The Restoration of Bodelwyddan Castle

Bodelwyddan Castle was bought by Clwyd County Council in 1983 and the restoration of the house by architect Roderick Gradidge began.  The house was restored in the Victorian style and each of the rooms range in style from early to late Victorian. The rooms are the perfect backdrop to the portraits, which are on loan from the National Portrait Gallery

The bedroom before renovation...

   and after

Each of the rooms has a theme; the yellow damask ladies’ drawing room is in the 1830’s style, with portraits of eminent Victorian women like Florence Nightingale and Clara Novello. In the library are scholars and literary men, whilst in the golden damask dining room are politicians and reformers. The billiard room shows Victorian sporting cartoons from Vanity Fair, in the Staircase Hall hang portraits of well-known explorers and the sculpture gallery shows off the works of local sculptor John Gibson. 

The staircase hall before...

  and after

Roderick Gradidge, an expert in Victorian architecture, recaptured the period style by re-creating Victorian interior decoration techniques. Curtains and carpets have also been recreated with designs, which haven’t been seen for the last 100 years.

The Sculpture Gallery