GWRYCH, NEAR ABERGELE

DENBIGHSHIRE

THE SEAT OF B. HESKETH, ESQ

1831 Engraving -

Published by Jones & Co. Temple of the Muses, Finsbury Square, London, 1831 (dated year at bottom of print)

Engraved by: H Adlard and Drawn by H Gastineau - HENRY G. GASTINEAU (1791-1876), a topographer and landscape artist. He first trained as an engraver then went on to study at the Royal Academy Schools. After his training he travelled extensively in Great Britain painting the scenery of the country. He was elected Associate to the Old Watercolour Society in 1821 and became a full member in 1823. From 1827, Gastineau worked in Camberwell as a drawing master, where he died on January 17th 1876. His quality drawings cover a wide range of views in Wales. The picturesque scenery within Wales is conveyed very well. There are views of many castles, churches and other buildings of interest. He expresses the people and their surroundings in various parts of the country depicting their way of life and culture.

Approximate Image Size: 3 3/4 x 5 3/4 inches

Overall Size including margins: 5 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches (13.8 x 19 cm) only 1/4 inch uneven margin on left side

Condition: Excellent. A nice quality engraving. Guaranteed original antique print and not a modern reproduction.

An excellent antique print collectible of English heritage stately homes or castles or Abbeys of England and Wales

General info only, not included with print) Gwrych Castle is a Grade 1 listed 19th century mock castle near Abergele in Conwy county borough, North Wales. The castle was built between 1819 and 1825 at the behest of Lloyd Hesketh Bamford-Hesketh, grandfather of Winifred Cochrane, Countess of Dundonald. From 1894 until 1924, when the Countess died, it was the residence of the Dundonald family. The Countess left the castle in her will to King George V and the then Prince of Wales (who later became King Edward VIII). However, the gift was refused and the castle passed to the Venerable Order of Saint John. In 1928, the Earl of Dundonald purchased the castle for £78,000, selling the contents to meet the cost. During World War II, the Government used the castle to house 200 Jewish refugees. Following the war, the castle left the Dundonald family and it was open to the public for twenty years. It was called The Showpiece of Wales at this time and attracted many visitors. It was also used as a training venue for the English World Middleweight boxing champion Randy Turpin in the early 1950s. In the early 60s it was an occasional venue for the famous motorcycle dragon rally. (source from wikipedia free online encyclopedia)