YOUNGSTERS from a Torfaen school have teamed up with members of the community to make a 10-metre long tapestry of a local legend. 

The children at Ysgol Bryn Onnen in Varteg have produced a tapestry telling the story of ‘Mynydd Garn Clochdy’, with support from the Blaenavon Intergenerational Group.

As the story goes, the Devil tried to thwart villagers’ attempts to build St Cadoc’s Church at Trevethin by taking away stones laboriously placed during the day, until a bell tower was built as an alarm.

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Teacher Gareth Watkins said last year’s pupils turned the legend into a book, and this year’s class have now turned that into a tapestry, with each of the pupils contributing a panel of the story.

Mr Watkins said he had been on holiday in Fishguard, and after seeing The Last Invasion Embroidered Tapestry, got the idea to build on last year’s book.

He contacted the intergenerational group, and they met with the children remotely, before then contacting Torfaen Museum, who agreed to display it. 

Pupils Mason Craufurd and Ffion Wright said: “We enjoyed learning about the story and re-telling it to the members of the Blaenavon Intergenerational Group.

“We’ve all learnt how to print, weave and sew.”

South Wales Argus: The Blaenavon Intergenerational Group helping to make the tapestry. Picture: Torfaen council.The Blaenavon Intergenerational Group helping to make the tapestry. Picture: Torfaen council.

Blaenavon Intergenerational Group member, Ann Ford, said: “I haven’t done any sewing or weaving for a long time, so I’ve really enjoyed getting back into it through this project. 

“It was lovely to see the children on the screen telling us about the legend, which I’d never heard of before.”

Caitlin Gingell, assistant curator at Torfaen Museum said: “The museum is thrilled to be displaying the work of our local school children and to celebrate their partnership with Blaenavon Intergenerational Group. 

“We hope everyone will come along to see the finished project.”