### Cyfarthfa Castle Awarded £4.5 Million to Secure Its Future on 200th Anniversary
Cyfarthfa Castle, an iconic historical site in Merthyr Tydfil, has been granted a major financial lifeline as it faces severe structural challenges. With the landmark building marking its bicentenary this year, an urgent funding package of £4.5 million has been confirmed, aimed at addressing critical areas of deterioration and ensuring its survival for future generations.
The funding, jointly provided by the Welsh Government’s historic environment service Cadw and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, will see each body contribute £2.25 million. Their collective support is intended to tackle some of the most pressing structural issues affecting the castle’s oldest sections. In addition, funds will be directed towards the protection and restoration of the nearby Pont-y-Cafnau bridge, thought to be the oldest iron railway bridge in the world, thereby safeguarding a significant part of the industrial heritage of the area.
Recent reports emphasised that Cyfarthfa Castle was at a tipping point, with its condition worsening alarmingly. A council inspection from earlier this year sounded the alarm about the building’s ongoing decline, warning it was rapidly approaching dereliction. Concerns escalated further after the collapse of additional ceilings and safety checks that resulted in the closure of several rooms, raising both public safety and restoration cost issues.
A comprehensive survey of the castle’s state highlighted the urgent need for extensive remedial works. To stem the deterioration, experts recommended the installation of scaffolding capped with a temporary roof. This would guard against water ingress, create an opportunity for the building to dry out, and prevent further collapse. Meanwhile, improvement plans, including an updated below-ground drainage network, have already been submitted to further support the castle’s preservation.
Currently, only about a fifth of Cyfarthfa Castle is accessible to the public, housing a museum and a series of art galleries. The remaining 80 percent, which was once home to Cyfarthfa High School, has been closed due to its unsafe condition. With much of the castle now off-limits, the restoration project comes at a critical juncture.
The Cyfarthfa Foundation, a local charity dedicated to the castle’s long-term revitalisation, is working closely with the council. Their shared vision for Cyfarthfa includes expanding cultural displays, opening more of the site to visitors, and developing the encompassing 160-acre park. Ambitiously, the group envisions a renewed castle that serves both as a community hub and an engine of local economic growth through increased tourism.
Coinciding with these restoration efforts, a two-day festival is planned to celebrate the castle’s 200th anniversary. Residents and visitors can expect free access to galleries, historical talks, interactive storytelling, nature walks, Victorian-themed experiences, and a bustling artisan market featuring local crafts.
Built in 1825 as the residence of ironmaster William Crawshay II, Cyfarthfa Castle is intimately linked with Merthyr Tydfil’s legacy as a global ironmaking centre in the 19th century. The estate, along with the wider Cyfarthfa Industrial Heritage Area, preserves some of Wales’s most valuable industrial heritage, including the neighbouring ironworks and Pont-y-Cafnau bridge.
Speaking on the significance of the restoration, council leader Brent Carter described the castle’s redevelopment as both urgent and deeply personal to the local community. “This castle is part of our shared memory and identity,” he commented. “The funding will allow us to safeguard a cherished landmark and secure its place in Merthyr’s story for years to come.”
The Welsh Government’s Minister for Culture, Jack Sargeant MS, echoed these sentiments, praising Cyfarthfa Castle’s status as a symbol of Welsh history. “As we celebrate its 200th year, I’m delighted we can support the vital work needed to protect Cyfarthfa for future generations,” he stated.
With the new funding in place and a wide-ranging plan for restoration moving forward, the future of Cyfarthfa Castle hangs in the balance, but hopes are high that this historic structure will not only be saved but given a new lease of life as a vibrant cultural destination.