In recent years, Gwrych Castle gained international attention as the filming location for the reality TV show “I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!” in 2020 and 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the usual Australian filming site was unavailable, and the UK-based castle provided a dramatic and atmospheric setting. The show brought new visi
Post-War Decline and Abandonment
After World War II, Gwrych Castle was returned to the Bamford-Hesketh family. However, the post-war period was difficult for many British country estates. Rising taxes, labor shortages, and the expense of upkeep led many aristocratic families to sell or abandon their ancestral homes. Gwrych Castle was no exception. By the 1950s, the family decid
The Bamford-Hesketh Family: Lords of Gwrych
The Bamford-Hesketh family were key figures in the social and economic life of North Wales during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Lloyd Hesketh Bamford-Hesketh himself was a respected antiquarian and genealogist, contributing scholarly works on Welsh history and genealogy. Following Lloyd's death in 1861, the castle passed to his descendants.
Architectural Highlights and Symbolism
Gwrych Castle is an impressive example of early Victorian Gothic Revival architecture, notable for its asymmetrical design, battlemented towers, and decorative stonework. Its exterior is crafted predominantly from local limestone and sandstone, lending the structure an enduring presence amidst the Welsh landscape. Several architectural elements