Cyfarthfa Castle facts for kids
| Castell Cyfarthfa | |
Front view of Cyfarthfa Castle
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| Established | 1824 |
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| Location | Park, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales |
| Type | Historic house museum, art museum |
| Architect | Robert Lugar |
| Owner | Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council |
Cyfarthfa Castle (which means Castell Cyfarthfa in Welsh) is a grand old mansion in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. It was once the home of the powerful Crawshay family. They were famous ironmasters who owned the Cyfarthfa Ironworks nearby.
The castle sits high up, looking over the valley and the old ironworks. At night, the ironworks used to glow, creating an amazing sight. The name "Cyfarthfa" comes from a Welsh phrase meaning "place of barking." This is because hunting dogs were often heard barking in this area long ago. They would hunt animals like polecats and weasels.
Even though it looks like a strong fortress, Cyfarthfa Castle was built as a fancy home. It had a big kitchen, a bakery, and a dairy. There was also a billiard room, a library, and many other rooms for guests. The house even had a special room for brewing drinks and a large icehouse. Its cellars once held thousands of bottles of different drinks. Next to the castle were stables for horses and coach houses for carriages. The castle is surrounded by a huge park, covering 158 acres. This park is now called Cyfarthfa Park and is looked after by the local council. It is a very special park in Wales.
Contents
The Castle's Story
Building a Grand Home
The castle was designed in 1824 by an architect named Robert Lugar. It was built for William Crawshay II, a very rich ironmaster. Building the castle cost about £30,000, which was a huge amount of money back then. Local stone was used to build it. The castle has 15 towers and 72 rooms, making it truly impressive. Rose Mary Crawshay was the lady of the house from 1846 until her husband, Robert Thompson Crawshay, passed away in 1889. She lived until 1907 but moved to another home later on.
From Home to School and Museum
In 1908, the Crawshay family sold the castle to the local council. At first, the council wasn't sure what to do with such a big building. They decided to use part of the ground floor for a museum. This museum is still open today and has many interesting things. It includes paintings, some by an artist named James Inskipp.
The rest of the castle became a secondary school. It opened in 1913, with separate sections for boys and girls. In 1945, the boys' and girls' schools joined together. It became a Grammar school called Cyfarthfa Castle Grammar School. Later, in 1970, it changed into a comprehensive school and is now known as Cyfarthfa High School.
Inside the Castle
The Entrance Hall is one of the most beautiful rooms in the castle. Today, it is where you will find the shop and reception area. Much of the hall looks like it's from the Tudor period. It has small shields, tall pillars, huge Gothic doors, and stunning red and clear glass windows. These details make the hall look very grand. When the house was finished in 1825, this hall was the biggest room. The Crawshays likely held many large parties and events here. The ceiling of the hall shows the white rose of Yorkshire. This is where the Crawshay family originally came from.
A Parliament Idea
In December 1997, Cyfarthfa Castle was considered as a possible location for the Senedd, which is the Welsh Parliament building. If it had been chosen, the castle would have needed big changes. This would have included building a special meeting room, called the Y Siambr, and offices for government leaders, like the First Minister of Wales. However, after much discussion, the government decided not to use the castle for this purpose.
Things to Do at Cyfarthfa Park
Park Attractions
Cyfarthfa Park is a very special park in Wales. It has many acres of walking paths for you to explore. There's also a miniature steam railway, which has been run by a local engineering society since 1987.
Inside the park, you'll find Canolfan Cyfarthfa, which is a conference center. It has rooms for events and a café that is open during certain times of the year. For kids, there's a fun playground with a 'Splash Pad' for water play. The park also has a 9-hole golf course, bowling greens, and tennis courts. You can even go fishing in the lake. Throughout the year, the park hosts many events. These include car shows, horse shows, and concerts.
Famous Concerts
On June 30, 2007, the famous singer Donny Osmond performed a concert called 'Donny Comes Home' in the park. He has family history in Merthyr Tydfil. About 15,000 people came to watch, even though it rained a lot that day. On July 26, 2008, the rock band Status Quo also performed in the park.
Museum and Art Gallery
The Museum and Art Gallery are located in beautifully restored rooms of the castle. They have a wonderful collection of items that belonged to the Crawshay family. You can also see fine art, decorative art, and interesting objects from all over the world. The museum also shares stories about the local history of the area.
The Playroom Exhibitions
The Playroom is a special area in the castle used for temporary exhibitions. When the Crawshay family lived here, this room had a different use. It was one of several rooms just for the Crawshay children, which is why it's called the Playroom. William Crawshay had many children and loved having them nearby. That's why all the children's areas were close to his office. The Playroom now hosts many different exhibitions each year. These can be about modern art, classic art, or local community and history topics.
