A seven-foot artwork in the form of mild steel gates has arrived at new home, St Davids Bishop’s Palace, ready to welcome visitors for the summer tourism season.

The impressive sculpture - the latest from Tintagel ‘Gallos’ creator Rubin Eynon - features a number of interpretive details designed to reveal clues to the 700-year old site’s lavish history - a tale dominated by the power and wealth of its medieval bishops.

Intricately cast bells reflect the Palace’s neighbouring cathedral - the lifeblood of the Palace’s former residents - while checkerboard details hark back to the original quartz stonework found on the Palace walls, which are believed to have sparkled in sunlight, adding an undeniable touch of Medieval ‘bling’.

The structure was carefully manoeuvred into position at the original Palace entrance, offering a fresh welcome to the site’s modern visitors, thanks to a £25,000 investment from the Welsh Government’s historic environment service (Cadw).

The piece took 600kgs of steel and five months to create. It was carefully crafted by Llanbradach blacksmith Glen Adams, using both traditional forging and contemporary laser cut techniques, to allow maximum precision for the gate’s minute details.

Rubin Eynon, designer, revealed his inspiration for the heritage arts project. He said: “St. Davids Bishop’s Palace is famed for its status as home to one of the richest and most powerful religious orders of the day.

“The bishop’s power was nowhere more apparent than in the lavish style in which they built the Palace, and I want these new gates to help modern day visitors get a sense of that extravagance from the moment they arrive at this magnificent site.

“I hope the gates can provide a beautiful and insightful taster of the story that lies within the Palace walls.”

The gates are set to become one of the flagship attractions at the St Davids Bishop’s Palace, which attracts 25,000 visitors each year.

Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, who also has responsibility for Culture and Tourism, said: “We’re overjoyed to welcome the new interpretive gates to St. Davids Bishop’s Palace, where they can be appreciated by locals and tourists alike.

“A huge amount of work and expert craftsmanship went into the finished piece, and it shows. Cadw is always looking at new and creative ways to tell the stories behind Wales’s historic sites, and this fusion of heritage and interpretive art offers a truly one-of-a-kind welcome to our best-preserved palatial gem.”

Visitors can enjoy the gates as part of a visit to St. Davids Bishop’s Palace, which is open daily throughout the summer.

Those who make the trip are being encouraged to share their adventurous experiences on social media by using the hashtag #HistoricAdventures.

For site opening times, prices, and more info, visit www.gov.wales/cadw.