Medieval clothes demo for castle

Campaigners against plans for luxury houses in the grounds of a Jacobean castle have dressed in medieval clothes to hand a petition to planners.

Nearly 1,000 people have signed the petition objecting to plans to build 18 houses in the grounds of Ruperra Castle, near Caerphilly.
The castle, built in 1626 by Sir Thomas Morgan, has stood empty for nearly 70 years after a fire in 1941.

Caerphilly Council is due to make a decision on the planning application.
The Grade II listed castle which is also registered as an ancient monument was bought by its current owner in 1998.

Plans have since been submitted plans to renovate the building and its outbuildings for residential use and construct 18 two-storey houses, as well as an access road.

But it has angered members of the Ruperra Conservation Trust and Ruperra Castle Action Group, who say the character of the castle and its grounds would be lost if new houses were built.

"Eighteen new houses would destroy the space around the castle," said Pat Mosely, one of the campaigners.

"Imagine if they decided to build luxury homes around Caerphilly Castle. It just wouldn't happen, would it?"

'Romantic ruin'

She said the castle was situated in a conservation and special landscape area and listed on the register of historic parklands and gardens in Wales.

She said the group wanted the grounds to be turned into an open park with the castle turned into a consolidated ancient monument for the community to enjoy.

The castle was built in 1626 by Sir Thomas Morgan, who was knighted by James I, while Charles I visited in 1645.

Major rebuilding work had to be carried out after a fire in 1785, and in 1941 the castle was once again devastated by fire after British troops were billeted there.

After the war, the estate was sold as a farm and has stood as a "romantic ruin" for the last 50 years.

Planners could make a decision on the proposals for the new homes on 15 August.
The owner of the castle could not be contacted for comment.

From: BBC NEWS