Council to sell 'haunted' castle for £5,000Back to Local Government



Publisher: Jon Land
Published: 08/03/2006 - 14:44:21 PM




Llantwit Major Castle
A "haunted" Elizabethan castle could be snapped up for the princely sum of £5,000 after being put up for sale by a council.

The ivy-covered ruins of Llantwit Major Castle or "Old Place" in Llantwit Major, South Wales, will go under the hammer on April 3 at the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel.

Bidders are being invited to become king of the castle at a guide price of between £5,000 and £15,000.

The roofless listed building is being sold by the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

A Welsh Assembly Government spokeswoman said that the castle was built in 1596 by Griffith Williams of Candleston for his son-in-law, Edmund Van.

It was apparently a single-pile house originally, and given the forward wings, rear stair-tower and forecourt walls soon after 1600.

"It remained with the same family until 1694 but was abandoned as a house in the early eighteenth century and fell into ruins," she said.

"The interior had been fully dismantled by 1834. By today the structure is a roofless and overgrown ruin of the former half H-shaped house built of coursed white limestone with neatly squared corners."

The castle is a scheduled ancient monument (SAM) and grade II listed building.

"As such, the castle is protected by law and its owner would need to apply for Scheduled Monument Consent (SMC) from the Welsh Assembly government before undertaking any works," the spokeswoman said.

"The consent is usually accompanied by a number of conditions.

"It may, for example, stipulate the building material to be used, or prescribe the way in which work must be done."

She said that certain works may have to be supervised by an archaeologist, and the work must be inspected by Assembly government staff.

The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 provides the legislative framework for the protection of ancient monuments.

Before an application for SMC is determined, comments are sought from the local authority, the Council for British Archaeology, the regional Archaeological , and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales.

The Assembly spokeswoman said officials from Welsh historic monument body Cadw would be happy to advise any new owner on help available to conserve the structure.

Local historian Elwyn Gibbs, 80, told the Western Mail newspaper that the building was reputed to be "haunted" by a Dutch man.


Copyright Press Association 2006.

From the Western Mail, 4th April 2006

'Haunted' castle sale halted for Cadw talks

The search for a new owner for an Elizabethan castle was yesterday halted while heritage experts discuss the ivy-clad ruins' future.

Llantwit Major Castle or "Old Place" in Llantwit Major was due to go under the hammer at a guide price of between £5,000 and £15,000. The roofless listed building was being sold by Vale of Glamorgan Council in the hope the new owner could restore it to its former glory.

Local historian Elwyn Gibbs, 80, said the building was reputed to be haunted by a Dutchman. But the castle has been withdrawn from auction after Cadw, the statutory organisation responsible for listed buildings in Wales, asked for more talks on the building's future.

Council leader Jeffrey James said, "I am disappointed the council has had to withdraw this property from auction. Any sale would have secured the preservation of the structure, something that this council could never afford. However, we will discuss options with Cadw before proceeding further."

The castle was built in 1596 by Griffith Williams of Candleston for his son-in-law. It is thought it was abandoned as a house in the early 18th century. Now the structure is roofless and overgrown.

A Welsh Assembly spokeswoman said that because castle was a scheduled ancient monument and a Grade II listed building the council must consult Cadw before a sale. But she said the council did not contact the organisation until March.

Some politics going on there, I wonder where this one's heading?

I'll keep an eye on this one - if I remember.

I wonder if CADW are going to try and obtain it themselves and consolidate it as it is, or if the council are trying to gain outside funding to help, or maybe even it's the council's way of saying 'Help' this place is falling apart, we own it, and can't do anything to stop the rot!

I smell politics and big money from some where

LOT 18 WITHDRAWN

OLD PLACE (LLANTWIT MAJOR CASTLE), CASTLE STREET, LLANTWIT MAJOR, VALE OF GLAMORGAN

Situation

The site is situated off Castle Street, approximately 300 metres north of the Church of St Illtud, in the Coastal Town of Llantwit Major in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Description

This lot comprises the ruins of a former single-pile house shown on the OS map as “mansion” and being known as Old Place (or Llantwit Major Castle). The site extends to 0.43 acres approximately as edged red on the plan.

Listing

Old Place (or Llantwit Major Castle) and the forecourt wall of Old Place are Grade II Listed under Record Numbers 13286 and 83389. Old Place is included as the ruined survival of a major late 16th Century House. It is also scheduled as an ancient monument, number 137, GLA. The forecourt wall of Old Place is included as an adjunct of a major late 16th Century House. A copy of the Listings are available for inspection at the Auctioneers’ Cowbridge Office. For further details, please contact The Vale of Glamorgan Council.

History – Old Place (or Llantwit Major Castle)

As reproduced from the Listing “shown on OS Map as “mansion”. Built in 1596 by Griffith Williams of Candleston for his Son-in-Law, Edmund Van. Apparently a single-pile house originally and given the forward wings, rear stair – tower and forecourt walls in the early 17th Century soon after 1600. It remained with the same family until 1694, was abandoned as a house in the early 18th Century and fell into ruins; the interior had been fully dismantled by 1874.

Exterior

Roofless and overgrown ruin of former half H-shaped house; former south-east forecourt enclosed by high walls of stone (listed separately). Built of coarsed white limestone with neatly squared corners”

History (Forecourt Wall of Old Place)

As reproduced from listing “early 17th Century and contemporary with the extension of the house, built by Edmund Van. Designed to keep strangers away, giving security and privacy to this major house. A common feature of this house type, for instance St Fagans Castle. The gateway was formed in the 19th Century and may have been broken in to take advantage of the courtyard as a garden, the house already being a ruin; it is known to have been dismantled before 1834”.

Exterior

As reproduced from listing “Tall limestone wall of roughly coarsed random blocks about 3.7m - - 4m in height. Batttered at the base and with neatly built corners. The wall can be easily seen along the street (east side) and along the north side where it is more broken. The centre of the street front has a narrow arched doorway with elliptical head with concrete lintel and recessed entrance with an iron gate; this has only ever been a foot entrance and appears to be a 19th Century alteration. The south side is also mostly there but much covered in ivy”.

Ancient Monument

Old Place (or Llantwit Major Castle) is afforded statutory protection by virtue of its inclusion in the Schedule of Monuments of Natural Importance and Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act, 1979.

A recent letter from CADW dated 8th February, 2006 confirms “Scheduling protects the monument (whether above or below the surface of the land) from damage, destruction or tipping. It does not impose any additional liability for maintenance or give any right of public access. Any proposed works or ground disturbance (including flooding or tipping) within the scheduled area may only be lawfully undertaken once Scheduled Monument Consent has first been obtained from CADW. Such proposals are considered in light of Published Policy Guidance which indicates a presumption in favour of the preservation of such monuments in situ”.

A copy of the CADW leaflet “Ancient Monuments in Wales” What is Scheduling? is available for inspection at the Auctioneers Cowbridge office. A copy of the Welsh Office Circular 61/96 dated 5th December, 1996 (Planning and the Historic Environment; Historic Buildings and the Conservation Areas) is available for inspection at the Auctioneers’ Cowbridge office.

A copy of The Welsh Office Circular 60/96 dated the 5th December, 1996 “Planning and the Historic Environment; Archaeology” is available for inspection at the Auctioneers’ Cowbridge office.

Tenure

Freehold with vacant possession.

Viewing

Strictly no access. Viewing from adjoining highway only.
For further information please contact:
Mr Andrew R Thomas
Messrs Herbert R Thomas, 59 High Street, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, CF71 7YL
Tel: (01446) 776386 Fax: (01446) 776378
E-mail: art@hrt.a-i-s.co.uk

Or for legal advice and a copy of the Contract please contact:
Ms Caroline Campbell, Geldards LLP, Dumfries House, Dumfries Place, Cardiff, CF10 3ZF
Tel: 029 20238239 Fax: 029 20237268
e-mail: caroline.campbell@geldards.co.uk

Planning

Copy of letter from local planning department available as a pdf file by clicking here.

A couple of pics of the place.

From The South Wales Echo, 11th April 2006

Big welcome for Cadw

Regarding the Echo report that Cadw has stepped in at the eleventh hour to block the Vale council's intention to dispose of the Llantwit Major Grade 1 listed ancient monument "Old Place", otherwise known as "Llantwit Major Castle", by public auction. The leader of the Vale Council, Councillor Jeffrey James, commented with astonishing naivety that "any sale would have secured the preservation of the structure".

As a Vale councillor representing Llantwit Major ward, I am extremely pleased that Cadw has stepped in and I am sure that Cadw and the assembly have it within their power to ensure this historic building is only disposed of to a responsible individual or group who will work on restoring it, hopefully with future Cadw grant aid, and not to any Tom, Dick or Harry with a full wallet, but no idea what they would be taking on.

The decision to put this ancient monument up for auction was entirely that of Councillor James and his cabinet and I am astonished to learn it appears that Cadw were only told of this intended auction "in March".

Councillor John Readman (Ind)
Grange Gardens, Llantwit Major

Huh, politicians, will speak to the press anytime to score a point, albeit a good one.