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Advertiser campaign results in £500,000 castle purchase

Staff at the Tivy-Side Advertiser in Cardigan, West Wales, are celebrating the success of their 18-month campaign to get the town castle taken into public ownership.

Cardigan Castle was the birthplace of the National Eisteddfod – Wales’ annual cultural festival – in 1176.

Privately owned for the past 200 years, the castle has declined alarmingly in the past 60 years, falling victim to the ravages of neglect and decay.

In October 2001 the paper launched a Castle in Crisis campaign calling on the county council to take over the historic monument, backed up by a 4,000-strong petition – around half of the Tivy-Side’s circulation figure.

The paper’s small editorial staff kept up the pressure throughout with wrap-arounds, supplements and special features.

Finally, editor Nye Evans and deputy Sue Lewis watched as the castle keys were handed over to the county council for a £500,000 price tag.

It is now hoped that a restored castle complex – which includes a 30-room Georgian mansion – will signal the rejuvenation of the medieval market town.


  • Nye (left) is pictured hanging up the castle banner.
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