Community Restores Ancient Dharmasala at Ban Lad Temple
Wat Salaekhuean temple restored a century-old wooden dharmasala with help from conservators, students, and residents, combining heritage preservation with educational outreach on traditional Thai craftsmanship and conservation techniques.
Sanprasert Panniayam explained that Wat Salaekhuean is an ancient temple dating from the late Ayutthaya to early Rattanakosin period, housing one historical dharmasala believed to be over 100 years old. The carved wooden structure had been stored for safekeeping after the temple renovated its sermon hall. When the temple committee expressed interest in restoring the dharmasala, the university's conservation unit coordinated with the Phranakorn Khiri National Museum to oversee the work while providing educational guidance to residents and school students on preservation techniques.
The restoration partnership involved monks, local administration, cultural networks, and textile expert Thanit Pumsai, who taught students how traditional Thai patterns featured in the dharmasala could inspire design work. "This project represents community participation from home, temple, school, and relevant agencies," Sanprasert said, "serving both heritage preservation and educational outreach while building local pride."
Museum director Prajin noted that conservation work began with careful cleaning of the dharmasala's carved wooden components featuring inlaid gold and decorative glass, using gentle dusting and cotton swabs before reassembly. The hands-on activity engaged students, monks, and residents in understanding conservation as cultural inheritance. Resident Samang Nutchompoo, known as "Aunty Toom," shared that the dharmasala originally stood in the temple's older sermon hall for monastic teachings before being relocated and stored when the hall required rebuilding. The new abbot and temple committee have now launched its restoration and reinstallation.
