AN ARCHITECTURAL practice specialising in conservation have been appointed to take on the next stage of works at Gwrych Castle. 

Chambers Conservation were appointed after the I'm A Celeb castle secured a huge £2.2million from the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) as part of their Covid-19 Response Fund.

The money will save the ruin from "imminent collapse" and enable the Gwrych Preservation Trust to reinstate the roof on the main building; the castle has been a "roofless ruin" for 30 years.

Floors will also be installed.

A spokesperson for Gwrych Castle told the Journal and Pioneer:  “We are pleased to announce that Chambers Conservation have been appointed as the architects for the next phase of works for the rescue of Gwrych Castle. These initial designs explore the historic roof structure but will need reviewing to ensure that they are fit for purpose for the effects of climate change and allow accessibility for maintenance.

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"The next six months will be taken up by the project team preparing and submitting a planning and listed building consent application for the roof and flooring works to take place.

"We will remain open throughout the works and encourage visitors to become part of this exciting stage in the castle's recent history by going on hard hat and behind the scenes tours as works progress.”

The Gwrych Preservation Trust said the  restoration project will be the "largest in Wales" and one of the top five in the UK. 

Mark Baker,  Chair of Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust, said in August: "This vital grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, coupled with match funding from the Richard Broyd Charitable Trust, truly is a lifeline for Gwrych Castle in order to overcome the ongoing setbacks to the castle’s restoration that were caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The buildings are in perilous condition following the pandemic, during which development plans were limited and significantly delayed by the lack of funding streams and restrictions on construction work.

"This combined with extreme weather conditions has contributed to a decline to the roofless main building. With this substantial funding award, we can reverse the critical situation that the site is currently in, allowing Gwrych Castle to be returned to its former glory and offering our visitors the best experience when they come to learn about the fascinating heritage it has to share.”

The castle, near Abergele, hosted ITV's I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! in 2020 and 2021.