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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Olivia Tobin

Former glory of I'm a Celeb castle revealed in historic pictures

Stunning images of Gwrych Castle show how glamorous the setting of this year's I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here used to be.

The spooky castle the celebs are staying in looks completely unrecognisable in newly released historic pictures.

It's known to be the setting for grisly Bushtucker Trials, cold sleeping quarters and spooky walkways, but the interiors of the castle used to be very regal.

Posting on its Instagram account, Gwrych Castle shared old images of the elegant estate, with weaponry on the walls, vast dining rooms and stylish furnishings.

Images of the staircase, which celebrities have to climb up and down to do trials, have also been shared and show the spooky walkway covered in a decadent red carpet.

A historic picture of the room where the boys had their roast dinner feast has also been shared.

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On Sunday viewers saw the men's team enjoy a lavish meal for winning the Bushtucker Trial in a historic room with a fireplace visible in the background.

The same room was also used for banquettes, though not with famous faces.

Images of other banquette halls in the castle have been shared too, showing extravagant chandeliers, harps and lavish furniture.

A reception room inside Gwrych Castle thought to be from the 1930s or 1940s (PA)

Further detail has also been revealed about the historic 19th-century castle from a property listing.

The castle was once listed for auction in July 1946 by owners, the Dundonald family. This ended nearly 100 years of continuous family ownership.

Auctioneers at that time referred to the building as ‘The Well-known Picturesque Castle’, and say it was built by Lloyd Bamford Hesketh in the Regency Period - ‘costing a fortune’.

The former banquette hall in Gwrych Castle (Gwrych Castle Instagram)

It was eventually sold for £12,000 to a Mr JR Rennie of Wrexham.

The castle also said on social media it has lots of rumours of ghostly sightings in its historic walls.

It said: "Gwrych Castle is deeply embedded in Welsh myths which go back centuries.

A dining room inside Gwrych Castle thought to be from the 1930s or 1940s (PA)

"The castle's most famous ghost is that of the ‘red lady’, whom, it is recorded, has been seen gliding through the grounds at dusk.

"Bruce Woodcock, the famous boxer, claimed he saw the red lady whilst in training for the world title fight against Lee Savold in 1950."

*I'm a Celebrity, Get me Out of Here airs on ITV from 9pm

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