Impact case study database

The Strata Florida Project commenced in 2006, building on research undertaken at UWTSD by the Project director, Prof. Austin, which identified that there was the potential for the development of a high-quality and multi-period narrative which could underpin major impact through heritage development (see Consultants’ reports) . The long-term research and business plan set the objectives of establishing a new entity, the Strata Florida Centre, which since 2016 has delivered impacts in four interdependent programmes of work : 1) heritage conservation, not only for the historic archelogy of the Abbey and its historic environment, but also primarily, for the purchase and conservation of Mynachlog Fawr, comprising an at-risk group of redundant historic buildings, including a gentry house (grade II*) which began life in the later 12th century as the Abbey’s refectory and four outbuildings (grade II) immediately adjacent to the historic monument itself. The historic buildings, now purchased and undergoing a programme of preservation / restoration are developing facilities and resources for: 2) economic regeneration, 3) heritage interpretation and development, and 4) community engagement. While these outcomes been developed over the whole life of the related projects, the impacts detailed below related to those which have occurred since August 2013, subsequent to which saw the launch of the heritage project with a clear and sustainable strategic programme.

Mynachlog Fawr and the Strata Florida Trust.

In 2006, in order to acquire and conserve Mynachlog Fawr, Prof. Austin established, under his chairmanship, the Strata Florida Trust as a charitable company (number: 1117469) legally independent of the University, although its Board of Trustees has strongly reflected the close working relationship between the two who have worked closely to deliver the work programmes. This work has focused on using the underpinning research to establish the national historic importance of the site with national and international heritage agencies, government bodies and charities, thereby establishing the case for investment in the site. In this respect the Strata Florida Trust has, since 2014 , established partnerships and/or the support of the following research funders, heritage bodies and administrative authorities: AHRC (2018), Cadw (the Welsh Government's historic environment service), the World Monument Fund (2016), Ceredigion County Council / Welsh Government (2018), the Princes Foundation (2018), National Heritage Lottery Fund (2020), Cambrian Heritage Regeneration Trust / Ashley Family Foundation (2015), the Allchurches Trust (2019) and private benefactors (2016). The support of these bodies has secured over £2m in capital and revenue funding enabling the Trust to acquire Mynachlog Fawr in 2016 and commence conservation of the buildings. Support has included private benefactor £308,000 for acquisition of the buildings (2016), £160,000 from the Rural Communities Development Fund (Ceredigion County Council) and matched funding for restoration and conversion of the Beudy (2018), at total of £178,000 from the World Monuments Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund for the Ty Pair conservation and conversion (2020), £70,000 from the Laura Ashley Family Foundation / Cambrian Heritage Regeneration Trust for purchase, conservation and Trust cost (2015, 2020), £155,000 from the Princes Foundation for additional support for Beudy Project, a third Options Appraisal report and Business Plan, conservation Management Plan add Condition and Buildings Surveys (2018-19). Further support of £75,000 has been secured from the European Union and Ceredigion County Council LEADER programme for a Community Engagement Officer, and from the Allchurches Trust (£177,000) for 3-years funding for an Archaeology Summer School. Other donations of £20,000 were secured for events in 2017.

Heritage conservation.

While the overarching heritage and economic imperatives for this support and funding are for the furtherment of research, teaching, training, cultural performance and regional development through tourism, the immediate and urgent objective was to save the buildings, in particular the grade II* gentry house as part of the historic monument itself, from further deterioration (surveys undertaken during 2008 and 2012, funded with £64,000 from Architectural Heritage Fund; Ceredigion County Council; Welsh Government and the Princes Regeneration Trust had identified that all the buildings were severely at risk). Work with consultants was therefore undertaken during 2018-19 to create a programme of conservation, including both Fabric and Condition Surveys and a Conservation Management Plan. While all the buildings have now been stabilised and protected from immediate further decay, restoration of one of the buildings (Y Beudy) was completed in 2019 for use as an office, meeting, exhibition and research space. Further support, funding and business planning was secured for the further development of the site during 2020 as set out below, with work on the second Grade II listed building (Tŷ Pair) commencing in Sept 2020 with the grants from the World Monuments Fund (the first project they have ever supported in Wales) and Heritage Lottery Fund. The Trust will be conserving and repairing the building to create a free-to-enter space telling the story of the farm through the “Mynachlog Fawr in 30 objects” exhibition. Featuring a variety of objects and documents from the farmhouse and farm buildings, it will provide the opportunity for visitors of all ages to discover and engage with the social history of the house and community. While the full launch of the Strata Florida centre is not planned prior to 2023 (and has been delayed by the Covid 19 pandemic), the centre will form the base for Heritage Skills Training and other related training delivered with a range of external groups from primary to post-graduate level. However, the business planning and support required to see the launch of the centre has been established as of 2020, with strategic partnerships in place for the heritage interpretation and development with the National Library of Wales, the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales and the Prince’s Foundation, and full working relations with Cadw, the National Museum of Wales, Ceredigion County Council, the Strata Florida Community Council and a number of community organisations and individuals. To this end, the three remaining buildings will be restored and put to use over the next two to three years as museum, residential and public events venue.

Economic Regeneration

As noted, the work to date has secured the future of five historically important buildings and enhanced the spiritual meaning of Strata Florida as a sacred location, it has also raised the local, regional and Welsh national, as well as international, awareness of the importance and potential of Strata Florida’s iconic place in the nation’s history and culture. This has been further endorsed by the whole project being adopted as a site of world importance by the World Monuments Fund while Cadw has now recognised the site as one of the ten most important historic monuments in Wales. While these are important in their own right, the creation of the centre where this will be celebrated and converted into sustainable economic activity has, since 2016, had important economic benefits for Ceredigion, which ranks as one of the most deprived areas in the UK, and indeed Europe. As detailed in Eurostat figures, West Wales has been classified as a struggling region defined as areas with a GDP per head of the population worth 75% or less of the EU average. Since 2014, the Strata Florida Trust has used the research to engage with public agencies involved in the regional development of tourism and infrastructure, and is included in the Mid Wales Regional Plan for Targeted Regeneration (in consideration).

Likewise the Centre’s business plan identifies 11 areas of income generation feeding into the local and regional economy including extensive use, as policy, of local providers, including conservation builders, local professional craftsmen with heritage skills, tourism and hospitality businesses shops, transport firms and other business outlets and implementation of commercial activities including an annual archaeological field school (AFS), and the appointment in 2019 of three members of staff. While the majority of the investment and economic impact since 2016 has been based on the heritage conservation, commercial and heritage activities have commenced with the AFS (3 seasons initially, with £177,000 from the Allchurches Trust and commercial income, but intended as an on-going programme). This is based on training and qualification for a next generation of field archaeologists needed for major infrastructure projects like HS2 in Britain for which there is a short-fall. Analysis by Cebr, undertaken for Historic England ( The heritage sector in England and its impact on the economy A report for Historic England, October 2018), which is based on ONS’ national accounting framework, suggest that for every £1 of GVA generated by the heritage sector, an additional £1.21 of GVA is supported in the wider economy through indirect and induced multiplier impacts of the sector. Indirect impacts are generated in the supply chains supporting the heritage sector, whilst induced impacts are generated when the direct and indirect (supply chain) employees spend their earnings on domestic goods and services. Using this model, the £2m direct investment into Ceredigion has contributed an estimated GVA of £4.42m to regional development.

Community Engagement

A central strategy of the Trust’s work, upon which much finance, support has been based, is the importance of work with the local community, through outreach work, partnerships with local schools and support for local heritage sites and assets. In this respect, heritage-led regeneration initiatives undertaken have used the heritage assets to help stimulate wider environmental, economic and community regeneration. The AFS for example also works closely with Operation Nightingale, Breaking Ground Heritage and others on making it accessible for military rehabilitation, disability and disadvantage clients, providing an important contribution to well-being. To ensure these benefits are maximised, the project has appointed a Community Officer (2019-21, in the first instance) and has undertaken extensive and ongoing engagement with local and regional communities through open days, events, personal and other interaction, such as the creation of a Community Liaison Group. The project has also worked closely with local primary schoolchildren and their teachers through ‘the Abbey School’, raising their awareness of their own history and heritage, promoted awareness of the new narratives and the site’s heritage value through over 100 lectures and major public events on site, including the creative arts (about two-thirds in the current REF period). It has produced public access material including web-site, hard print, guided tours and other activities, all helping to build interest and engagement in the overall objectives, and made regular appearance in national media (including Times and Guardian and several television programmes and news items).