Caernarfon Castle unveils £5m enhancement project

After centuries of inaccessibility, previously closed-off sections of Caernarfon Castle are now open to the public.

The completion of a three-year enhancement project at the castle’s main gateway has been announced by Cadw.

The £5 million conservation and development endeavour at Caernarfon Castle’s primary gatehouse has provided visitors with access to areas that have remained unseen for centuries.

The project involved the installation of a rooftop deck and new flooring in the gatehouse towers.

Additionally, the project included the integration of a lift, granting access for all visitors to the upper levels – a feature believed to be the first of its kind at a UK World Heritage site.

The project will ensure that the castle is welcoming and accessible and continues to make a valuable contribution to the economy of the surrounding area.

[Photo: Grosvenor Construction]

A new catering offer, educational and retail spaces, and accessible visitor facilities have also been included in the works, including a Changing Places facility.

The scheme is supported by the Welsh Government and by £1.04 million from the European Regional Development Fund through the Tourism Attractor Destination Programme, that is managed by Visit Wales.

Central to the enhancement project is new artistic interpretation, focusing on the theme: ‘the hands that built the Castle’.

This modern approach to interpretation aims to present the story of the castle from a different perspective, encouraging visitors to re-think how they perceive the site’s history.

The delivery of the project, has been supported by Buttress Architects and Grosvenor Construction, who have re-installed the floor levels of the gatehouse towers; built new steps from the first floor to the new rooftop deck; and installed a lightweight glazed glass lift to provide step-free access to the rooftop.

Following such extensive development, Cadw is now encouraging visitors of all ages and abilities to witness the outstanding views from the upper embattlements on the rooftop deck, previously unseen for centuries.

Dawn Bowden MS, Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, said:

“Making our historic sites more accessible is a fantastic — and necessary — way of caring for Wales’ historical monuments for the benefit of present and future generations.

“Enhancement projects like this one ensures that everybody can access Welsh history and learn more about the nation’s heritage. Cadw’s new interpretation will further support this, inviting visitors to discover the lesser-known stories of the castle’s history.

“This is the latest development in Caernarfon as the town has also benefitted from an extensive and ongoing development programme of investment to further enhance its status as an iconic and “must see” destination in Wales.”

[Butress]

Gwilym Hughes, Head of Cadw, said:

“We’d like to thank our valued visitors and Cadw members for their patience during this 3-year period of conservation and development at Caernarfon Castle. We look forward to welcoming visitors of all abilities to experience this area of the fortress for the first time in centuries, and hope that our new interpretation will provide new ways for visitors to understand the castle’s story.

“The hands that built the castle’ interpretation will encourage visitors to do just that — by focusing on the community and workers of the Castle, whose stories are often footnotes rather than the focus of historical interpretation.

This new interpretation will demonstrate the skill and knowledge that went into building the castle that is now a World Heritage Site. It also provides a context that will allow a fuller understanding of a time of intense conflict between the indigenous Welsh princes and the English monarchy.”