Old lives, new lives

110 years ago a farm worker scrawled his name and the date on the wall of one of our outbuildings, which were already over a 100 years old then. Later during the 20th century the loft above this cart shed was the temporary habitation of an Italian prisoner of war. A man who lived here as boy told me how the Italian had rigged up an overhead bucket as a makeshift shower, the first one he'd ever seen. Also during WW2 a German POW who was billeted  on the farm did even better for himself by winning the heart of the lady of the house and spending the rest of his life with her here in Pembrokeshire.

Now these old buildings are awaiting a new phase in their existence. We have offered them for the use of local project, Hiraeth Hope, that aims to welcome and support refugees and asylum seekers in a variety of ways. The plan is for part of the farm buildings to become a workshop where  displaced people, barred from taking paid employment, can  practice and share skills that will provide them with interest and occupation as well as bring in a little income. Making garden furniture, door and gates, maybe growing vegetables or keeping poultry - who knows what the new beginnings these old buildings may offer?  If they can help to instill hope and mend broken lives then what better use can they have?
I hope I will be able to document the developments as they unfold.