National Treasure

Summer day out at Penrhyn Castle and Garden

Penrhyn Castle is a neo-Norman fantasy castle, commanding spectacular views towards Snowdonia and the Menai Straits.

A grand house masquerading as a castle, Penrhyn Castle was built to impress. Its detailed carvings and lavish Victorian furniture are a demonstration of the extreme wealth of the Pennant family who lived there.

Using profits generated on Jamaican plantations and in

the North Wales slate industry it overlooks, the castle was constructed between 1820 and 1833. No expense was spared in its design and Thomas Hopper, the architect, which can be seen in its entirety for the first time this year, highlights items in our

collections that connect us to our colonial past and showcase local school children’s creative responses to them. The exhibition will be shown until the beginning of November.

Alongside What a World, discover the ‘Haenau’ interventions which reveal the castle’s local history and its connection to the slate industry. The Pennant family owned the local Penrhyn Quarry, which became the site of one of the longest industrial disputes in British history.

Things to see and do:

There’s plenty to do here over the summer holidays. From 16 July to 29 August, collect a challenge card from the Visitor Welcome Centre and discover which games are in the garden. Drop by on Thursdays to take part in some tennis games and challenges.

After some more history? Find the Railway Museum in the old stables block and discover all sorts of trains and locomotives that are a part of our collection or head down to the Victorian Kitchens to see what life was like below stairs. n

ensured every corner of the castle was finished with ornate

details and intricate carvings. The Grand Staircase, the showstopper of his design, took ten years to build and has wowed visitors for decades.

Outside, our extensive grounds and gardens have dramatic views of both the mountains and the sea. Over the last five

years we have been developing our meadows and as a result more birds, bees and butterflies visit the grounds. The picnic

spots cut out in the middle of the meadows provide a great opportunity to immerse yourself in this wildlife.

For a more formal garden, head towards the Walled Garden where you will find precise topiary and meticulous planting.

It features our beautiful Fuchsia Arch, which provides the perfect photo opportunity when it’s in bloom between July and October. Here, Walter Speed’s 19th Century vision for one of Britain’s top three gardens of the time can really be appreciated.

Don’t miss

Find the castle’s compelling history in the opulent rooms through our exhibitions. The What a World exhibition,

Penrhyn Castle and Garden is open daily in the spring and summer months and closes at 4pm. Please check opening times before travelling, as they are subject to change.

@NTPenrhynCastle

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ penrhyn-castle