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Away from the traditional seaside resorts there are plenty of other activities that can be enjoyed.

Travelling east, near the boarder with Carmarthenshire, there are a number of attractions that are worth a look. One of these is the Slate Workshop near Llangolman, established and run by Richard and Fran Boultbee.

The Slate Workshop was set up in 1985 at Pont Hywel Mill by the couple after they moved to Pembrokeshire to escape the rat race of London and enjoy a more peaceful life out in the countryside.

Richard and Fran were living on a smallholding a few miles from Llangolman when a old mill and cottage was put up for sale directly opposite the Gilfach quarry which produced the wellknown Pembrokeshire green slate until 1987.

Slate production in Pembrokeshire may largely be forgotten now but it was very well-known during the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th.

Pembrokeshire slate was in great demand all over the UK, mainly due to the attractive colours which ranged from purply-black to green and silver-grey.

Richard Boultbee started out sculpting and making pots, planters and troughs to hold the alpines and perennials that Fran specialised in. But before long the range of items was expanded, countless requests for house names and numbers started the ball rolling. The Slate Workshop now produces headstones, memorials, and ornamental pieces like clocks and bookends.

Fran said: "Richard had always liked doing slate sculptures, even at college.

So when we saw this place up for sale opposite the quarry we jumped at the chance. Lots of people still want the Pembrokeshire slate but it is rare, and only really available in small pieces."

Now Welsh slate is synonymous with northern Wales but at one time there were around 100 quarries in Pembrokeshire that employed hundreds of workers. In 1897 an advert for products from the Gilfach quarry showed a list of all the buildings which has been roofed with slates from the quarry. There were 40 listed and they included Keble College, Oxford, as well as various other buildings such as mansions, schools, railway stations and churches.

Richard only ever uses Welsh slate for his work, including the Pembrokeshire slate when available, but much of his slate now comes from Corris, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Penrhyn. Up until ten years ago, all designs were made using the traditional tools of dummy and chisel but the high rate of demand for pieces led to the Boultbee's investing in a sandblasting machine. This not only makes the process quicker but also more economical for those on a budget.

The old mill includes aa workshop and a small shop where many of the beautiful items are on display, but if you don't see anything that grabs your fancy (unlikely as that is) Richard also produces pieces on commission.

"I am self-taught and kept really busy, we do get a lot of commissioned work.

People like to have the bespoke pieces, we can produce virtually any design someone wants" said Richard. Richard now makes sundials after one was requested as a special gift and proved to be immensely popular. Richard is a member of the British Sundial Society and all dials are accurate as well as ornamental. The workshop has sent them as far afield as New Zealand, Holland and the USA.

The Slate Workshop is down a long and winding road, which also boasts some amazing views across the valley, but it is very easy to find. Richard and Fran have placed striking slate signs directing visitors and there are clear maps available from their website if you are in doubt. The showroom is open from 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday all year round. Visit www.slate-workshop.co.uk or call 01994 419543 for more details.

3:49pm Monday 3rd December 2007

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