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£4.7m boosts Cardigan Castle after 10-year battle

Tourism plans to conserve a medieval castle which was once home to Welsh princes have taken a major step forward after a 10-year battle.

A £4.7m Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant will go to conservation work and new facilities at Cardigan Castle.

The money will also go to work on the historic grounds and gardens, which are home to rare trees and an endangered bat species.

The aim is to increase visitor numbers from 3,000 to 30,000.

The Friends of Cardigan Castle say the Normans built the first wooden castle on the site, but in 1165 the Welsh prince Lord Rhys ap Gruffydd conquered it and demolished it.

He built a new stone and mortar castle, and in 1176 invited bards and musicians to celebrate, an event which became known as the first eisteddfod in Wales.

Cadwgan Building Preservation Trust has been working since 2001 to conserve the castle.....

Read entire article at BBC