The history of the house and estate extends to before 1460 though the association with the Williams family dates from around 1690. The Castle as seen today is a creation of Sir John Hay Williams dating from between 1830 and 1852. Architects Hansom and Welch were employed by Sir John to refurbish and extend the house while further works at this time also resulted in a magnificent estate wall and formal garden
In 1994, the County Council leased part of the site to the Rank Organisation for its first Warner Holidays hotel. Meanwhile, the magnificent Williams Hall with its national collections was placed under the control of Bodelwyddan Castle Trust.
31 July 2004
Members of staff have experienced strange goings-on at Bodelwyddan Castle for many years. This perhaps isn't surprising. With its varied and diverse history, the house and estate extends to before 1460. The Castle has been used as a recuperation hospital for the First World War, as a girls' private school and is now home to the National Portrait Gallery.
Paranormal Sightings
Unexplained sightings have included a lady in Victorian dress in the Sculpture Gallery, a soldier in one of the Galleries and shadowy figures in the corridors. Last September, North Wales Paranormal Research (NWPR) conducted a preliminary overnight investigation. A few strange noises were heard and light anomalies (often referred to as orbs) were photographed.
Latest Paranormal Investigations at the Castle
On Friday 13th February, NWPR went back to Bodelwyddan Castle to carry out a second investigation. Because NWPR investigate the paranormal from a scientific angle wherever possible, we come armed with a host of technical equipment. On this particular investigation, it included the usual night vision video cameras, Negative Ion Detectors, motion sensors, infra-red thermometers, etc, right through to more specialist equipment, like CCTV cameras and infra-red lighting arrays.
After setting up all the equipment in the most active locations around the Castle, we welcomed the mediums. Despite focusing on science wherever possible, NWPR work alongside mediums too, as we feel mediums deserve investigating just as much as any ghosts. They're just as paranormal!
The mediums walked around the Castle and picked up on a number of spirits. Some of the information they came out with seems to be historically correct, and, following some research, they seem to have discovered something that even Castle staff were unaware of until they unearthed an old floor plan.
At around midnight, the mediums left, and we (NWPR) set up locked-off experiments to make sure the experiments weren't tampered with by any (living) human. Lock-off experiments were placed predominantly in the cellars, as one of our members experienced something down there on our very first visit. Two night vision camcorders were placed facing one another from across the cellar in order to validate any strange phenomena that may be recorded. We also placed a Negative Ion Detector, motion sensors and trigger objects in the cellars, to try to record any sort of paranormal phenomena on camera.
At the same time, infra-red lighting experiments were taking place in other parts of the Castle. CCTV cameras and microphones were left filming, and streaming continuously throughout the night back to the 'base camp' in a room on the second floor. Some NWPR members were watching the footage all night and claimed to have seen and heard a few potentially interesting things. Detailed analysis needs to be completed before any conclusion can be reached on this though.
Strange Goings-on
At about six in the morning, we left the Castle to embark on many hours worth of video and audio analysis. Preliminary analysis of the footage from the cellar lock-off experiment seems to indicate that something triggered the motion sensors at 2am. Nothing was visible on the camcorders at the time. The trigger object remained where it was placed and the Negative Ion Detector didn't pick up on anything unusual. So, what was down in the cellars at this time remains a mystery.
A light anomaly (often referred to as an orb) was noted on a camcorder in the Victorian toy room.
Further investigations will be conducted in order to try and get further, conclusive proof of the paranormal.
http://www.nwpr.org.uk
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/guides/weird/ghosts/pages/bodelwyddan.shtml
Bodelwyddan Castle looks to be a magical Kingdom straight out of a fairytale. The history of the house and estate extends to before 1460 though the association with the Williams family dates from around 1690. The Castle as seen today is a creation of Sir John Hay Williams dating from between 1830 and 1852. Architects Hansom and Welch were employed by Sir John to refurbish and extend the house while further works at this time also resulted in a magnificent estate wall and formal garden. By the First World War, the estate had been reduced in size and the house used as a recuperation hospital. The surrounding grounds were also used by Kinmel Camp for a training area in trench warfare. You can still see the trenches in the grounds today.
By 1920 the estate was sold by the Williams family due to financial problems and was bought by Lowther College, a girls private school. The College was at the Castle until 1982 when it finally closed due to financial problems. In the 1980s the Castle was purchased by the then Clwyd County Council and developed as a museum, gallery and visitor attraction. Partnerships were formed with the National Portrait Gallery, Victoria & Albert Museum and the Royal Academy of Arts to enable the display of many important national treasures at the Castle. To house these collections, the interior was sympathetically restored to its Victorian splendor by architect Roderick Gradidge. We may find on our investigation that energies that now reside in the Castle are somewhat confused as to how the rooms are now laid out.
Many unexplained sightings and sounds have been heard over the years at this magnificent Castle.
Apparition of a Victorian dressed lady seen
Shadows seen moving down corridors when nobody is there
Doors opening by themselves
Apparition of a W.W.I soldier seen
Unexplained footsteps heard
and much much more!
http://www.paranormaltours.com
Bodelwyddan Castle looks to be a magical Kingdom straight out of a fairytale. The history of the house and estate extends to before 1460 though the association with the Williams family dates from around 1690. The Castle as seen today is a creation of Sir John Hay Williams dating from between 1830 and 1852. Architects Hansom and Welch were employed by Sir John to refurbish and extend the house while further works at this time also resulted in a magnificent estate wall and formal garden. By the First World War, the estate had been reduced in size and the house used as a recuperation hospital. The surrounding grounds were also used by Kinmel Camp for a training area in trench warfare. You can still see the trenches in the grounds today.
By 1920 the estate was sold by the Williams family due to financial problems and was bought by Lowther College, a girls private school. The College was at the Castle until 1982 when it finally closed due to financial problems. In the 1980s the Castle was purchased by the then Clwyd County Council and developed as a museum, gallery and visitor attraction. Partnerships were formed with the National Portrait Gallery, Victoria & Albert Museum and the Royal Academy of Arts to enable the display of many important national treasures at the Castle. To house these collections, the interior was sympathetically restored to its Victorian splendor by architect Roderick Gradidge. We may find on our investigation that energies that now reside in the Castle are somewhat confused as to how the rooms are now laid out.
Just last year the popular television programme, 'Most Haunted', investigated this castle. Richard, Karl and Stuart had an unexplained event involving a table in the cellar!
http://www.paranormaltours.com/
All Content © GhostHaunted.com
2003-2006
