres of land now - the farm was sold off and the mill stripped out soon after the second world war. And the only livestock we have is ducks - Indian Runners and Iron Age pigs. Thee ducks are great characters, who lay pretty pale blue eggs (delicious), and keep the local slug and snail population well under control. They are so free ranging that we do not know where they are for much of the day, and they don't fly but they DO run in an Indian file. And they always come home at sundown for their corn, and to sleep In the pigsty. Sadly we have foxes nearby and they hunt them even during the day so that we occasionally lose ducks. The pigs eat and dig! They keep the woodland clear.
Half of our land is old woodland, and most of the rest was replanted with mixed deciduous trees in 1995. We won an award from the Welsh Forestry Commission for creating a wildlife habitat. The trees are growing well and there is a pathway through them which makes a pleasant walk. The farmhouse has been restored, as have all the buildings, and is available as a holiday cottage - sleeping eight people (nine, if you have a baby). We are always glad to see visitors and are open from 9 till 5 on weekdays all year round, and other times by arrangement. We sometimes have visitors in the evening as well - usually small W.I groups who arrange to come and see the kitchen. Also we can open by appointment on weekends and Bank holidays.
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Wendy
Brandon Handmade Preserves
Felin
Wen, Boncath
Pembrokeshire, SA37 0JR, Wales, UK
Tel +44 (0) 1239 841568
Fax +44 (0) 1239 841746
E-mail: wendy@wendybrandon.co.uk |
How to find us:
Nearly 1 mile from Boncath on the Bwlchygroes Road at the bottom
of the hill, on the right. Map Ref: SN 215375
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Wendy
Brandon Handmade Preserves,
Felin
Wen, Boncath,
Pembrokeshire, SA37 0JR, Wales, UK
Tel +44 (0) 1239 841568
Fax +44 (0) 1239 841746
E-mail: wendy@wendybrandon.co.uk |
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