Gwrych Castle is a slightly odd place: a Victorian castle-residence-folly which has been semi derelict for years. If you look it up in Wikipedia you read that it is a hotel and leisure centre. It isn't.
I am not entirely sure who actually owns it ("EPM UK"), but the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust is doing stalwart work to maintain and restore the site http://gwrychtrust.co.uk .
They kindly invited us back after last year's successful gig, and we had a prime site on the upper terrace. This had the benefit (as the estate agents say) of a spectacular view across Abergele to Liverpool Bay. There was also some welcome shade as the sun swept round to its' zenith.
Val and Alan came in their camper van, which provided a windbreak and tea-making facilities in one. Thanks are due to Jenni F. for lending her gazebo; all in all we had a very comfortable, even luxurious, pitch.
Although visitor numbers were perhaps a little lower than expected, we had lots of interest in our spinning. People came from all over the U.K. - most were on half term holiday, and many were staying in the campsite at the bottom of the hill.
Our friends of JuMu designs were weaving away behind us; the mediaeval knights and their retainers were battling away below us, and conjuring, fire-eating and stilt-walking were all on display.
Val brought her prized Scandinavian wheel, a present from one of her sons who carried it personally (in his rucksack?) all the way from Denmark. It isn't in working order yet, but Alan has plans for it. Val was spinning Jacob's fleece from the farm park at the bottom of the hill - very appropriate to the time and place - and I kept in with the mediaeval flavour by drop spindle spinning woad dyed fleece.
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