Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust (RCPT) continues to be concerned about the condition of Ruperra Castle. It is almost 80 years since it was burned out - following a fire caused by an electrical fault - on 7 December 1941, while being used to train troops during World War 2. During all the time since then there has been only one attempt at conservation, when in 2018 SAVE Britain’s Heritage funded work on the South Porch. This could not start because a structurally unsound chimney block behind it had to be taken down. The demolition team had to prop up a window at the top of the Porch with steel beams. Before any conservation work could be done NRW revoked the licence they had issued to the owner to allow work to proceed within the SSSI when they discovered that the owner was clearing land beyond the area covered by the licence.
Contrary to what some have claimed, the Castle is in a dangerous condition and at risk of collapse, as confirmed by the following authoritative sources:
(i) The Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) and Grade 2* Listed Ruperra Castle is described in Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Buildings At Risk Register as being in “very bad condition”.
(ii) Section 14.0 of Holland Heritage’s Statement of Significance - dated July 2019 and submitted with the owner’s planning applications for change of use (COU) and listed building consent (LBC) for its Grade 2 listed Stables and Bothy, and the Greenhouse Store - states that “Ruperra Castle has been listed as a building at grave risk since the 1960s. The fire of 1941 caused severe damage which has never been repaired and the loss of the roof and floors has weakened the structure….. The south-east tower collapsed in 1982…..”
(iii) In an email to RCPT on 30 July 2020 a Cadw Senior Inspector confirmed that “…the Castle is highly dangerous…” and added: “We (in Cadw) recognise that the (scheduled ancient) monument continues to be at risk and we are very keen to see it stabilised.”
RCPT is keen for progress to be made as soon as possible on stabilising the Castle. We consider it a scandal that - despite its many layers of nationally important designations - decades have been wasted by successive owners on proposals for residential conversions and new build. All such proposals would result in harm to protected species in the SSSI, and would not generate the funding needed to stabilise the Castle - the most important building at Ruperra - which has been left to rot.
As an independent charity, RCPT could access the funds needed for essential repairs, and wants to revive Ruperra as the focal point of a heritage-led country park, offering training facilities and recreational opportunities to local people. We want to work with the County Borough Council and other organisations to ensure that Ruperra can - once again - make a contribution to the wellbeing of the people of Caerphilly.
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