The much loved national festival is renowned for its art, literature, music, dance, architecture, sport and science pavilions, but never before has a specialist history area been offered to festival goers. But that’s all about to change at this year’s Eisteddfod in Montgomeryshire, thanks to funding from HLF.

On Saturday 1 August, the Powysland Club history group (the County historical society for Montgomeryshire, est.1867) will unveil the brand new ‘Local History Place’ on the Maes, Y Lle Hanes.

Having worked with more than 28 groups (five of them national organisations, the remainder local history groups and societies) and up to 200 volunteers throughout the year, the pavilion will present the historic and cultural landscape of Montgomeryshire as its theme. It will encompass individual heritage stories from across the county, including research displays, collaborative exhibitions, audio-visual materials and a book stall related to local history.

Visitors to the Eisteddfod are being encouraged not only to drop into the tent, but also to share their own local history stories and memories of the area with organisers.

It is hoped that this inaugural Local History Pavilion will pave the way for future Eisteddfodau and that it will become a regular feature in forthcoming festivals, focusing on the local history of different counties as the celebrated event relocates around Wales from year to year.

The Powysland Club also hopes that the new pavilion will help to generate a wider interest in the importance of Welsh language in Welsh history, as well as creating an interesting and valuable resource for the future. Much of the material created will be uploaded to the People’s Collection Wales website as well as copies placed with Powys Archives, the National Library of Wales and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales.

Visitors to the Eisteddfod can visit the Y Lle Hanes pavilion from noon on Saturday 1 August until the festival finishes on Saturday 8 August.

For more information on the Eisteddfod please visit the official website.