Well done to all of the volunteers, The Trust, and Mark Baker for making this happen. It will be wonderful to see the Castle lit up again.
The issue for me is why buildings are allowed to fall into a state of disrepair and then cost a huge amount of money to restore them. If buildings are not in use, people should be allowed to take them over or they should be sold.
Allowing any Historic Building to fall into a state of disrepair should be a crime.
Gwrych Castle has had its electricity supply reconnected after many years. It means that visitors and passersby will be able to see the castle lit up more often during autumn and winter evenings.
The Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust (GCPT) said the views of the illuminated window frames would be similar to those seen during the last two I'm A Celebrity series, which were filmed at the castle. It's the first time since the early 1990s that the 19th Century landmark near Abergele in Conwy has had its own main power source.
It is understood that the reconnection work cost tens of thousands of pounds. A GCPT spokesman said: "Gwrych Castle has reached the huge milestone of reconnecting electricity back to the castle for the first time in over 30 years.
"We reached this milestone due to fundraising through our GoFundMe campaign along with raffle ticket sales. We’d like to say a huge thank you to everybody who donated and enabled us to turn Gwrych Castle’s lights on again.
"The castle will now be lighting up the skies of North Wales in the evenings like it did during the filming of I’m A Celebrity, and we have our wonderful supporters to thank for that." After 1968, the castle was run as a medieval entertainment center with banquets and jousting.
But the building itself was closed to the public in 1985 and the last joust was in 1987. An American developer bought the site in 1990 with a view to turning it into an opera center and hotel but the plans did not materialize. Meanwhile, the Trust is holding a Halloween funfair this month.
The spokesman said: "We’re also very excited to be open for Halloween for the first time in two years as we were closed in 2020 and 2021 due to hosting 'I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!' The Haunted Castle & Spooktacular Funfair is coming to Gwrych Castle from Tuesday, October 25 until Saturday, November 5 during the half-term.
Visitors will be able to wander through a Pumpkin Trail during the day, take on a Halloween Challenge as they explore the Haunted Castle, and put on their best spooky costume to enter a fancy dress competition. Or visitors can join in the evening and follow an illuminated trail, discover curious characters along the way and take in the spooky atmosphere as the castle will be lighting up the skies of North Wales.
There will also be junior rides, fairground games, and stalls available on the day, available for an additional charge payable on the day. To make the night extra special, they have ‘The Haunted House’ where visitors will have access to the sleeping quarters, last used by the I'm A Celebrity campmates, where visitors will encounter ghouls, ghosts, and spiders in the bonus spooky Halloween Zones.
This will be an additional cost payable on the day if visitors choose to enter. There are reduced rates for local residents, over 65s, and the castle's annual pass holders.
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