The auction of a derelict Elizabethan castle in south Wales has been called off at the eleventh hour.
The crumbling ruins of Llantwit Major Castle - also known as Old Place - have been unoccupied since the 18th century.

Potential buyers from over Europe were interested, but the sale was halted after Cadw - responsible for listed buildings - asked for more talks.

Local legend says it is haunted, including by a “lady in white” who was starved to death by her husband.

The 16th Century castle was built in 1596 by Griffith Williams of Candleston for his son-in-law Edmund Van.

It is thought it was abandoned as a house in the early 18th Century, and later fell into ruin.

Selling it is one thing, but selling it to a genuine person who will restore it is another
Councillor John Redmond

The castle - a Scheduled Ancient Monument (Sam), and Grade Two listed building - was due to go under the hammer on 3 April at a guide price of between £5,000 and £15,000.

But the auction was called off after Cadw, the statutory organisation responsible for ancient monuments and listed buildings in Wales, called for more talks on its future.

The roofless castle had attracted interest from potential buyers all over Europe.

Rob Renee of website Llantwit-major.net said the site had received 6,000 hits in the past two weeks alone.

Posted: 04|4|06 at 12:42 pm. Filed under: UK News.