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On these pages you can have the chance to read peoples memories of Gwrych and what it means to them. If you have any memories of Gwrych you’d like to share please E-mail them to us. We are also interested in pictures of the interior of Gwrych from the 50’s through to the 80’s. If you have any you’d like to share with us, please scan them and E-mail them to us.
These are the thoughts of the individuals concerned
which may not reflect the views of the Trust
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Paul and Elaine write:
Really fond memories of Gwrych castle. As a young boy mum & dad made me, my brother, sister, & mum walk along the beach from Sunnyvale caravan park to see the jousting sometime in the 70's. Really sad to see the condition of such a lovely building. Hoping good luck for the future & to take now my own children to see this fine part of welsh history. Good luck
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Grace from Accrington writes:
Approximately late sixties, early seventies, my mother and father used to take us to stay in the flats which were for hire in the castle. We were friendly with the people who looked after the castle; I think their name was Mr & Mrs Moss. I also remember the man who ran the miniature railway. He had two daughters who I used to play with and they had a St. Bernard dog. I still have black and white photographs taken at the castle of the children and dog. There was also a children's zoo near the railway. We were there when the jousting began to pull in the tourists. There were shows in the marquee with artists. I remember a singer singing Tom Jones songs, also clown shows. The year previous Chick Murray had appeared. The stables were a soft drink and music area for the youngsters. The grounds had musical, moving figures in for the children. The marble staircase was outstanding. I think we still have pictures of it! I remember my father doing some artist work in the dungeons after being asked to, by the people who ran the castle. These people were very upset when the castle was sold. When we returned some years later the inner rooms of the castle had deteriorated and the antiques replaced by a large pool table in the main room. It was heartbreaking to see the changes. When discussing the ghost, a lady was said to have been seen in October, I do not know who she is. I have returned many times and remember many happy days. I have tried to find out what is happening to the castle but just have been told an American bought it and it has been left to ruin. Thank you, Mark, as someone said only last week when we visited Abergele and asked again about the castle, 'you are a Godsend to the castle and the people in the area'
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Carol From Wolverhampton writes:
About seven years ago my partner and I visited the castle to have lunch as I thought this would be a wonderful opportunity to show him the most beautiful castle that I have ever been to, and believe me I've been to quite a few [it's a bit of an obsession] Imagine my shock when I found out that it had become derelict. I cried and cried all the way home. In the sixties we used to go to rhyl every summer and the highlight of the holiday was our visit to the castle in the hillside. The last time I went when it was still open was in 1976 when my first son was born. I have still got snapshots from the sixties and of the summer of 1976, and I also found an original brochure from 1956 when the castle was owned by Leslie Salts. I am so happy that the castle is being restored. I cannot wait to visit again.
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 Malcolm, originally from Oldham writes:
This was taken possibly the year the hotel opened, the managers name was Dove, I think. This shows me, my parents and three sisters on the marble staircase. So sad to see the state of the building now. It was a great holiday for kids, and I have still great memories even now I’m 65.
Good luck with the restoration & I hope it will one day be restored to its former glory.
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Jeff writes:
My memory of this place will always be in my heart. when my step dad meet my mother he was living at the castle with his mates in the late 70`s when it was last done up what I can remember anyway. my step dad use to do the shows up there on the horses sword fighting he was green knight(always got beat by the black knight) when the market was on and I use bang the drum.....o what a fab place it will be in the future. o I still get a bit spooked when I go past the old stables were my step dad kept his horses it was the first time I seen something and hit my chin still got the scar to remind me. I just wish I owned the castle.
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Anita from Manchester writes:
It was in the 1950's that I remember my visit to the castle. I was a young school girl and my younger brother and I came there with our parents from Manchester. My brother and me started to climb a small spiral staircase of the castle which was in ruins. When we had got so far, we heard a noise, and thinking it was a ghost, stumbled like sheet lightening back down the staircase in record time! To this day, I have a small brass gong over my fireplace, which depicts an etching of the castle, and every time I look at it, I remember when me and my brother got scared there. I am now 60 yrs, and my brother just a few years younger, so the gong must be about 50 years old, - nearly an antique.
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Judy Writes:
Oh how sad to see such a wonderful building in such a state, I visited many times as a child in the 60's, Please someone help this building gain back the respect it deserves.
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Daryl from Herefordshire writes:
As a child I remember many family holidays at the castle, we used to meet another family there every year called the Emmetts she always used to pick blackberries and make jam in their apartment!! I remember leaning on a window and breaking it and Mr dove had to get the caretaker to mend it. this was in the late 1960's when I was about 6. I have so many happy memories. I remember the dungeons and my sister taking me down there to scare me, and the marquee where we used to go and do country dancing and listen to Barry sing and the organ being played "strangers in the night" etc. Thank you Gwrych for all the happy memories and I hope and pray that you will be saved because you deserve it, if I ever win the lottery i know what i would spend it on.
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Peter from Merseyside writes:
What a story I have about Gwrych Castle! Back in the 80's me and my friend decided to head to North Wales for the weekend, camping. Having seen the castle from the A55(?) we decided to go take a look, hoping to find a campsite in its grounds. Up the long driveway we went and parked in the lofty car park. After shouting through the open entrance door many times, we finally decided that the place must be a ruin (not that it looked like it). We went inside, and to our amazement we found that all the crockery was still on the shelves, and glasses behind the bar. Nevertheless we were amazed at the interior of the building. Realising that the place might still be in use we left by the same door. As we walked over to the car a young man approached us and asked who we were.: We explained that we were looking for somewhere to camp for the night and that we couldn't believe that this amazing place was empty of people.: After a long discussion about the history of the castle, we thanked the guy and went to get into the car. He then told us that we could camp in the grounds of the castle as long as we didn't create a fuss. We of course agreed! Then it got even better! As we were pitching our tenet, the guy came down and said that as we were genuinely interested in the castle, its architecture and its history (which we were), and then asked us if we would like to look after it for the weekend! WOW!: He handed us the keys and said he would be back on Sunday (he did, of course check us out on the Saturday morning to see if everything was ok).::Well, can you imagine it? Two 21 year olds in possession of this wonderful place! For those of you thinking.... well, we were very responsible, grateful and, given what has happened since very privileged to have been given such a fantastic opportunity. Thank you to this person, whoever you are! I have told this story time and time again to my family, friends and (as time passed all too quickly) my daughter, nephews and nieces. For those of you who are still thinking.....:: The ONLY thing that we did throughout that weekend that could be seen as 'naughty' was to find the switch (which we did, to our GLEE!!) and turn on the main floodlights at the front of the castle. What a buzz!: This was a once in a lifetime event and I am truly grateful for the trust that was placed in us by the hero of this story.: We have both been back on a number of occasions with friends and family over the years, but nothing comes even close to that weekend when we were the Kings Of Gwrych Castle!
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In the dentist waiting room the other day I was dismayed to read an article regarding the dereliction of the castle.
My parents owned a caravan on a small private site at Hen Ben Ucha on Towyn Rd about a mile from Pensarn Station. The view of the castle was unhindered and impressive and we named the caravan "Castle View" We must have been one of the first families to visit the castle when it was opened to the public after WW2
We partook of tea and dainty cucumber sandwiches served from a silver set in the dining room. It was all rather genteel. I clearly remember the hall and staircase. we were not allowed to see any upstairs rooms and the staircase only led outside. As a child of about 10 this was rather disappointing after the wonders of the ground floor.
I spent many happy hours in the grounds and soon started to explore with a friend in tow. We went through a gate that I recall, in those days suggested prohibition beyond. We carried on and found the tower (and looked back to our caravan ) and beyond to the caves at the end of the hill. We used all the lodge gates at one time or another. We often walked round the outside of the wall (which we estimated was 5-6 miles ) staying on the narrow road where the wall went over the hill and on to Rhyd y Foel never meeting anyone of like mind. A grassy bank at the top afforded more wonderful views and a fascinating field of rabbits playing above their warrens totally undisturbed.
I do wish you every success in your efforts to save the castle. Fortunately there is no suggestion of the extent of the neglect as one goes by so it is still a magnificent landmark
Good Luck
Alma Guest
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  Dave from Mossley writes:
My grandparents used to own a caravan on
Ty Gwyn in Towyn. We used to go every year and the highlight was usually walking up to Pensarn railway station to get the single deck bus up to the castle.
These pictures are of me and my sister and date from about 1963. One shows the castle door and the other is taken on the small railway ride that used to operate at the castle.
Hope they may be of some interest to you.
Good luck.
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Len from Manchester writes:
 Very sorry to hear about, and see pictures of the decline of this once proud site. Hearing about it brought memories of a visit to the castle in 1965 when nine years of age. The picture I attach is not of the castle, but my mother sitting and being photographed by a local photographer, next to the Gwrych Castle organist. I know not who the organist was, or whether the performance was a one off or a regular attraction. The photographer stamp on the back of the purchased photo is:
G.C. Pickup
"Mervic", Towyn Way East
Towyn, ABERGELE, Denbs.
The organ itself was beautiful and was probably situated not in the Castle itself but a Marquee in the courtyard, however you might be able to shed more light on that. I do hope that common sense prevails and money is spent on returning the Castle to its former glory
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John Harvey writes:
So desperately sad to see the state of this fine house. I had my first camping hol there without me Mum and Dad ! When I was just 15, that would be in 1966. I also well remember Ruth the vicar's daughter, but that's another story ;-)
My friend and I visited a short while ago, just somewhere to go... a pilgrimage if you like. As we pedalled up the signs said NO ENTRY so we went no further. I determined to find out what was going on, such a sad website at first glance, but as I accept the shock of Gwrych's sad demise, I am again heartened to see you lot doing all poss. to restore the damage done by these soulless idiots... mutants I call them!
BTW did the locomotive escape to somewhere? Also I remember the Menagerie and how one of the monkeys nearly had my mate's hand off. Evil bugger it was! Good luck folks,
The webmaster replies: I believe the locomotive “escaped” to the Isle of Mann
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Janet from Stratford-upon-Avon writes:
I first saw this wonderful castle in 1964. I visited it while on holiday with a friend. We didn’t have much money so we got a job for the holiday. I was so taken with this wonderful place I returned home handed in my notice at work and returned to live in a caravan at the back of the Castle and work in the dinning room. This was one of the most wonderful times of my life I was 17 and life was very exciting. At the end of the summer my heart was in Wales for ever. I didn't return home I began my nursing career in Abergele Chest Hospital. I now live in Stratford upon Avon. I am visiting an old friend in Rhyl and I am heart broken to see the place I loved in ruins. Good luck Mark and the trust in restoring this wonderful place.
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Mr Elliott from Birmingham writes:
It was truly magical as a 10 year old, to see Jousting - Archery & ride on the Model Railway It was also great to have your photo taken in the stocks ! What a shame that our beloved Britain is being taken over by unruly, self centred, vile pigs, that just enjoy taking without giving & destroying things, God help future generations !
Also had a magical time as a child, on the evening the sealed knot did a Cromwellian battle re-enactment, such a thrill for a lad of about 10. They were all in full costume earlier in the day in the cafe in Abergele ... the one just on the right if you’re coming from the castle & I had a game of pool with them ... TREMENDOUS.
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  Peter from Bury writes:
I have just had a look at your web site and I find myself quite saddened to see how Gwrych castle has become. I had many holidays at Rhyl in the 1960`s and several visits to the castle.
The pictures are of my mum and dad also my mum and her friend. these pictures were taken about 1965. I should have a lot more photographs and post cards, but I am unable to find them just now.
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