Castle in £1.7m makeover lifeline

Cadw feared the castle would have to close after falling into disrepair

A ruined castle has been given a £1.7m restoration lifeline to save it from certain closure.

Oystermouth Castle in Mumbles, Swansea, has fallen into disrepair with 50% of it currently closed to the public.

But thanks to the new cash injection it will be given a major makeover and returned to its former glory

The money has come from a variety of sources including £800,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £569,000 from Swansea council and £400,000 from Cadw.

A further £6,000 will come from the Friends of Oystermouth Castle with the money used to carry out conservation works and build a new interpretation centre within the disused chapel block.

In a 2003 report, Cadw labelled the Grade I listed monument as being the castle in the worst condition of those that were open to the public in Wales.

It concluded that restoration work was critical in order to avoid its inevitable closure with the coming works aimed at returning access to 95% of its public area.

It has suffered badly and we're delighted these contributions will ensure it's conserved for the future Friends of Oystermouth Castle -Roger Parmiter

It is hoped this will increase visitor numbers from 6,000 to 11,000 by 2011 with the Friends of Oystermouth Castle continuing to manage the day-to-day running of the attraction on a voluntary basis.

The funding should also mean that their work can be supplemented by the appointment of a community co-ordinator for the site to help put together an educational programme and continue to attract visitors from around the world.

Friends of Oystermouth Castle chairman Roger Parmiter said: "There's great affection for Oystermouth Castle among local people and this funding news is the single most important event in 150 years of the castle's recent history.

"The money will mean the creation of a wonderful new visitor centre on site and we hope the castle will be able to remain open for longer hours.

"It has suffered badly and we're delighted these contributions will ensure it's conserved for the future."

The Heritage Lottery Fund said the money would help prevent the fall of a "significant local asset" and save one of the country's leading monuments at the same time.

Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund Committee for Wales Dan Clayton Jones said: "Without this funding, we would undoubtedly lose Oystermouth Castle which would not only mean the demise of a significant local historical asset but also the vital community engagement which has kept the castle alive over recent years."

Swansea Council leader councillor Chris Holley added: "It is one of the most famous in this area and it has a fascinating and colourful history."

The castle was founded by William de Londres in the early 12th Century and is considered one of the finest in the area with visible remains from the 12th and 14th centuries.

Many visitors are intrigued by stories of the ghost of the white lady that is said to haunt the chapel block on its east side.