More about the Trust and our 25 year campaign to prevent inappropriate development and save Ruperra Castle.
Objects of the Constitution:
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Patron / Nodwr : Jack Hanbury Deputy Lieutenant of Gwent
President / Llywydd : Jeff Cuthbert Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent
Find out about our Trustees
Charity Number / Rhif Elisen: 1135940
Registered in Cardiff / Cofrestrwyd yng Nghaerdydd. Rhif: 6656134
President / Llywydd : Jeff Cuthbert Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent
Find out about our Trustees
Charity Number / Rhif Elisen: 1135940
Registered in Cardiff / Cofrestrwyd yng Nghaerdydd. Rhif: 6656134
Ruperra Castle, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, Grade II* Listed Building and Grade II Registered Park, was burnt out by fire in 1941 and is still a neglected ruin 80 years later. Over the years, the Castle and its outbuildings have deteriorated as it has been passed through private ownership. In 1981 the South East tower fell and there are serious cracks in the others so it is only a matter of time…
Our vision
Our vision is to protect Ruperra Castle and the environmental surroundings of this historic site from inappropriate development. We want to own the Castle and use a range of funding streams to:
- repair the Castle as a roofed ruin so that it can be preserved for future generations
- manage the gardens, grounds and outbuildings with a live-in caretaker
- use it as a base for heritage, archaeology, gardening, and skills training
- commemorate key periods in its history
- encourage sustainable public access.
There is potential for small scale, income generating uses to be explored within the outbuildings, with any profit going back into the development of the Castle.
We believe that a holistic estate masterplan is needed urgently before any decisions are taken on separate parts of the site. In the absence of such a plan we have been campaigning for over 25 years against inappropriate development proposals such as housing or a hotel which would be incompatible with a protected conservation area. Amidst all the uncertainty and delays the Castle has continued to deteriorate.
The first step should be a detailed condition survey of the Castle as the basis for a programme of repair and restoration.
We are a membership-led, democratic organisation committed to ensuring that this precious historic asset can provide benefits to the local community and that people from a wide area can enjoy its beauty and tranquillity.
We urge everyone with an interest in securing the future of Ruperra Castle to work together so we have something to celebrate by the time of the 400th anniversary in 2026.
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Lulworth Castle - Ruperra's cherished twin
Lulworth Castle in Dorset is very similar to Ruperra - a pageant castle built in the 1600s which was damaged in the following century and was rebuilt, then a fire in the last century. Lulworth was restored with funding from English Heritage and, with its surrounding parkland, is open to the public at certain times of the year. Lulworth Castle is no longer lived in, but sensitive consolidation shows the layers of history within its walls. We are grateful to the Lulworth Estate for permission to use their photographs, taken before, during and after consolidation. Lulworth offers important lessons for Ruperra and is inspiration for the Castle's future. Find out more about Lulworth Castle |
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Our voice
We have been campaigning to save Ruperra Castle since the Ruperra Castle Conservation Trust was formed in 1996 by a local history group with the aim of raising money to purchase and conserve Ruperra Castle.
In 2000 the Trust was able to purchase Coed Craig Ruperra, a 150-acre woodland to the north of the Castle, once part of the Ruperra estate, and formed the Ruperra Conservation Trust. Find out more about Coed Craig Ruperra and the Ruperra Conservation Trust
In 2008, there was an urgent need to focus on the fight against plans for an inappropriate housing development at the Castle so some of us set up a dedicated Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust and left the care of the woodland to Ruperra Conservation Trust.
Three of us are trustees of both trusts and both trusts are concerned about the preservation of the built and natural landscape.
Throughout this time, we have led walks in the area, hosted Open Doors and other events, documented stories surrounding Ruperra Castle, and produced books and films so that we can preserve its history for future generations.
In 2000 the Trust was able to purchase Coed Craig Ruperra, a 150-acre woodland to the north of the Castle, once part of the Ruperra estate, and formed the Ruperra Conservation Trust. Find out more about Coed Craig Ruperra and the Ruperra Conservation Trust
In 2008, there was an urgent need to focus on the fight against plans for an inappropriate housing development at the Castle so some of us set up a dedicated Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust and left the care of the woodland to Ruperra Conservation Trust.
Three of us are trustees of both trusts and both trusts are concerned about the preservation of the built and natural landscape.
- 1996 - Ruperra Castle Conservation Trust formed
- 1997 - Funding received from Cadw and the Architectural Heritage Fund for a feasibility study, but the Castle, its outbuildings, famous glasshouse and 17 acres surrounding it were sold to a private developer the following year
- 1998 - New private owner
- 2002 - Owner submitted a planning application for new houses on the Castle site
- 2003 - Arranged a conference in conjunction with Caerphilly County Borough Council to promote the work of the Association of Building Preservation Trusts
- 2004 – Owner amended planning application
- 2006 – Caerphilly County Borough Council refused to accept an unsatisfactory application
- 2006 – Exhibition at the Senedd to highlight the need to preserve the Castle
- 2007 - 50 people protested at Caerphilly County Borough Council offices and presented a petition with 1,000 signatures against housing plans for the Ruperra Castle site
- 2007 – Caerphilly AM Jeff Cuthbert (and President of the Trust) sponsored a meeting at the Senedd to discuss solutions to preserve the Castle with heritage experts
- 2008 – Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust formed
- 2008 – The planning application to build houses on the Castle site was refused by Caerphilly County Borough Council and owner appealed the decision
- 2009 – Refusal of planning application for housing upheld by the Welsh Government after a Public Inquiry
- 2014 - New private owner bought the Castle and grounds
- 2017 – Caerphilly County Borough Council approved an application from the owner for a horse manege for family use
- 2018 - SAVE Britain's Heritage spends £100k on urgent repairs to the Castle
- 2019 – Planning applications submitted to turn outbuildings (stables and bothy) into private residential development and others to rebuild a kitchen garden store as a bat roost.
- 2022 – Caerphilly County Borough Council Planning Committee approve planning proposals to turn outbuildings into a private residential development with no plans for the Castle, subject to a long list of conditions - however there is a holding direction from the Welsh Government for call in
- 2023 – Welsh Government decide not to call in the applications for their own determination and Caerphilly County Borough Council issue planning permission. We launch a petition asking Welsh Parliament to make conservation management plans compulsory for scheduled monuments at risk such as Ruperra Castle. Read and sign the petition
Throughout this time, we have led walks in the area, hosted Open Doors and other events, documented stories surrounding Ruperra Castle, and produced books and films so that we can preserve its history for future generations.
Our objections to plans
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We objected to the applications submitted in 2019 as it would be a travesty if work on less important buildings was allowed whilst the Castle remains a dangerous crumbling ruin.
The outbuildings and the area around them provide relatively undisturbed habitats for protected species including one of only two remaining maternity colonies of Greater Horseshoe Bats in South Wales. Ruperra has a unique combination of heritage buildings in an unspoilt green landscape close to Caerphilly, Cardiff and Newport which is enjoyed by those who walk and cycle in the surrounding countryside. The proposals will impact irreparably on the setting of the scheduled ancient monument and Grade 2* Listed Castle. |
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Protected Green Belt
Welsh Government included this area within a designated Green Belt in “Future Wales: the plan for 2040”. The Green Belt will protect this key area - at the meeting point between the three counties of Caerphilly, Cardiff, and Newport - for future generations.
The Green Belt stretches from the Wye Valley westwards, to the north of Newport, and includes Ruperra as well as Coed Craig Ruperra and Caerphilly Mountain, so protecting this outstanding recreational and landscape arc from inappropriate development. As such it provides an effective counterbalance to urban development in Caerphilly, Cardiff, and Newport - areas which are capable of being well served by public transport and utilities.
Welsh Government included this area within a designated Green Belt in “Future Wales: the plan for 2040”. The Green Belt will protect this key area - at the meeting point between the three counties of Caerphilly, Cardiff, and Newport - for future generations.
The Green Belt stretches from the Wye Valley westwards, to the north of Newport, and includes Ruperra as well as Coed Craig Ruperra and Caerphilly Mountain, so protecting this outstanding recreational and landscape arc from inappropriate development. As such it provides an effective counterbalance to urban development in Caerphilly, Cardiff, and Newport - areas which are capable of being well served by public transport and utilities.
Contact us
Email: [email protected]
