Greetings,
I thought some of you might be interested in seeing the coming Hallmark show on Ruthin
Castle in North Wales...not that far from Fron Goch. Although this article doesn't
state times or dates, and no doubt it will vary from area to area, you might want to check
your TV listings. Feel free to post them on the list as others may live in your area...
AND...notice...at the end of the show, you have an opportunity to win a stay there! Those
of us who have been to the area would highly recommend going....AND, if you win and
can't go...there are several of us VERY willing to take your place! <VBG>
Take care and enjoy the Holiday...
Emily
Castle of Wales Newsletter article:
Castle hotel aims to cash in on publicity
(and any publicity is good, right?)
The story below comes to us from the pages of the Denbighshire Free Press. Many of you are
familiar with the Ruthin Castle Hotel located in the lovely market town of Ruthin in north
Wales. Well, it appears that we Americans will now have the opportunity to learn more
about this castle, and even win a free week's stay there courtesy of a new arrangement
between the hotel and American television. The question is, "is Ruthin a castle or a
hotel?" The answer is both.
Adrian Pettifer in his book "Welsh Castles" provides us with the following
explanation:
"Ruthin Castle, on a hill above the river Clwyd, is one of the few Welsh castles to
have become a mansion. However, Ruthin is not another Chirk - a castle which has been
transformed into a stately home over the centuries while retaining its original character.
Rather it is very much a ruin with a large 19th century house grafted onto it. The
juxtaposition is an uncomfortable one and confuses the layout of the original castle. As a
final twist of fortune the mansion has become a luxury hotel."
The medieval Ruthin Castle was begun during Edward I's great north Wales castle
building campaign of the late 1270s, and was destroyed following the English Civil War of
the 1640s. So, although there are still some interesting elements of the medieval castle
to be found on the grounds of the hotel, the hotel itself is definitely a modern addition.
Perhaps this new partnership will have the positive result of making more Americans aware
of the castles of Wales. I hope so, although I wish another more deserving castle was
being featured instead!
18th century Ruthin hotel aims to cash in on publicity on American TV
THE historic 18th century Ruthin Castle hotel is being widely promoted on American TV
after embarking on a joint venture with a US television channel.
The hotel agreed to provide the prize of a six-night stay for a competition run by the
Hallmark TV channel, and in return it is to get widespread promotion not only on TV but on
radio and the Hallmark website through most of June.
This could not come at a better time for us as we are seeing a serious reduction in
American visitors due to the foot-and-mouth crisis, Mr Kelvin Clayton, manager of Ruthin
Castle, said.
Thousands of American tourists stay at the 18th century hotel every year, attracted by its
beauty and its popular medieval banquets.
http://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/