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Bryn Bras Castle today

Wales · Still standing

Bryn Bras Castle

Castell Bryn Bras

Bryn Bras Castle is a 19th-century neo-Romanesque country house on the old road between Llanrug and Llanberis in Caernarfon, Gwynedd. Built 1829–1835, it is a Grade II* listed building with listed boundary walls, gates and turrets; its gardens and park are also registered for their historic interest. The house has since been converted into private apartments.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1835

Today

Still standing

As it stood in 1835

What Bryn Bras Castle looked like in its prime.

A pale grey rubble-stone country house with a stepped roofline punctuated by multiple crenellated towers and turrets of varying heights; arched and rectangular windows set in coursed masonry; prominent battlemented parapets and chimneys. The building sits behind a low stone boundary wall and timber gate, approached by a gravel drive through specimen trees and parkland. Formal garden features, clipped knot beds, statues and a small observatory, lie within the landscaped grounds.

Its story

The story of Bryn Bras Castle.

Bryn Bras Castle is a neo-Romanesque country house on the old road between Llanrug and Llanberis in Gwynedd, built between 1829 and 1835. It is a Grade II* listed building, with separate listings for its boundary walls and its gates and turrets, and its gardens and landscaped park are registered at Grade II, garden features with their own listings include a pair of gladiator statues, a statue of the god Pan in a pool within a knot garden, and an observatory.

The house was later owned by the oil millionaire Duncan Elliot Alves (1870–1938), Mayor of Caernarvon for six years and High Sheriff of the county for 1931–32. After his death in 1938 the estate changed hands a number of times and much of the surrounding land was sold off; the house has since been converted into private apartments.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1835.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Bryn Bras Castle, including the full exterior approach. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Gate and gravel approach driveBoundary wall and flanking turretFront façade and central/tower blockKnot garden with Pan poolGladiator statues in the groundsObservatory in the landscaped parkBattlements and rooftop silhouette

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The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1835, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Bryn Bras Castle.

Britannia Bridge, WalesBridgeBritannia Bridge8 km awayMenai Suspension Bridge, WalesBridgeMenai Suspension Bridge9 km awayFfestiniog Railway, WalesMuseumFfestiniog Railway24 km away

Questions about Bryn Bras Castle

What is the history of Bryn Bras Castle?

Bryn Bras Castle was built in the 19th century as a neo-Romanesque country house on the site of an earlier structure. Thomas Williams owned it initially, and Capt. Frank Stewart Barnard bought it in 1897, later running it as a stud. Duncan Elliot Alves subsequently owned the estate; after his death in 1938, it changed hands several times and was later converted into apartments.

Who owns Bryn Bras Castle now?

Bryn Bras Castle is owned by William Arthur Dew. It is also a Grade II* listed building and has a National Monument of Wales heritage designation. The house remains privately owned and has been converted into apartments.

Why was Bryn Bras Castle built, and what was it used for?

Bryn Bras Castle was built as a neo-Romanesque country house for Thomas Williams, a lawyer. It later operated as a stud under Capt. Frank Stewart Barnard, and the house is now divided into private apartments.

Does anyone live in Bryn Bras Castle now?

Yes, people occupy Bryn Bras Castle as private apartments. The former country house has been converted into apartments, although the supplied material does not identify the residents.

Where is Bryn Bras Castle?

Bryn Bras Castle is in Llanrug, on the old road between Llanrug and Llanberis in Gwynedd. It is near Caernarfon, in the region of Wales. The setting includes landscaped grounds and parkland.

When was Bryn Bras Castle built?

Bryn Bras Castle was built between 1829 and 1835, placing it in the 19th century. The work took place on the site of an earlier structure and was completed by 1835.

What did Bryn Bras Castle look like in its prime?

Bryn Bras Castle is a pale grey rubble-stone country house with a stepped roofline, multiple crenellated towers and turrets, and arched and rectangular windows. Battlemented parapets and chimneys define its silhouette. It stands behind a low stone boundary wall, with a gravel drive, formal gardens, statues and an observatory in the grounds.

Is Bryn Bras Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Bryn Bras Castle is still standing and intact. It remains a Grade II* listed country house, with separately listed boundary walls, gates and turrets. Its gardens and landscaped park are also registered for their historic interest.

Who built Bryn Bras Castle?

Bryn Bras Castle was designed by the architect Thomas Hopper for Thomas Williams, a lawyer. Thomas Williams was the person for whom the country house was built, while Hopper was its architect.

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Explore the city

Bryn Bras Castle stands in historic Caernarfon, explore the whole city through the ages

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