NGI

The history of the house and estate extends to before 1460 though the association with the Williams family dates from around 1690.

The History of Bodelwyddan Castle

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.

The loss of the main income source for the estate - lead mining - in the 1850s resulted in the decline of the Williams family fortunes, though further building refurbishment took place in the 1880s. By the First World War, the estate had been reduced in size and the house used as a recuperation hospital.

The grounds to the east of the main house were also used by nearby Kinmel Camp as an area for trench warfare training. In 1920 the house and estate were finally sold by the Williams family to Lowther College, a girls private school. The College was based 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.

The Haunted History of Bodelwyddan Castle

The ghosts of shadowy figures have been seen walking around and through Bodelwyddan Castle and many people report the sense that somebody is following them around only to find, upon looking, that nobody is there when they turn around.

There is one story in particular concerning the ghost of The Blue Lady who has has often been seen wandering around irrespective of the shadowy figures reported above. She can often be seen wandering through the kitchen and has often been heard rattling plates and pans.