Castle in 'significant state' handed £4.5m to save it
The £4.5m funding from Welsh Government and the council will go towards preserving Cyfarthfa Castle in Merthyr Tydfil
(Image: Welsh Government )
A Welsh castle which has been described as being in a 'significant state of deterioration' will see £4.5m spent on it for urgent conservation works as it marks its 200th anniversary.
The Welsh Government has announced that its historic environment service Cadw and Merthyr Tydfil Council will each contribute £2.25m to address the deterioration to the oldest part of Cyfarthfa Castle as well as protecting Pont-y-Cafnau bridge which is located to the south of the wider Cyfarthfa site and reputedly the oldest iron railway bridge in the world.
In February a council report said the castle was in a 'significant state of deterioration' adding that the condition of the property had continued to deteriorate and that was now fast approaching a state of dereliction, raising serious safety concerns and an increasing cost of rehabilitation.
Since the previous council report in July 2023 additional ceilings had collapsed and a tap-test of the ceilings had resulted in certain rooms being isolated from entry.
A condition survey identified the need to protect the building and suggested that a scaffold with a roof covering be erected to prevent further water ingress and associated deterioration while giving the building the opportunity to dry out.
In April plans were submitted to improve the drainage at the park and castle including a new below-ground level drainage network.
Article continues below
The castle is home to a museum and art galleries taking up just 20% of the building but the other 80% of the building, which once housed Cyfarthfa High School, is closed to the public.
The Cyfarthfa Foundation is a charity established to champion the long-term development of Cyfarthfa aiming to restore the building, expand museum displays and art galleries, and develop the 160-acre park for future generations. To get all the latest Merthyr Tydfil news straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
It is working in partnership with the council to take these projects forward.
The Welsh Government said that this funding, and the work of the council and the foundation, also aims to boost the numbers of visitors who come and explore the castle, gardens, and lake, enjoy the play facilities, and participate in various activities offered throughout the grounds.
There will be events to mark the bicentenary this weekend (July 5 and 6) with two days of activities.
Cyfarthfa will host free access to the museum and art gallery and a programme of talks on the castle's past as well as the plans for its future.
There will also be storytelling sessions, a Victorian portrait studio, nature walks and trails, and an artisan market with produce and crafts from local traders.
Standing since 1825 Cyfarthfa Castle was originally constructed as the family residence of ironmaster William Crawshay II.
Together with the other Merthyr ironworks – Dowlais, Penydarren, and Plymouth – Cyfarthfa made Merthyr the greatest centre of ironmaking in the world from 1800 to 1860.
The Cyfarthfa Industrial Heritage Area contains some of Wales' most important legacy assets including the castle, ironworks, and bridge.
Council leader Brent Carter said: 'The Cyfarthfa Castle redevelopment is a priority project for the council and will be delivered in a phased approach over a number of years.
'The funding secured from Welsh Government and the council will have a significant impact in enabling essential conservation work to take place preserving a treasured asset and the jewel in Merthyr's crown.
Article continues below
'Cyfarthfa Castle is a special place for many people throughout Merthyr Tydfil and based on feedback from residents we know that this is also a priority project for them. Many people went to school there, including myself, and it holds a lot of wonderful memories so it's great to see these plans start to come to fruition.'
Welsh Government minister for culture Jack Sargeant MS said:'Cyfarthfa Castle stands as a monumental piece of Welsh heritage telling the story of our industrial past and cultural journey. As we mark its 200th anniversary it's great to be able to announce this £4.5m investment to help safeguard its future.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
18 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
School essentials grant available for Welsh families
Labour Senedd Members Eluned Morgan and Joyce Watson are encouraging families in Mid and West Wales to check their eligibility for the Welsh Government's School Essentials Grant, which offers up to £200 per child. The grant supports low-income families with the cost of items such as uniforms, shoes, bags and school activities. Ms Morgan said: "As families continue to face cost of living pressures, it's great to know that help is at hand to ensure that every child has access to the uniforms, books and equipment they need to learn. "Welsh Labour will always prioritise helping those who need support." Since its introduction in 2018, the scheme has supported more than 170,000 families in the past two years alone. Ms Watson said: "This grant continues to be a vital source of support for families in Carmarthenshire and I would encourage everyone who may be eligible to check." Eligible families can receive £125 per child, or £200 for those entering year seven. All looked-after children qualify automatically. Schools also benefit from additional funding as a result of grant claims. Applications are now open and will close on May 31, 2026. Families can check their eligibility and apply by visiting the Welsh Government's website. Alternatively, they can contact Eluned Morgan on 0300 200 7264 or Joyce Watson on 0300 200 7093.
Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Powys County Times
Llandrindod Wells school wins Welsh language award
A Llandrindod Wells primary school has earned a prestigious Welsh language award. Franksbridge CP School has been recognised with the Cymraeg Campus Silver Award for its commitment to promoting the Welsh language in daily school life and the wider community. The award reflects the school's efforts to celebrate Welsh identity, foster a strong Welsh ethos, and encourage the use of Welsh throughout the school day. Mrs Wilkie, headteacher at Franksbridge CP School, said: "We are delighted to have achieved the prestigious Gwobr Arian award in recognition of our whole-school commitments to celebrating and developing the use of Welsh in our school and its community. "Our journey to Gwobr Arian (Silver Award) has been very rewarding and I am proud of the effort and enthusiasm of all members of our school. "I have been extremely impressed by the way in which our Criw Cymraeg pupils have shown leadership and dedication to school improvement. "Our sights are now set on working towards the Gold Award (Gwobr Aur)."
Scottish Sun
14 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
‘Outdated' British village is completely demolished after 75 years to make way for £35million revamp
War survivors in their 90s say they're being forced out all over again STUCK IN THE MUD 'Outdated' British village is completely demolished after 75 years to make way for £35million revamp A HISTORIC Welsh village for war refugees has been flattened after 75 years — sparking fury from elderly residents who fear being forced out. Founded in 1949 for Polish WWII veterans, Penrhos Village became a tight-knit, Polish-speaking community of 100 on a former RAF base, with its own church shop, hall, and care home. 4 The site, located on the scenic Llyn Peninsula in Gwynedd, North Wales Credit: ITV 4 Work is set to start on new homes in a redevelopment of an entire Welsh village Credit: ClwydAlyn 4 It housed exiled Polish airmen and soldiers who remained in the UK following World War Two Credit: ClwydAlyn The site, located on the scenic Llyn Peninsula in Gwynedd, North Wales, has now been earmarked for a £35million redevelopment project led by Welsh social housing provider ClwydAlyn. The first phase will see 44 new energy-efficient homes built, with a total of 107 properties planned. The project is supported by the Welsh Government, in partnership with Cyngor Gwynedd and Williams Homes (Bala). Dylan Davies, of ClwydAlyn, said the scheme aims to tackle poverty by creating jobs and improving lives: 'Whether that is by creating opportunities for employment, tackling loneliness, supporting residents with fuel costs or improving access to nutritious foods, all these efforts can help our communities to thrive.' The new homes will be prioritised for current residents of Penrhos and local people with low to medium care needs. A separate proposal for a new nursing and residential home is also being developed by Cyngor Gwynedd and the local health board. But not everyone is on board. Campaigners and elderly residents have condemned the demolition, claiming it disregards the community's heritage and uproots those who came to Penrhos seeking peace in their final years. Barbara Owsianka, who spoke against the plans, said: 'We are very disappointed the vote went against us, but it was close. "I just hope ClwydAlyn takes that on board and will listen to the residents.' She added: 'In this application, there is nothing that describes the replacement of any of the communal services and facilities the elderly folks rely on, like the hairdresser's or the launderette. "A lot of people will be terribly worried.' Barbara's 90-year-old mother Maria, who escaped war-torn Warsaw as a child, said: 'We all came to Penrhos at the end of our lives in the expectation of a safe haven. "We did not expect to be forced out of our homes yet again.' Despite the backlash, planners at Gwynedd Council narrowly approved the proposal by seven votes to five. ClwydAlyn has stressed it will preserve key parts of the village's Polish and Welsh heritage, including the listed Freedom Cross, the church, and walled gardens. Councillor Paul Rowlinson said: 'Addressing the housing crisis remains a key priority for Cyngor Gwynedd—especially in areas like this, where a very large percentage of local people are priced out of the market.' Owain Williams of Williams Homes added: 'The development will create over 20 jobs for local people and contribute to the local economy during the construction period.'
