Wales Feed

Historic castles in pop-up cinema venture

2014-01-30T14:05:47+00:00

Over the next two weekends two of the most picturesque spots in south Wales will be transformed into cinemas as part of a series of public film screening events.

Cadw and Chapter Arts Centre host film screenings at Castell Coch and Caerphilly Castle this February. © Cadw, Welsh Government (Crown Copyright), 2013

Castell Coch and Caerphilly Castle will provide the atmospheric surroundings for the pop-up cinemas as part of a drive by Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, to engage more people with Wales’ historic monuments.

This weekend (1-2 February) audiences will be able to watch Tangled - Disney’s 2010 re-telling of the traditional fairytale Rapunzel - in the environs of Wales’s own fairytale castle, Castell Coch, while the following weekend (8-9 February) Caerphilly Castle’s Great Hall will add a touch of true gothic horror to screenings of Bride of Frankenstein and 1922 vampire classic Nosferatu.

There will also be screenings of the Johnny Depp classic Edward Scissorhands at both venues.

As well as the stunning setting, there will be special effects and live soundtrack performances to create a whole new layer of sensory experience for film-goers.

I caught up with Ffion Reynolds, Cadw’s public engagement manager and the organiser of the events, to find out what sort of experience is in store.

She said: “This is a pilot project which we hope will prove successful as we would love to roll it out to other historic sites in Wales.

“We’ve teamed up with Chapter Arts Centre to host some of their Darkened Rooms events as we aim to use the arts to inspire visitors to think about Wales’ historic monuments in a different way.

“I would love to have similar events at places like Tintern Abbey, Raglan Castle and at sites in Denbigh and Caernarfon. There’s so much potential but we just need to see if the appetite is there first.”

Caerphilly Castle. Photo: Steven Jay

The screening of Nosferatu at Caerphilly Castle will be accompanied by live organ music to help build tension for the plot of the classic horror film.

Students from the University of South Wales will also help create specialist lighting effects and artificial smoke will billow out of the so-called murder hole above the portcullis, where historically those guarding the castle from intruders were poised to hurl such delights as boiling water on any unwanted guests.

There will also be smoke and lighting projections at the other films and at Castell Coch, the screening takes place outdoors, so if it is a clear night film-watchers will be able to see a starry night sky above them as they watch. Visitors are advised to wrap up warm.

John Griffiths, minister for culture and sport, said: “Staging well-loved films amongst the grandeur of some of Wales’ most impressive historic monuments is a new and exciting project for Cadw that will bring the sites to life in a different way for our visitors.

“By bringing together heritage and the arts, Cadw can continue to connect with different audiences to increase appreciation of its 129 historic sites.”

Sally Griffith, director of cinema and Film Hub Wales at Chapter Arts Centre, said: “We are excited to bring the pleasurable terror of the gothic and the pure joy of family entertainment to some of Europe’s most important historical sites.

Castell Coch. © Cadw, Welsh Government (Crown Copyright), 2013

“These spectacular settings will give an atmospheric backdrop to some of the most beloved and chilling films ever made, from early silent cinema to more modern thrills.”

Tickets are £6 for family-friendly afternoon events and £12/£10 for evening screenings. They can be purchased at www.chapter.org or by calling 02920 304 400.

For full event listings or more information visit www.cadw.wales.gov.uk, find Cadw on Facebook or follow @CadwWales on Twitter.

The fairytale castles of William Burges

2013-06-10T14:30:13+00:00

No-one who has ever driven past Cardiff on the M4 can have failed to spot the fairytale castle that sits high up on the hillside to the north of the motorway, surrounded by trees and bushes and looking for all the world as if it had just fallen out of Cinderella's most imaginative dream.

This is Castell Coch. While it lies on the site of an earlier medieval fortress, the modern Castell Coch is a folly and, in its present incarnation, was built as recently as the final years of the 19th century. It was the brainchild of one of the most original architects and designers of the Victorian Age, William Burges.

Castell Coch (photo: Arwyn Harris)

Born in London on 2 December 1827, Burges came from a wealthy family that could afford to indulge his fantasies. When, later on, he inherited his father's money it gave him the opportunity to really develop his interests in pseudo medieval Gothic and pre-Raphaelite styles of design.

He studied engineering and trained at King's College in London where he was a contemporary of Dante Gabriel Rossetti. In due course he moved on to gain experience in several distinguished design studios.

In particular, he worked, along with Matthew Wyatt, on the Medieval Court in the Great Exhibition and in 1863 was awarded his first major commission, St Fin Barre's Cathedral in Cork.

As a young man, Burges travelled widely before, in 1856, establishing his own practice in London. He designed not just buildings, but also jewellery, furniture and fittings.

A follower of John Ruskin, he believed in ornamentation – one of the reasons that almost every flat surface in Cardiff Castle and Castell Coch seems to be covered with relief carvings or motifs of birds, animals and historical events.

In a short but explosive career – he was only 53 when he died – Burges designed churches, castles and houses. At one late stage in his career he was engaged to redesign the interior of St Paul's Cathedral but his work was not to the liking of the church and in 1877 he was sacked from the project and the work shelved.

Burges will always be remembered, however, for the two pieces of Cardiff fantasy that still remain and still retain the power to shock the unwary visitor.

William Burges first met the 3rd Marquess of Bute, the great Cardiff landowner and controller of Cardiff Docks, in 1865. It was a significant meeting for both men.

Bute was then regarded as the richest individual in Britain, thanks largely to the success of Cardiff Docks, and between them the two men decided to revamp and reconstruct both Cardiff Castle and Castell Coch. The castles and the land had been in the Bute family for years and Cardiff Castle, in particular, had been allowed to degenerate.

Bute had been converted to Catholicism and loved the ornamentation on many Catholic churches. He was also a medieval enthusiast. It was a meeting of like minds and, Burges quickly realised, this was the chance for him to put into practice all the grand plans and dreams he had harboured for years. The Marquess of Bute let him have his head.

Work began on Cardiff Castle in 1866. It took many years and both Bute and Burges were long dead when it finally came to an end in 1928. Castell Coch's redevelopment began in 1872 and was only finished in 1891.

Although Burges lived and maintained his base in London, he did run the Bute Workshops as a training ground for future craftsmen. Amongst others, the sculptor Goscombe John – who was later to create to statue of Lord Ninian that now stands in Cathays Park – learned his trade in the Bute workshops.

Cardiff Castle and Castell Coch remain a wonder of opulence and ornate design. Turrets and towers soar towards the Heavens while, inside the buildings, woodwork and plaster seem almost to come alive before your eyes.

They are both phenomenal pieces of architecture and design but it is amazing to think that, for over 100 years, they were largely ignored by artists and historians.

Only with a rebirth of interest in Victorian architecture in the 1970s – thanks, somewhat, to the enthusiasm of poet laureate John Betjeman - did people finally realise what they had in these two great buildings!

William Burges did not live to see either of his two dream projects achieve fruition. He was on a tour of the works in Cardiff in April 1881 when he was caught in a rain squall. He caught a chill but was determined to go home to London. He was dead within three weeks, breathing his last on 20 April 1881.

Interestingly, almost the last visitors to see this remarkable man were the writer Oscar Wilde and his friend, the painter James Whistler.

William Burges was an innovator and a man of vision. Cardiff Castle and Castell Coch remain majestic achievements, a true tribute to an incredible man.

Oystermouth Castle calendar competition

2012-03-26T11:10:00+00:00

The City and County of Swansea together with the Friends of Oystermouth Castle are looking to produce a 2013 calendar for Oystermouth Castle, that features photographs of the castle taken by the public.

Oystermouth Castle

They are looking for recent, as well as past photographs of the Oystermouth Castle to create a calendar that will be sold at the castle when it reopens in June, and a few outlets in the Mumbles area through the summer.

Andrea Clenton, project manager for Oystermouth Castle said:

"We've seen lots of stunning photos of the castle, and we're sure that visitors over the last few years will have their own memories and photographs of this magnificent structure. If you have any that you'd like to submit for possible inclusion, then we'd love to see them."

Photos sent in will be added to a slideshow of images on the Oystermouth Castle website, with the very best being appearing in the calendar.

If you would like your photograph of Oystermouth Castle to be considered for the calendar, email the picture to marketing@swansea.gov.uk. If your photo is chosen for inclusion in the calendar, you will receive a credit your photograph and as well as a printed version of the calendar.

The competition closes at the end of April 2012.

Oystermouth Castle was founded by William de Londres of Ogmore Castle early in the 12th century. The well-preserved castle stands on a small hill with a magnificent view over Swansea Bay in the resort town of Mumbles.

Work began on Oystermouth Castle in the autumn of 2010 to undertake essential works to conserve the castle structure.

The castle interior has a 30-foot high glass viewing platform

The castle temporarily re-opened last summer complete with new visitor facilities, an educational space and a 30 foot high glass viewing platform and bridge that leads to Alina's Chapel.

The completion of ongoing conservation works at the attraction will soon allow people to explore parts of the castle that have been inaccessible for generations.

The majority of work was originally scheduled to be complete in 2014 but funds from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Visit Wales mean contractors are aiming for an end of May finish. The castle is due to re-open on the Saturday 16 June 2012 with a medieval tournament.

Find our more about the competiton and events taking place at Oystermouth Castle on the City and County of Swansea website.

Rare opportunity to explore historic Swansea Castle

2012-02-20T15:30:00+00:00

At the end of this month, Swansea Castle is being opened up for public tours. It's only the third time in decades that people will have the chance to explore the historic building.

Swansea Castle (Photo: City and County of Swansea)

The castle is being opened up for public tours on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 February as part of Swansea Council's St David's Week celebrations.

Visitors will be able to access parts of the castle including the whole of the first floor, several vaulted rooms of the medieval castle and the cells of the 18th century prison.

Swansea Castle was originally founded in about 1106 by Henry de Beaumont, who was later given the Lordship of Gower by King Henry I. It originally consisted of earthworks and timber defences.

After various unsuccessful attacks by the Welsh, the castle fell in 1217 but was restored to the English in 1220.

William de Braose III built the new castle that survives today at the end of the 13th century as a set of private apartments for his family and himself that was later crowned by its distinctive battlements. The building has served many purposes over the centuries including a barracks and a drill hall.

The surrounding buildings were badly damaged in the blitz of 1941 but today you can still see the tower containing the debtor's prison and William de Braose's new castle built within a corner of a walled bailey.

If you would like to tour Swansea Castle, please visit www.swansea.gov.uk/swanseacastletour to book a tour.

Oystermouth Castle re-opens to the public with family fun day

2011-07-14T10:23:40+00:00

Oystermouth Castle re-opens to the public this Saturday (16 July) after undergoing a £1.7m makeover. Live medieval music, falconry and archery displays will form part of the family fun day.

The castle, which sits majestically overlooking Swansea Bay at Mumbles, was established by William De Londres early in the 12th century. Read about the history of this fantastic castle and the development plans on the Wales Online website.

There are features on a range of Welsh castles on the BBC Wales History website.

Re-enactment of the storming of Conwy Castle scrapped

2011-05-06T10:03:17+00:00

Today's Daily Post carries an interesting story on the scrapping of a re-enactment of the English storming Conwy Castle.

The event, organised by the town's Chamber of Commerce, was due to take place on Saturday 4 June to mark the 610th anniversary of the English forces' successful taking of the stronghold.

However, Cadw, the division of the Welsh Assembly responsible for heritage have opposed the event because it was "out-of-line" with their own version of events.

Last month, there was a successful re-enactment of the taking of Conwy Castle by Owain Glyndwr.

The decision to cancel the event seems to have puzzled some of the town's residents.

According to the newspaper article, one local businessman is quoted as saying: "I have heard some people were very upset by the thought of the English retaking the castle.

"I was told that although it is historically correct, it doesn't need to be celebrated. It's a shame as I think it's political correctness gone mad, I'm staggered."

Read the full story on the Daily Post's website.

Burges' stained glass panels return home to Castell Coch

2011-04-01T10:28:38+00:00

The future of two extremely rare William Burges-designed stained glass panels has been secured following their purchase for £125,000 by Cadw, the Welsh Assembly Government's historic environment service.

Cadw's Inspector of Ancient Monuments , Rick Turner, with the two panels

The panels, which were once part of a set of 20 for the chapel at Castell Coch near Cardiff, will go on public display at the fairytale castle in the summer.

Burges designed a timber-framed chapel springing out of the roof of the Well Tower which was fitted with the stained glass panels. The chapel was demolished sometime before 1891 and the 20 panels were recorded as being stored on site in 1901.

Castle Coch, near Cardiff

Ten of those panels are on display in a gallery at Cardiff Castle while eight more are displayed in a model of the chapel in the attic room of Castell Coch's Well Tower. The whereabouts of the two missing panels had been a mystery until they failed to sell at an auction last year.

Rick Turner, Cadw's Inspector of Ancient Monuments, said:

"The panels show a variety of Welsh and British saints and key biblical figures and are of the highest quality Victorian stained glass. William Burges' work attracts enormous worldwide attention and the price reflects the artistic genius of the man and the rare quality of these glass panels."

Speaking about the acquisition, Alun Ffred Jones, Heritage Minister, added:

"I am pleased Cadw has been able to secure these important glass panels which now means all 20 original panels are back in Wales for the first time for over a century."

Find out more about Welsh castles on the BBC Wales History website.

Castles of conquest and oppression

2011-02-08T16:24:37+00:00

When we have visitors come to stay, friends or relatives who have, perhaps, never been to Wales before, one of the first things many of us do is take them out to see some of the majestic ruined castles that still dominate our landscape.

Caerphilly Castle. Photograph by Somira Jain.

This is Wales, we say, these are part of out heritage. And they are - but most of us remain unaware that the majority of these great stone edifices aren't Welsh at all.

They are English and were built with the sole purpose of grinding down the populace, of keeping the Welsh people in subjugation.

That doesn't make them any less magnificent - as pieces of architecture, as weapons of war. But it is good and only right that we should know and pass on their original purpose.

When Dafydd, brother of Llywelyn, the last true Prince of Wales, was captured and executed at Shrewsbury in 1283 it left Edward I of England in total command of Wales. The Statute of Rhuddlan, signed in 1284, set out the principles on which Edward intended to rule his newly acquired territories.

From the beginning it was clear that he intended to rule as an autocrat, a conqueror who had little or no concern for the Welsh people and their traditions.

Boroughs on the English style were created at places such as Aberystwyth and Caernarfon and new Marcher Lordships were brought into existence in border regions like Chirk and Denbigh. A system of courts in the English style or format was also introduced, along with the imposition of English criminal law.

In order to ensure adherence to the new systems Edward built castles, huge stone monsters that were power bases for English Lords and English arms.

In the south several stone-built castles were already in existence. These included fortresses such as Caerphilly, Cardiff and Pembroke. They had been built by the early invaders of Wales, the Norman Barons who originally arrived with William the Conqueror in the years after 1066.

The very earliest Norman (or English) castles in Wales had been earth and timber structures, motte and bailey castles with a wide courtyard (the bailey) and a motte or mound some 30 or 40 feet high - both Cardiff and Pembroke had, originally, been motte and bailey forts.

The first stone-built castle in Wales was Chepstow, built by the Baron William FitzOsbern in approximately 1067. It retained the motte concept of the early earth and timber castles but added rectangular and, eventually, round or circular towers and keeps.

The Welsh chieftains had quickly copied the castle concept and built a few of their own. After Edward's successes in the 13th century these castles, places like Dinefwr and Drystwyn, were taken over and adapted by the victorious English.

It was in the north, however, traditionally the centre of Llywelyn and Dafydd's power, that Edward built his strongest castles. By 1282, before the Statute of Rhuddlan had even been contemplated, the enormous stone portals of Rhuthun, Denbigh and Holt Castles were beginning to take shape.

The following year work began on places such as Harlech and Conwy. Beaumaris - arguably the most perfect concentric castle in the world - began to take shape late in 1295.

Building castles at the rate Edward demanded did not come cheaply. By 1301, when work had been completed on the majority of his planned fortifications, it was estimated that the king had spent over £80,000 on the building programme. This was a truly incredible figure, one that would now translate to a sum in the region of £60 million.

Building materials such as stone, lead and iron had to be transported to Wales from various parts of Britain and Edward, always conscious of the need to make the castles both defensively effective and, at the same time, emotionally dramatic, employed only the very best craftsmen on each project.

James of St George, the Master of the King's Works in Wales, was the man who designed fortifications like Caernarfon and Beaumaris. He created military masterpieces, works of beauty that took the art of castle building to its zenith.

Caernarfon and Beaumaris are concentric castles, complete with two lines of defence, making them almost - almost but not quite - unconquerable. Caernarfon, with its polygonal towers and lines of coloured stone, the low symmetrical lines of Beaumaris - they might be weapons of oppression but, even now, they remain incredible works of art.

The castles of Wales, most of them English, were powerful units of military occupation. They were the physical manifestation of totalitarianism, the symbol of a dictatorial regime. Without them Edward could never have established and maintained his hold over the Welsh people.

We need to celebrate them for the superb pieces of machinery that they are but we should never forget their original intention.

Read about Welsh castles on the Wales History site.

Wales Nature has just published a fantastic gallery of Welsh castle photographs.

Welsh castles top Visit Britain's 'must see' list

2011-01-13T10:54:06+00:00

A new survey by Visit Britain's suggests that Welsh castles are the main draw for foreign visitors to Britain.

Caerphilly Castle. Image by Sam Pritchard.

Researchers spoke to 10,000 holidaymakers from overseas, who put a tour of Welsh castles as their "must-do" activity on any trip to the UK ahead of a visit to Buckingham Palace, Harrods shopping, a Premier League football match or whisky tour.

Commenting on the survey results, Visit Britain director, Patricia Yates said: "It is striking that touring Welsh castles was so popular - and the top four choices were right across Britain, in Wales, London, Scotland, and England."

Those surveyed were given a list of 18 activities they could undertake while in Britain, and asked to pick the ones they liked the most. Welsh castles topped the list with 34%, ahead of visiting Buckingham Palace at 32%.

Visit Britain also listed the top 10 Welsh castles:

If you'd like to find out more about Welsh castles view our brief guide on the BBC Wales History website.

There are over 600 castles in Wales. You can read comprehensive guides and get visitor information details on Welsh castles on the websites below.

New visitor centre for Harlech Castle

2010-11-01T11:20:19+00:00

CADW, the historic environment service of the Welsh Assembly Government, has purchased a hotel next to Harlech Castle in Gwynedd. The purchase of the hotel and car park, near historic fortress has been supported by the Welsh Assembly Government's £19m Heritage Tourism Project (HTP) and is backed by £8.5m from the European Regional Development Fund.

Harlech Castle

CADW's plans will see the ground floor of the hotel turned into a visitors' centre. The first and second floors of the building will continue to provide accommodation for visitors.

The purchase was funded from the assembly government's £19m heritage tourism project, which is backed by a further £8.5m in European cash.

Harlech Castle has more than 90,000 visitors each year and is a World Heritage Site and of international significance. Read more about CADW's plans in today's Daily Post article.

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