Elsa's Cottage

This exhibition recreates the interior of a traditional farmhouse, based on Penrhiwbeili, a farm cottage near Talog in west Carmarthenshire. This small but relatively prosperous farm changed little from the late 18th century until its modernization in 1985. Through its layout, furnishings, and everyday objects, the cottage offers a rare glimpse into the continuity of farming life and domestic tradition.

Visitors can look through the windows to see the kitchen and the parlour, connected by a hallway where wooden stairs once led to the family's sleeping quarters in the loft. The parlour was originally a cattle shed, a reminder that people and animals shared the same building. Later additions, such as the small kitchen, reveal how spaces were developed to facilitate tasks like butter and cheese making and daily farm work. Beyond the house lay barns, sheds, and stables, forming a working farm.

Elsa's Cottage comes to life through a rich display of domestic and personal objects. Pottery, glassware, tea sets, jugs, and tankards sit alongside practical household items such as baskets, aprons, mats, and kitchen utensils. Souvenirs, gifts, and decorative pieces reflect pride in the home and connections beyond the county, while handmade textiles and tools convey skill, frugality, and care.