Bodelwyddan Castle facts for kids
Bodelwyddan Castle (which is Castell Bodelwyddan in Welsh) is a beautiful old building near the village of Bodelwyddan in Wales. It was first built around 1460 by the Humphreys family. Back then, it was a large country house, not quite a castle. Later, from 1690, the Williams-Wynn family owned it for about 200 years.
The castle is a special "Grade II* listed building" because of its unique "Gothick castellated style" from the early 1800s. For many years, it was open to visitors as a historic house museum. However, by mid-2019, the historic castle building was closed to the public. By August 2019, the gardens and other attractions around the castle also closed. But don't worry, the hotel nearby, which is run separately, stayed open.
Contents
History of Bodelwyddan Castle
The Humphreys family sold the castle to Sir William Williams. He was an important person who served as the Speaker of the House of Commons in the late 1600s.
The castle changed a lot over time. In 1805, it was updated to look like ancient Greek buildings. Then, between 1830 and 1832, Sir John Hay Williams rebuilt it even more. He hired famous architects, Joseph Hansom (who invented the Hansom cab taxi) and Edward Welch. They made the house look like a proper castle with towers and battlements. This project was one of Hansom's most exciting designs. At the same time, a large wall was built around the estate, and beautiful gardens were created.
More changes happened in the 1880s when Sir Herbert took over the castle. During the First World War, the castle became a hospital for soldiers who were hurt. Soldiers from a nearby camp also used the castle grounds to practice trench warfare. You can still see parts of these old trenches today! Some people even say the castle is haunted.
Lowther College Years
By 1920, it became very expensive for the Williams-Wynn family to keep the castle. So, they rented it out to Lowther College, which was a private school for girls. The school started in 1896 in Lancashire. Five years later, in 1925, Lowther College bought the castle. It was one of the first private girls' schools to have its own swimming pool and even a private golf course! The school was known for its excellent music performances. Boys started to be admitted to the school in 1977. Sadly, the school closed in 1982 because of money problems.
From School to Museum
In the 1980s, the local council bought the castle. They wanted to turn it into a place where people could visit and learn. The castle and its grounds were opened to the public and managed by a charity called the Bodelwyddan Castle Trust.
The Trust worked with famous art galleries like the National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Academy of Arts. This meant the castle could show amazing art and historical items from their collections. An expert on Victorian architecture, Roderick Gradidge, helped restore the inside of the castle. The portrait gallery opened in 1988 and was even named "Museum of the Year" in 1989! However, the partnership with the National Portrait Gallery ended in 2017 when funding was cut.
Castle Closure and Future
In 2017, the local council decided to sell the castle site. By February 2019, the castle's 99-year lease was still for sale. In June 2019, the Bodelwyddan Castle Trust announced that the historic house was closed. The gardens and park stayed open for a little while longer. But by August 2019, the trustees said that the woodlands, parklands, play area, and trench experience were also closed to the public.
In mid-2021, a company called Bourne Leisure Hotels agreed to buy the remaining part of the castle from the council. Bourne planned to fix up the castle completely. They wanted to run it as part of their Warner Leisure Hotels, which already operated the hotel area on the property. The council kept the woodland, a meadow, a car park, and some farmland.
Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel
In 1994, a part of the castle site was leased to a company to build a fancy hotel. This hotel is called Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel and is run by Warner Leisure Hotels. The hotel is located in what used to be the castle's service yard.
The historic castle building and its grounds are separate from the hotel. Even when the castle was closed to tourists, the hotel part of the property continued to operate normally.
Gardens
The castle is surrounded by a large park and beautiful formal gardens. The most recent design for these gardens was created by Thomas Hayton Mawson in 1910.
Bodelwyddan Castle Gallery
-
Bodelwyddan Castle
-
Bodelwyddan Castle Main gateway.
-
Bodelwyddan Castle 02
-
Bodelwyddan Castle, Entrance Staircase with Gothic detailing. c. 1802 and later.
-
Bodelwyddan Castle, Williams Arms over archway towards gardens.
-
Bodelwyddan Castle Gothic wing added 1802–1808.
-
Bodelwyddan Castle Gothic window alcove 1802–1808.
-
Bodelwyddan Castle, Medieval knight on NE facade c. 1840.
-
Bodelwyddan Castle, Detail in Gothic room, mainly 1802–1808.
-
Bodelwyddan Castle Doorin Gothic room, mainly 1802–1808.
-
Bodelwyddan Castle Gothic fireplace.
-
Bodelwyddan Castle. Gothic revival ceiling 1802–1808 with Williams family crossed foxes.
-
Bodelwyddan Castle Greek revival doorway to Gothic room.
-
Bodelwyddan Castle Garden entrance by Thomas Mawson.
-
Bodelwyddan Castle. Obelisk in Garden.
-
View of the St Margaret of Antioch's Church from the Bodelwyddan Castle.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Bodelwyddan para niños
- List of castles in Wales
- Castles in Great Britain and Ireland
- List of gardens in Wales
Literature
- Foister, Susan (1988). The National Portrait Gallery at Bodelwyddan Castle. London: National Portrait Gallery Publications. ISBN: 0904017923.
- Hubbard, E. (1986). Buildings of Wales: Clwyd. Penguin/Yale University Press. pg. 325.
