Poet's writing shed back in place

The shed is back on its clifftop perch

A shed in which Dylan Thomas wrote some of his most celebrated works has been put back in its original position following a £20,000 renovation project.

It doubled up as an inspirational workshop for the writer, who used it to pen Under Milk Wood.

The shed - which was most recently used as a garage - received a facelift ahead of the 50th anniversary of the writer's death.

Caitlin used to lock him in there between two and seven to write, because she knew they needed the money

Lorraine Scourfield, curator

The small structure will once again sit perched high on the clifftop above Laugharne, the picturesque town in west Wales where Thomas lived with wife Caitlin.

The structure once appeared in one of Thomas' poems, described as a "sea-shaken house on the breakneck of rocks".

Craftsmen have spent the past two months removing and replacing all the rotten wood.

The shed had been patched up so much since it was put up in the 1920s that they had difficultly deciding which sections were original.

About 25,000 tourists descend on the Boathouse each year but many more visitors are expected in Laugharne for next year's celebrations.

The shed is being spruced up part of a £100,000 programme of general repairs being carried out at the nearby Dylan Thomas Boathouse over the next few months.

Dylan Thomas died 50 years ago next year

Lorraine Scourfield, curator of the Boathouse, said: ""The shed was where he would retreat from his family to have peace to write.

"The view is superb - he got a lot of his inspiration from there.

"The story is that Caitlin used to lock him in there between two and seven to write, because she knew they needed the money."

Restored

It was the first time the shed had ever been moved from its position.

Part of the stone wall alongside was also taken down and rebuilt.

All the original furniture has been restored and will be replaced in the writing shed.

The renovation programme is being supported by Carmarthenshire council, CADW and the Wales Tourist Board.