Castle To Close For Summer Season On Friday

Over 25,000 visitors have experienced the history of Oystermouth Castle since the spring. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The castle, which opened for the 2016 season at the end of March, is closing on Friday September 30 for the autumn and winter. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Swansea Council runs the attraction in partnership with the Friends of Oystermouth Castle. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As well as tours of castle, other events to have taken place there over the summer include outdoor cinema screenings, outdoor theatre performances and live music. Art workshops and story-telling for children are among the other activities to have been arranged. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The castle will also be re-opening for one day only on October 29 for a Halloween Spooktacular event. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Regeneration, said: “It’s been another fantastic spring and summer season for Oystermouth Castle, so my thanks go to our staff, the Friends of Oystermouth Castle and everyone who has contributed to this on-going success story. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The fact the castle has received a TripAdvisor certificate of excellence is testament to the quality of the visitor experience there. Not only is the castle a gem of an historic landmark to discover, but it’s also an ideal spot to hold events like outdoor cinema and outdoor theatre, which continue to be extremely popular with the public. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Oystermouth Castle is part of Swansea’s rich heritage, so we’re determined to keep doing all we can to celebrate and conserve it.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A major conservation scheme was carried out at Oystermouth Castle in recent years, with funds from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Welsh Government through Cadw and the European Regional Development Fund. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Some of the castle’s features include ancient graffiti art from the 14th Century, a 30-foot high glass bridge and private staircases leading from vaults to rooms once used as banqueting halls. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Oystermouth Castle was originally built in 1106 after Gower was captured by the Normans. King Edward I, also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, briefly visited the landmark in December, 1284. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​