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up in the hills of abergele lies this beauty clearly visible from the a55 i just had to check it out and see this massive marble staircase or what was left of it
explored with slaphead
a bit of history....
Gwrych Castle was built in 1819 by Lloyd Hesketh Bamford-Hesketh, grandfather of Winifred, Countess of Dundonald. Upon the site was an ancient house named ‘Y Fron’ (rounded hill). When Lloyd married Lady Emily Esther Ann Lygon in 1825, Gwrych was nearly complete.
The expertise of Thomas Rickman was utilised by Hesketh in the design of Gwrych and its many cast iron windows. Henry Kennedy subsequently extended the Castle during the 1840’s by the inclusion of a new bedroom wing, staircase and porch.
When Lloyd died the Castle passed onto Robert Bamford-Hesketh and his wife, Ellen. George Edmund Street designed the famous marble staircase during the 1870’s and also some fireplaces. Robert planted much of the present gardens with their enormous Monkey Puzzles and Laurels.
Winifred inherited Gwrych in 1894 and it became her official residence as Countess of Dundonald. She brought up her children there and sincerely loved it. In 1914 the building work of Elcock was complete and a new bedroom wing and alterations to the state apartments were added to Gwrych.
Between 1968 and 1989 the Castle had many owners and many different uses. The library was turned into a bar; Winifred’s music room and drawing room were converted into a large bar lounge and the gargantuan dining room into a restaurant. During the latter part of the 1970’s Gwrych became a medieval centre where markets were held and jousting took place upon the site of the old formal gardens and conservatory. Gwrych finally closed to the public during the winter of 1985, never to open again.
An American businessman purchased Gwrych in December 1989. Prince Valiant was filmed at the Castle in 1996 and starred Edward Fox and Joanna Lumley. Since then, the weather, heartless vandals and new-age travellers have ravaged the building to the point of complete dereliction. Most of the roof has caved in and a large section of the south front has collapsed. One hopes that it will be restored back to its former glory so that everyone can walk through its marbled halls as Winifred did.
this is the lovely marble staircase in all its glory
and sadly nowadays
explored with slaphead
a bit of history....
Gwrych Castle was built in 1819 by Lloyd Hesketh Bamford-Hesketh, grandfather of Winifred, Countess of Dundonald. Upon the site was an ancient house named ‘Y Fron’ (rounded hill). When Lloyd married Lady Emily Esther Ann Lygon in 1825, Gwrych was nearly complete.
The expertise of Thomas Rickman was utilised by Hesketh in the design of Gwrych and its many cast iron windows. Henry Kennedy subsequently extended the Castle during the 1840’s by the inclusion of a new bedroom wing, staircase and porch.
When Lloyd died the Castle passed onto Robert Bamford-Hesketh and his wife, Ellen. George Edmund Street designed the famous marble staircase during the 1870’s and also some fireplaces. Robert planted much of the present gardens with their enormous Monkey Puzzles and Laurels.
Winifred inherited Gwrych in 1894 and it became her official residence as Countess of Dundonald. She brought up her children there and sincerely loved it. In 1914 the building work of Elcock was complete and a new bedroom wing and alterations to the state apartments were added to Gwrych.
Between 1968 and 1989 the Castle had many owners and many different uses. The library was turned into a bar; Winifred’s music room and drawing room were converted into a large bar lounge and the gargantuan dining room into a restaurant. During the latter part of the 1970’s Gwrych became a medieval centre where markets were held and jousting took place upon the site of the old formal gardens and conservatory. Gwrych finally closed to the public during the winter of 1985, never to open again.
An American businessman purchased Gwrych in December 1989. Prince Valiant was filmed at the Castle in 1996 and starred Edward Fox and Joanna Lumley. Since then, the weather, heartless vandals and new-age travellers have ravaged the building to the point of complete dereliction. Most of the roof has caved in and a large section of the south front has collapsed. One hopes that it will be restored back to its former glory so that everyone can walk through its marbled halls as Winifred did.
this is the lovely marble staircase in all its glory
and sadly nowadays
