Ruperra Castle structural survey reveals it needs urgent action

The structural condition survey and strategic appraisal report by Mann Williams was commission by Cadw and the owner, and undertaken in August 2024 although only finalised in November 2024. A year later we have managed to get our hands on it.

The assessment of Ruperra Castle is that it is saveable and repairable.

However, the monument has been identified as high risk and multiple highly vulnerable areas have been identified. Failure to take urgent and short term action will allow further deterioration past the ‘point of no return’ where it would no longer be possible to intervene safely to prevent uncontrolled collapse.

Urgent actions undertaken within 12-18 months or sooner:

• Safety fence - the first recommendation is to secure the castle and put up a safety fence and warning signage to protect passersby. There is a significant risk that passersby could be struct with loose debris with the potential for severe or fatal injury. The report states that currently the existing castle is readily accessible from all sides and there is a risk of damage as a result of vandalism to potentially historically significant areas of the building.
• Towers – all towers are at significant risk and need vegetation clearance, and removal of loose masonry. The North West tower has the potential to collapse and dropped brickwork needs stabilising – a temporary roof is recommended to prevent water causing further deterioration.
• Chimneys – three of the chimneys need urgent works, particularly chimney 4. The report recommends wrapping scaffolding around it, vegetation clearance and removal of loose masonry.

Short term works to be undertaken within 2 to 3 years to prevent progressive degradation and or damage to the structure:

• Making the castle safe by clearing any loose debris and vegetation from the top of all the walls and ledges.
• Installing internal scaffolding or shoring where there is structural concern.

We hope that Caerphilly County Borough Council building control will now act to ensure a safety fence goes up immediately given there are reports of trespassing.

​We are very worried that urgent actions to the towers and chimneys did not take place in 2025, and we are now going into another winter. Let’s hope that another tower doesn’t collapse and Ruperra Castle survives until the spring.

We continue to engage with Cadw and publicly state our desire to work with the owner if possible. Read the full structural condition survey on the Welsh Government’s website.

Please note that Ruperra Castle is privately owned and a very dangerous structure that is at risk of collapse. Trespassers are prohibited and even going near the building or veering off the public right of way puts you at a risk of life.

​Historic building record
In December 2023, Cotswold archaeology undertook a programme of historic building recording for Ruperra Castle, Caerphilly. This includes a photographic and written record, as well as detailed photogrammetry output of building elevations, plus a suite of floor plans.

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