Wales is often called ‘the land of castles’ – and there are 427 throughout the country! Cadw looks after 44 of these castles, which include earthwork castles, stone keeps, castles of the Welsh princes, castles as great houses and nineteenth-century castles.
Tretower
Tretower would be remarkable enough on its own. But it is two wonders in one. Just across the castle green lies an entire medieval court that became a byword for magnificence.
It was the creation of Sir Roger Vaughan and his descendants. During the Wars of the Roses Sir Roger became one of the most powerful men in Wales – and Tretower reflected his fame.
It became a magnet for medieval Welsh poets who drank its fine wines and sang the praises of its generous host. Now, thanks to meticulous restoration, you can vividly imagine being one of Tretower’s most honoured guests.
Dolbadarn Castle
Dolbadarn Castle is a fortification built by the Welsh prince Llywelyn the Great during the early 13th century, at the base of the Llanberis Pass, in northern Wales. The castle was important both militarily and as a symbol of Llywelyn’s power and authority.
The castle features a large stone keep, which historian Richard Avent considers “the finest surviving example of a Welsh round tower”. The castle is built from purple and green slate stone, mainly constructed in a dry stone fashion without mortar, except the keep. The courtyard follows the natural shape of the hill and is protected by a curtain wall; originally perhaps 15 feet (5 m) high, it is now only at most 3 feet (1 m) high. Of the castle buildings, only the keep remains at any significant height.
Raglan Castle
Raglan Castle (Welsh: Castell Rhaglan) is a late medieval castle located just north of the village of Raglan in the county of Monmouthshire in south-east Wales. The modern castle dates from between the 15th and early 17th centuries, when the successive ruling families of the Herberts and the Somersets created a luxurious, fortified castle, complete with a large hexagonal keep, known as the Great Tower or the Yellow Tower of Gwent.
Surrounded by parkland, water gardens and terraces, the castle was considered by contemporaries to be the equal of any other in England or Wales.
PTSG, contracted for Vinci Facilities, provides testing services in a range of different ways throughout the Cadw portfolio:
- Portable Appliance Testing (PAT). Our electrical engineers carry out a visual inspection and electrical tests to ensure all appliances continue to be safe for use.
- Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). Our electrical engineers check the condition of wiring, sockets, fuse boxes, and other components to identify any damage or hazards.
- Height Safety Testing. Our height specialists carry out regular inspection and testing of fall protection systems and equipment to ensure the safety of maintenance personnel.
- Fire Risk Assessments. Our passive fire specialists carry out fire risk assessmentsfor buildings like blocks of flats and workplaces, to identify fire hazards and ensure compliance with fire safety regulations.
- Fire Door Testing. Fire doors can become damaged at any time, especially in high-traffic areas. Left unchecked, these damages can prevent doors from performing their life-saving role. Our engineers carry out regular testing and, where necessary, deliver repairs and replacements.
- Lightning Protection Systems Testing. Engineers from PTSG Electrical Services Ltd deliver annual testing and inspections of lightning protection systems in the Cadw portfolio in compliance with the Electricity at Work Act 1989 and BS EN 62305.
