Welsh Journals

THE MINISTRY OF WORKS is to carry out an extensive programme of renovation to the interior decorations of Castell Coch, near Cardiff, which will begin in the next few days and will last six to eight months. Public access to the building will not be affected and the work will not necessitate the closing of any rooms. When the Ministry took over guardianship of the castle from the owner, the Marquess of Bute, in 1951, much damage had been caused to the interior by damp and by the lack of adequate heating. As a first step, the Ministry put in hand a considerable amount of repair work to remove the source of damp, and overhauled and extended the heating system. Work is now to proceed on the renovation of the decorations, which consist mostly of highly elaborate plasterwork and richly painted surfaces. The nature of the work calls for specialised craftsmanship if its character is to be properly preserved. Roffe, Ltd., of London, a specialist firm in this field, were asked to prepare a report and have now been commissioned by the Ministry to undertake the task of restoring these unique examples of 'Victorian mediaevalism' to the required standard. Right Castell Coch, Glamorgan, is a small baronial castle dating from the thirteenth century and built to a triangular plan. It is situated six miles north of Cardiff and is open to visitors daily. RENOVATIONS AT CASTELL COCH