| There's nothing like some ghostly rumours to make a | | | | training purposes and housed an officers' mess and |
| trip to a castle more exciting - and for those heading | | | | recuperation centre. |
| to Wales on family holidays, a visit to Bodelwyddan | | | | Strange lights and noises have also been recorded |
| Castle could be particularly thrilling. | | | | around the castle. |
| Located in Denbighshire, the castle has a long history | | | | It is not clear what is behind all of these things as all of |
| punctuated with mysterious sightings and events that | | | | Bodelwyddan Castle's records were destroyed in a |
| have been attributed by some to the world of ghosts | | | | fire in the 1920s. |
| and spirits - and it has even been featured on Living | | | | However, some human bones were found close to |
| TV's Most Haunted. | | | | one of the castle's chimneys in 1829. It was discovered |
| Bodelwyddan Castle also has a raft of other | | | | that these bones were actually built right back into the |
| attractions - most of which aren't quite as scary - sure | | | | wall - so they are still there to this very day. |
| to keep visitors' attention on their days out in Wales. | | | | Visitors can hear more explanations and theories by |
| But will you see something you won't quite believe on | | | | accessing an audio tour as they walk around the |
| your visit to the castle? | | | | castle. |
| Bodelwyddan Castle - a history | | | | Other castle attractions |
| Bodelwyddan Castle was originally built as a manor | | | | For those who would rather not spend their UK days |
| house way back in the 15th century. | | | | out ghost-hunting, Bodelwyddan Castle has - thankfully |
| The Williams family began their association with the | | | | - many other attractions to keep visitors occupied. |
| building some 200 years later, although it only became | | | | As it is one of the National Portrait Gallery's regional |
| the castle it is today in the 19th century. | | | | partners, tourists will be able to view a wide range of |
| In the 1850s, the lead mining activities that were the | | | | 19th century artworks at the castle, along with furniture |
| main source of income for the Bodelwyddan Castle | | | | from the Victoria & Albert Museum. |
| estate began to decline, resulting in financial misfortune | | | | Pieces of sculpture from the Royal Academy of Arts |
| for the Williams family. | | | | and items dating back to the castle's time as a girls' |
| The estate was reduced in size and it began to be | | | | school can also be seen. |
| used as a training ground for soldiers fighting in World | | | | Special exhibitions and events are held throughout the |
| War I. | | | | year, while the unusual sight of practice trenches used |
| It was then sold to Lowther College, which turned the | | | | by World War I soldiers is a must-see while out and |
| castle into a private girls' school that operated until the | | | | about in the castle's grounds. |
| 1980s. | | | | Near the castle |
| The county council stepped in and acquired the estate | | | | Once you've exhausted all of the exciting sights and |
| during this decade, turning it into the visitor attraction | | | | activities on offer at Bodelwyddan Castle, there's |
| that it is today and drawing crowds of tourists every | | | | much else to see away from the estate. |
| year. | | | | The coast isn't far from the castle, so why not stay in |
| Bones, apparitions and things that go bump in the night | | | | a hotel and spend a day in one of the popular seaside |
| There have been numerous reports of ghostly | | | | towns in the area? |
| occurrences at Bodelwyddan Castle - most of which | | | | Rhyl and Prestatyn have seven miles of beaches |
| cannot be easily explained. | | | | between them, making them ideal destinations for |
| Some have seen a spooky woman in the Sculpture | | | | those rare occasions when the sun breaks through the |
| Gallery, while others have spotted what has been | | | | dismal British summer! |
| described as a 'blue lady' in the Terrace Tea Room | | | | Away from the coast, Denbighshire is home to a |
| and shadowy people wandering along the corridors in | | | | wealth of other attractions - just a few of the |
| the castle. | | | | highlights include the UNESCO World Heritage site of |
| Another sighting has been made of what is claimed to | | | | Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, as well as Chirk, Denbigh and |
| be a soldier in one of the castle galleries, perhaps | | | | Flint castles and some spectacular scenery. |
| harking back to when the estate was used for war | | | | |