New podcast explores history of Castell Dinas Brân

* A postcard depicting Castell Dinas Brân including the camera obscura and tearoom. Courtesy of Llangollen Museum.

A new podcast exploring the history of Llangollen's Castell Brân has been launched.

Created by Sarah Baylis and produced by Sally Harrison it is entitled Capturing the Castle: A Journey Through Time.

The podcast takes listeners on an audio-guided walk with Sarah, from Llangollen Bridge up to the summit of the castle walking in the company of the many ‘ghosts’ who’ve made the same journey over the last 200 years.

Their words - extracts from letters, travel journals, newspapers, poetry and song – are voiced by local people who responded to a call out for contributors to read the accounts of the historical characters.

Members of the community also feature, providing a modern perspective of the castle from both locals and visitors. 

The recording also features traditional harp music performed by Tom Parry, and the Victorian folk ballad Jenny Jones sung by Jennie Coates.

Layered over time, these varied voices capture the history of the the castle - telling its story from different perspectives, and providing a changing commentary on the picturesque landscape and the growth of tourism to the Dee Valley up to the present day.

The 48-minute-long recording was recently featured at the Dyffyn Dyfrdwy | Dee Valley exhibition at the Dory Gallery in Llangollen, where it played on repeat in a small nook of the gallery, accompanied by historical postcards of the area. 

Following the exhibition, it has been made available as a podcast on Soundcloud and on the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB website.

The audio histories project has been commissioned by the Our Picturesque Landscape project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Hannah Marubbi, Partnership Officer for Our Picturesque Landscape project said: “We are really pleased to share this fascinating new podcast, creatively telling the story of one of the most iconic structures in the Dee Valley, which has been attracting and inspiring both locals and visitors for centuries.”

Cllr Emrys Wynne, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Welsh Language, Culture & Heritage, said: “It is fantastic to see the history of Castell Dinas Brân being shared in such an immersive way; this is a truly innovative approach to telling the story of the castle. We are also delighted that members of the local community were able to be part of this project, providing them with the opportunity to champion their local area and celebrate their heritage.”

* You can listen to the podcast at: www.soundcloud.com/ourpicturesquelandscape/capturing-the-castle. It is also being featured at an ongoing exhibition in Llangollen Museum.