Meet Peter Richards, a passionate volunteer at Neath Abbey.
Discover more about the Abbey’s history and why it fascinates him, as well as what he loves about Neath Port Talbot, by reading his story below:
“I’m Peter Richards, a Neath person born and bred. I’ve always been fascinated by history, and when the chance came for me to volunteer at Neath Abbey and work on the ironworks, I grabbed it with both hands.
“Neath Abbey has been described by John Leland as ‘the fairest Abbey in all Wales’ and I can’t disagree with that! It has witnessed some of the most tumultuous events in our history over the last 2000 years – having been a monastery, a Tudor gentleman’s house, and an industrial works.
“Neath’s heritage is absolutely phenomenal – there’s so much here that no one really knows about. I strongly believe it’s our duty to preserve this heritage for the sake of future generations, and we can do this by encouraging more people to visit the Abbey and learn all about its fascinating past.
“People look at Neath Abbey and think ‘oh, it’s just an Abbey’, but it’s so much more than that. It’s been a monastery, and ironworks, and even the Romans were here once upon a time. It’s impossible not to feel connected to the history of this place when you’re standing on these grounds.
“I’m so proud to be a Friend of Neath Abbey. The volunteers here are such a marvellous team of people, and they’ve worked so hard over the past eight years to really turn this site around and preserve it for future generations.
“People make a place, I’ve always said this, and the people of Neath are a lovely lot. The strong heritage here, combined with the character of our community, really goes a long way in ensuring we all take pride in our place – and I’m incredibly proud of this place.”