 Did you know that Caerphilly has another Castle that is steeped in history, and very different from Caerphilly Castle?
Ruperra Castle is a Grade 2* Listed Building and Scheduled Ancient Monument - one of very few "pageant" Castles in the UK ie built for show not defence - a stylish renaissance home built in 1626 by Sir Thomas Morgan and his wife. The Castle has a colourful history; it has played host to Charles 1 and to the military in WWII, been a family home and hunting lodge, and provided employment for local families over generations. The derelict gardens still retain echoes of the past including the remains of a magnificent MacKenzie and Moncur glass house, one of the largest and finest in Wales. The Castle was gutted by fire in 1941 and now stands as a romantic ruin and a building at risk of collapse. The unique surrounding Listed Buildings include Stables, Bothy and Generator House, which is home to a rare Greater Horseshoe bat maternity colony. The Castle is located not far from the village of Draethen, and although it is not open to the public there are a number of viewpoints from public footpaths. Join the Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust on 8 November at 17:00 at Coffi Vista, The Twyn, Caerphilly CF83 1JL to hear a talk from one of their Trustees, Dr Elaine Davey, about its history and significance. You can also view a new embroidered artwork of a reborn Castle and gardens by artist Haf Weighton, who involved the local community in creating it. Haf will be attending the event and will say a few words about the artwork which will be on display in Coffi Vista throughout the winter. The event is free but booking is essential - refreshments can be purchased in Coffi Vista. Book free tickets for this event
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 Ruperra Castle has played a big part in the history of South East Wales but is currently a ruin at risk of collapse. Join the Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust at Ruperra Home Farm to find out more about its interesting past:
• Guided walk to take in views of the Castle* • Free copies of our walking map • Archery with the Marcher Stuarts re-enactments • Build a Lego castle • Refreshments • Purchase historical books about the Castle, Ruperra perry and pear jam. Please select the number of tickets you need to include the number of people attending with you. Both walks will start and finish at Ruperra Home Farm: • Short walk at 12:00 and 15:00 – this walk will last around 50 minutes along fairly flat but uneven ground and will take in views of the Castle. • Long walk at 11:00 and 14:00 – this walk will take one hour and 20 minutes and will take in views of the Castle, as well as walking to the top of the Iron Age hillfort and motte on Coed Craig Ruperra to absorb the breath-taking views over the Bristol channel. Walkers should be fit enough to walk an ascent of 100m. Book tickets Help Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust save Ruperra Castle and surrounding buildings and gardens by campaigning to secure them to use for community benefit, and to ensure a better future for our precious local heritage. *Please note that you can’t visit the Castle as it is privately owned and a dangerous ruin. The walks will take in views of the Castle. Mae Castell Rhiwperra wedi chwarae rhan fawr yn hanes De Ddwyrain Cymru, ond ar hyn o bryd mae'n adfail sydd mewn perygl o gwympo. Ymunwch ag Ymddiriedolaeth Cadwraeth Castell Rhiwperra yn Fferm Gartref Rhiwperra i ddarganfod mwy am ei orffennol diddorol: • Teithiau cerdded i fwynhau golygfeydd o'r Castell * • Copïau am ddim o'n map cerdded • Saethyddiaeth gyda'r Marcher Stuarts yn ail-greu • Adeiladwch gastell Lego • Lluniaeth • Prynwch lyfrau hanesyddol am y Castell, Perai Rhiw'r Perrai a jam gellyg. Dewiswch nifer y tocynnau sydd eu hangen arnoch i gynnwys nifer y bobl sy'n dod gyda chi. Bydd y ddwy daith yn cychwyn ac yn gorffen yn Ruperra Home Farm: • Taith gerdded fer am 12:00 a 15:00 – bydd y daith hon yn para tua 50 munud ar hyd tir gweddol lefel ond anwastad a bydd yn cynnwys golygfeydd o’r Castell. • Taith hir am 11:00 a 14:00 - bydd y daith hon yn cymryd awr ac 20 munud ac yn cynnwys golygfeydd o'r Castell, yn ogystal â cherdded i ben bryngaer a mwnt Oes yr Haearn ar Goed Craig Rhiw'r Perrai i fwynhau’r golygfeydd syfrdanol dros sianel Bryste. Dylai cerddwyr fod yn ddigon ffit i gerdded esgyniad o 100m. Archebu tocynnau Helpwch Ymddiriedolaeth Cadwraeth Castell Rhiwperra i achub Castell Rhiwperra a’r adeiladau a’r gerddi cyfagos trwy ymgyrchu i’w diogelu er mwyn eu defnyddio er budd y gymuned, ac i sicrhau gwell dyfodol ar gyfer ein treftadaeth leol werthfawr. * Noder os gwelwch yn dda nad ydych yn gallu ymweld â’r Castell gan ei fod yn eiddo preifat ac yn adfail peryglus. Bydd y teithiau cerdded yn cynnwys golygfeydd o'r Castell. Photo credit: Booker T Photography Thank you to everyone that came to see us at one of our events over the last month to engage people in our vision and help us finish our new artwork - a reborn Ruperra Castle and gardens by artist Haf Weighton. On 25 May we were sponsored at the Senedd by Hefin David, MS for Caerphilly, and chatted to Members of Senedd and the public. On 1 June we held a community event at Rudry Parish Hall and guests were able to either take part in an art workshop or walk to the Castle. The interest in the Castle was fantastic and it was wonderful to meet so many new people. 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:
Find out more about our vision  Imagine a Ruperra Castle that was protected for community benefit and future generations to enjoy. Find out the vision of the Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust, view artist Haf Weighton’s reborn Castle and gardens, book onto a free workshop to help finish the artwork or, join a walk to view the Castle.
The event starts at 10:30 at Rudry Parish Hall, Rudry, CF83 3DF. Booking is essential. 10:30 Vision presentation The Trust’s vision is to protect Ruperra Castle and the environment and landscape around the historic site from inappropriate development. Come and meet the Trustees and hear a presentation about the importance of the Castle and its future, where you will have an opportunity to ask questions over refreshments. Find out more about the vision of the Trust 11:30 and 12:15 Art workshop Artist Haf Weighton will be displaying her embroidered artwork which visualises a reborn Castle and gardens. Haf is a Cardiff-based artist who works with paint, print and stitch, her portraits of architecture convey a sensitivity and connection to place. Haf will be running 45-minute workshops at the event to involve the local community in “stitching” people to be included in the final artwork. The workshop is suitable for adults, and children over the age of 9. Find out more about artist Haf Weighton OR 11:45 Walk to the Castle The walk will set off from the Llwyn Hir woodland carpark and take in beautiful woodland and points of interest, taking around 1.5 hours. Walkers will need to be fit enough to walk 5km with an ascent of about 130m to the Motte. Strong footwear and waterproofs are recommended. Due to timings, guests are unable to take part in both the art workshop and a walk to the Castle. Please book the correct tickets depending on your interest – all tickets include the vision presentation at 10:30:  We have lots of interesting online talks coming up for our members over the next few months:
 Thank you to everyone who joined us at our Open Doors event on Sunday 26 September to learn more about Ruperra Castle. Huge thanks to Ruperra Home Farm for having us, Marcher Stuarts Re-enactment Group for musketry and archery, Paul Busby for your historical talk, Haf Weighton for your desk calendars with artwork of the Castle, Booker T Photography for photography, Rudry Ladies for refreshments and all of the trustees and volunteers who helped to make the day so special. Kay Powell, Chair of the Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust reflected on the day, "It was lovely to hold a live Open Doors event again, to see so many happy smiling faces and to hear from the children of their interest in, and knowledge of, Ruperra Castle. Attendees were fascinated by our volunteers explaining the history of the Castle on our guided walks in the area, by the archery, musketry and craft skills of the Marcher Stuarts and by Paul Busby from National Trust Tredegar House's tales of Morgan family characters."  This event is fully booked - we are sorry for any disappointment this may cause. Please only use the link to register if you would like to be added to the waiting list in case of any cancellations. Ruperra Castle has played a big part in the history of South East Wales but is currently a ruin at risk of collapse. Join the Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust at Ruperra Home Farm to find out more about its interesting past:
The event is free - spaces are limited and booking is essential *Please note that you can’t visit the Castle as it is privately owned and a dangerous ruin. The walks will take in views of the Castle. This project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.   |
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