Ruperra Castle.

Ruperra Castle : Synopsis

Key points
a unique Jacobean castellated manor house in south-east Wales
Grade II * Listed Building
Scheduled Ancient Monument
stands in 160 acres of historic parkland
overgrown with vegetation and deteriorating for over 50 years
until now, July 2006, a planning impasse since 2002


Possibilities
heritage: a potential Hampton Court Palace of south Wales
tourism: attraction which could be linked to other sites in south-east Wales
centre: venue for conferences, social events, fairs
media: film set
education: a valuable resource
employment: jobs created during refurbishment and afterwards
economic spin-offs: stimulate the development of associated businesses


Key events
1626
Completed by Sir Thomas Morgan, steward to the Earl of Pembroke
1785
Destroyed by fire
Rebuilt
1941
Destroyed by fire
1986
The officers of Rhymney Valley District Council recommend that the Secretary of State for Wales takes the castle into care.
1996
Ruperra Conservation Trust formed
1998
Castle sold to Ashraf Barakat
2002
Mr Barakat submits planning application to Caerphilly County Borough Council Planning Division. Much more information requested.
2005
November: Caerphilly Planning Division gives Mr Barakat 3 months to finalise application for turning castle into 9 flats, refurbish other buildings on the site, and building 15 new houses
2006
February: No application was submitted to the Planning Division

April: Considerable further deterioration is evident
Fallen masonry apparently removed from site

July: ‘Amended’ planning layout submitted together with a full planning application. Listed Building Consent will be applied for after planning consent is granted. Planning Division asks for comments by the middle of August although they can be accepted up to the day of the application coming before the planning committee.