THE secrets of Ruthin Castle will be told to the world at a lecture on July 2.

At 7pm that night, there will be a lecture on the castle’s history in the old courthouse in Ruthin, preceded by two separate guided tours, one at 1pm and the other at 3pm that afternoon.

The lecture and tours will take people back to medieval times to when the castle was built, including all the changes and alterations since then, with all of the castle’s history.

The lecture and tours will be delivered by archaeologist, Fiona Gale MBE.

Ruthin Castle was built in the late 13th century during Edward I’s campaigns into Wales.

The site was initially granted to Dafydd, prince of the royal house of Gwynedd, for the purpose of building a defensive stronghold for the English king.

But in 1282, Dafydd attacked Edward’s troops and thereafter the site was given to the English nobleman, Reginald de Grey.

He constructed a strong castle with a defended town to keep order in the area, and this mighty, twin-towered great gatehouse was built as the main entrance.

In the early 19th century, Harriet Myddleton, of Chirk Castle, inherited Ruthin Castle and built a mansion house within the ruins.

This was further extended and altered in the 1850s by her nephew, Frederick West, and fashionable picturesque gardens were laid out within the encircling medieval walls.

This 19th century structure is now the award-winning Ruthin Castle Hotel.

A conservation trust was formed in 2016 to preserve the medieval castle walls, with trustees including historical experts, volunteers and representatives of the owners of Ruthin Castle.

The lecture and tours are part of the town’s annual Ruthin Festival.

Booking a place on the tours is essential, and can be done by contacting Siop Elfair (01824 702575) before 12pm on July 1.

Each tour starts promptly at 1pm and 3pm and the meeting point is at the main entrance to Ruthin Castle.