Castles in the Air: The Restoration Adventures of Two Young Optimists and a Crumbling Old Mansion

by Judy Corbett

When Judy Corbett caught sight of a great stone mansion in the craggy wilds of north Wales, she had little idea of the adventure on which she was about to embark. She and her husband, Peter, had long dreamed of buying an old ruin and escaping the pace and excesses of modern life. But it was only when they had moved into the vandalized, squalidly filthy, cold and wet Gwydir Castle that they began to realize what restoration dramas lay ahead. Restoring the 16th-century castle, which reduced the couple to near penury, turned their lives into a curious blend of real and imaginary, past and present. But the magic of the place, its history and the landscape, ensured that they stayed to tell this charming, deeply romantic tale of escape and homecoming.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Travel, Architecture, History, Biography Memoir, Biography

308 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite read of 2014 (so far). This book ticks every one of my reader "squees":

- There be ye olde stately manor house/castle (circa 1500's) in need of some serious TLC to make it a home.
- The be ye young, idealistic and hard working couple (who know just enough to be dangerous) who take on the job and pen their tales of homeowner derring-do in a well-written and engaging way.
- There be ghosties (but no ghoulies or things that go bump in the night)! Well of course there must be ghosts in a 16th century Welsh castle, and whether you believe in them or not, no story of an old house renovation would be complete, IMNSHO, without their non-coporeal presence.
- There be priests holes, there be skeletons buried in the cellar, there be old Elizabethan knot gardens, there be ancient yew trees, there be still rooms, and mullioned windows and bats and doves and rats and slugs and every troupe of personality traipsing thru this home and keeping the weary homeowners on their toes at all times. It's a smorgasbord of everything I love all rolled into one little perfect story. This is what I hoped Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House would be (and most assuredly wasn't).

Most of all, there be an author who thinks like I think, who writes like I would write, who feels in her soul as I feel in my soul about old houses and preservation and the deep, fierce love of having a place to make and call home.

This is a book I will purchase and re-read again (and again).


Update: Just watched a TV show called "Castle Ghosts of Wales" hosted by Robert Hardy and one of the segments was on the ghostly goings-on at Gwydir castle. Spooky fun!

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this memoir and gobbled it up in one afternoon.

If you've ever dreamed of buying an ancient manor and lovingly restoring it, this is the book for you. What made this story so wonderful is that the couple were not multi-millionaires who could easily afford to hire out the professionals to do the dirty work. They were, as the author described, simply two people in love with history and old houses, and they both felt more comfortable amongst the ghosts of the past. With the little money they had scraped together and saved, and heavily in debt to others who gave them a loan, they purchased Gwidyr Castle, a crumbling, rotting, animal-infested sixteenth century wreck. With the rain pouring down on their heads and bats swooping down from the rafters, the couple lovingly, painstakingly began the process of returning this once magnificent manor to its former glory.

I only wish that photos had been included to show the dilapidated condition of the manor before it was restored, room by room. I did go online to see Gwidyr Castle (it is now open to the public for events) and saw the lovely restoration, but it would have been an added bonus in the book. Thoroughly enjoyed Castles in the Air, and recommend it to anyone who loves history and historical houses.

4.5 stars

[Sarah Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

An utter delight - thrilled to explore Gwydir Castle tomorrow!

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of the reason I love gothic novels is because there is a wonderfully old house, usually majestic and always somewhat spooky connected to the heroine and the story. When I saw the book Judy Corbetts' non-fiction Castle in the Air I knew that I had to read it. What could be better for a gothic lover than reading about a true life young couple buying and restoring a real castle? Well actually I found out that Gwydir Castle wasn't quite as I pictured, it was called a castle but looked more like a mansion--a very old desolate mansion. Still it was a riveting read about the real life problems and with ghosts thrown in! The fact that the author and her husband were so young when they purchaced the castle turned out to be fortunate, I think, as the whole overtaking would daunt someone older. Someone who realizes the whole overwhelming aspects of renovating a mansion that is practicably in ruins. The dry, quiet humor of Judy Corbett added to the telling of HER story.

And because I was curious I checked in YouTube. There is a wonderful interview with Judy Corbett talking about the restoration with glimpses of Gwydir Castle in- and outside.

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 5 out of 5]

2023 Review
Still marvelous. Love this book.

"The yardstick by which I measured the suitability of any potential house was whether I could imagine myself reading in it." (23)

"We hadn't thought to bring such essentials as firelighters and torches. What we had classed as essentials were candlesticks, books and pewter plates, but none of these were of much use to us now." (46)

"I have long waited for an adequate explanation as to what exactly was dark about the Dark Ages--given their predilection for illuminating things--but none has been forthcoming." (86-87)

2019 Review
An utterly delightful, magical memoir about a wild dream fulfilled. It gave me massive memories of My Life in France by Julia Child, in that it's a picture of two people wholeheartedly in pursuit of one another and a common goal. Castles in the Air, however, is fairy-tale like, with sparkling characterizations of everyone who comes into Corbett's life, and a rolling narrative of the castle coming back to life. I mean, Peter is an architectural historian and Judy is a bookbinder. A freaking bookbinder. She's commissioned to bind an antique set of Dickens "with no expense spared!" Bless my heart.



I'm a sucker for restoration and creating. I love making order out of disorder, and have a soft spot for Fixer Upper. This book is kind of like a historically accurate, long-term fix-up of a castle brought to crumbling, cobwebby knees. I have my own little house o' dreams in my head (I want to restore an old house, while my engineer husband wants to build; after reading about bats, shrews, and rats, I'm inclined to agree to a build), and peacocks are now added to its grounds, which are already populated with bowers of foxgloves, peonies, and mint. My practical partner can tend the vegetable garden.



I must say, I'm not inclined to stay in Gwydir Castle after reading about how grudgingly Corbett accepts guests. Yet, I'd love to see the gardens one day, and see the ceiling of the Dining Room. I pulled this off the shelf for a comfort read on a stormy night alone in my 40-year-old apartment which has a pocked need for new drywall. I'm sure it will satisfy that need again over the years.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am in awe of the author and her husband. They purchased a decrepit, crumbling castle in Wales and slowly set about restoring it. They lived with bats, rats, slugs, frogs, and birds inside while they were working on it. Also a ghost determined to break them apart, and lots of rain with no roof in parts of the castle. They had a dream and actually saw it through with LOTS of hard work. I loved the author's comment about choosing a house: "The yardstick by which I measured the suitability of any potential house was whether I could imagine myself reading in it."

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Restoring the sixteenth-century Gwydir Castle" on the back of this book caught my interest as I've so enjoyed reading Sharon Kay Penman's Welsh HF books. There's a "romantic aura" to the idea of actually buying and restoring a "crumbling old stone mansion". Also, it brought back memories of my first house that required a significant amount of remodeling. Although my husband and I did knock down a wall with sledge hammers and do most of the other work ourselves it in no way compared to this historical undertaking (we're talking about 40 rooms here). I mention this only because if you've done some DIY projects, you'll be amazed at their accomplishment. In America, I've no doubt these "ruins" would have been razed decades (if not centuries) ago, such was the disrepair.
In northern Wales, this young couple faced squatters, bats, and rodents. They found skeletons, reported ghosts, and met some incredible challenges from nature. There were chapters where I thought, "this is where I would have bailed out". Judy Corbett writes her narrative as if she's sitting opposite you sharing a cup of tea. Every component of the restoration is fascinating. Her description of bone-chilling damp cold had me pulling up the comforter and I felt her exhaustion after 18-hour days of toil and grit. There's humor when fund raising needs bring paying visitors, the suspense of a surprising deal with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and even a sojourn with royalty. I'm glad she decided to share the "adventure".
One negative...I craved more detail, most chapters were disappointingly too short. The plus... they have a website describing the rooms they rent, weddings they host, and a general history of the former occupants.
Trish

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book twice, and am about to read it again as part of my book club. I had the pleasure of visiting Gwydir in October of 2010, and I simply can't wait to go back again. This will be the first time I've read it since having been there, so I imagine it will have a very different feel to it.
This book is part historical novel, part travel book, part ghost story and all amazing.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the reason I enjoy reading memoirs. It allows me to vicariously experience a life that I am curious about, but not able (or willing) to try myself. The young couple in this book persevered through many daunting challenges. They were lucky that they found each other - two people who believe so passionately in preserving history.

[WhatShouldIRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the idea of renovating a castle sounds romantic, in actuality it was a lot of work amidst rat droppings, cold water, roofless rooms, drafty windows and outdated 1970s decor. Along the way the author came across hidden rooms, small treasures and ghosts.

An interesting read which went from the almost inhabitable residence to end with a visit from the Prince of Wales. Recommend.

[Laura Bang · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tagline — "The Restoration Adventures of Two Young Optimists and a Crumbling Old Mansion" — sums it up nicely, though "crumbling" is a rather generous description for the state of the castle when they first buy it. Along the way, they deal with squatters, ghosts, builders, the public, and royalty. Corbett also shares bits of the history of the castle. I am definitely not cut out for such an extensive restoration project, but it was interesting to read about and I'd love to visit Gwydir Castle someday!

Corbett says they wanted to buy a historic home to escape the "modern world." They bought Gwydir Castle in 1994, which seems like a blissfully serene time from my 2018 perspective....

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memoir about a young couple who buy an old historic castle in Wales that is in terrible disrepair and optimistically work to restore it. The older the better, and the more broken down the more appealing. I remember looking at old farm houses with trees growing out of them and thinking - yes, that could be my house. So I understood their motivation. The task they take on his huge. They are unable to get any historical grant funding and they are without much money themselves. However, this is an interesting and rather inspiring story about how they go about restoring a castle, opening it up to the public when they have to, and seeking out parts of it that had been auctioned off years prior to bring them "home.". It's not an easy life, but their dedication pays off. Enjoyed this.

[Jan Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The memoir of a young couple who take on the restoration of an ancient Welsh mansion.
I’ve sped past Gwydir Castle many times and, because it’s local, tend to fall into the trap of thinking I can go anytime I wish. But then one never finds the right time. When a friend lent me Judy Corbett’s book, Castles in the Air – an account of the restoration of Gwydir – I quickly became hooked. And I had to see for myself the result of many years of struggle to bring Gwydir back to medieval life.

Passing beyond the boundary wall is stepping back into history, and there’s an instant cloistered atmosphere. Gwydir had been used and abused through the years and as well as most of it being uninhabitable it had fallen foul to various unsuitable refurbs through the nineties, all of which had to be stripped out before they could begin to restore the castle to its true history and authenticity.

This is a beautifully and evocatively written book; and records how Peter and Judy struggled to live in a cold, damp gothic property with not much money, but a huge amount of love for the building and a tremendous determination to get it right.

https://janruth.com/2019/08/13/the-ca...

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would rate this book 3.5 stars. This non-fiction book tells the story of a London couple that buys the 16th century Gwydir Castle in North Wales. Much restoration was needed! Even though I have personally not done extensive home renovations, I enjoyed many of the stories. It was fascinating where they found the 17th century wood-panel Dining Room after it was sold in 1921 to someone in America.

It is a bed-and-breakfast today so you may want to visit it someday. ... I would!

I nice change of pace from my fiction reads!

[Poiema · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delicious read and I devoured it in two days. It was fascinating on so many levels: a fairy-tale dream come true, a historical romp, a little detective sleuthing, with a bit of romance thrown in.

A couple of history buffs fell in love with a crumbling castle in Wales and embarked upon the project of a lifetime when they undertook to restore it to its former state of grandeur. They gave up their comfort, their money, their love of privacy, and every ounce of their energy to launch the effort. No project of this magnitude can be done singlehandedly, and it was heartwarming to meet the memorable folk who appeared at strategic moments with the necessary skills to assist. The restoration began to pick up momentum and as the media featured their progress the work snowballed into something very splendid indeed. The Prince of Wales took notice of the project and graced them with a visit, a memorable and fitting reward for their efforts.

Judy Corbett ably wields the trowel and hammer, but proves herself equally capable of wielding the pen. She writes with humor and literary finesse, with nary a trace of snobbery. Her descriptions make you feel that she is working with a living, breathing entity rather than an inanimate object:

"The room had progressed beyond the larva stage;the pupa was almost in sight. It was a room that was beginning to unfurl its wings."

Her own love story is woven into the memoir, a story that is so entwined with love for Gwydir Castle that it is difficult to tell where one ends and the other begins. We are witness to the miracle that love produces, not only in an historical castle, but in the lives of two human beings who are resilient enough to take the obstacles life throws at them and keep moving forward. At the end of the book the couple exude a glowing confidence and grace that marks individuals who have found their life work and are content in it.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I happened upon this book while browsing the shelves at the library. I have this fascination about old houses and people who embark upon the restoration of old houses. Despite the fact that I am not at all handy, I can spend hours on the internet reading about old houses for sale and daydreaming about owning one of my own. This book is the account of a couple who undertake the restoration of a Tudor castle in Wales. Their restoration began in the 1990's, and so you can now look online at the website of Gwydir Castle, which they operate as a bed & breakfast and event venue. While the book gets a little dreary and dull at times with the seemingly endless descriptions of how Corbett and her husband lived in freezing, leaking, bare, bat-infested, rooms, it is a more accurate portrayal of what a restoration like this involves. Ultimately there was always enough history to keep me interested, and the author's enthusiasm for the castle and its restoration definitely came through.

[Tamra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blah. I am not really happy I spent some of my precious hours reading a book about a husband & wife restoring a castle somewhere that's not here. Even if you're a hard core decorator or designer or builder, I find it hard to believe this book would hold your interest. But, if you do like that stuff, let me know and I'll send you my book. Oh, wait, I already got rid of it. Someone bought it at my yard sell. I toyed with the idea of telling them what I thought of the book and then decided that should have their own experience, as should you, so read if it seems interesting to you. Just don't talk to me about it :)

[Janie O · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love it - I could imagine walking through this old castle and it's courtyard because the author wrote so descriptively - but I had trouble when the book veered off into a very emotional ghostly encounter. The hardships of living here, trying to redo the castle and all the troubles financially, emotionally - it was an emotional read - not a mellow read for sure! Nor for the faint of heart!

I just watched the live interview with the author and the interior and exterior videos are beautiful. She touches on the ghost story.

http://www.gwydircastle.co.uk/judy-co...

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. What an adventure. For a nonfiction book, there was a lot of mystery and excitement as they searched for things that had once been in the castle - their search even took them to the hearst estate and san simeon. cold, frogs, bats, flood - castle restoration is only for the stout-hearted! a great read. i could have just begun all over again when i finished it - always the sign of a really good book.

[Rio (Lynne) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

First of all my dream is to buy a castle ruin....I was hoping the journey of Judy and Peter would discourage me. Instead it fueled my desire. I enjoyed this book, even if parts seems scattered. I wish she had added pictures of these treasures she found and described in detail. I googled and found a YouTube video which helped bring the images to mind. I'm visiting Wales in November, too bad their rooms aren't available in Fall. I'd love to see Gwydir in person.

[Bethan · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the whole I enjoyed reading this book, however as I grew up in Llanrwst I am appalled at the depiction of the locals as bumpkins, thieves and children in pyjamas roaming a wild and backward local. Really Judy?

[K · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was a little slow on occasions and sometimes read like a brochure for the castle, but it was interesting nevertheless.

[Wanda]

5 APR 2015 - spied on MomToKippy's update. Sounds lovely.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather stiffly written, but highly enjoyable. Amazing courage to take on that job!

[Gilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, funny, heartwarming ... I didn't want it to end!

[Carole Tyrrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was written in such an easy, flowing style by someone determined to look on the bright side of falling in love with a derelict building and then living in it while it slowly comes back to life. It wasn’t my usual reading matter but my oldest friend kindly sent me a copy as a sort of housewarming gift.
Castles in the Air is the tale of a young and enthusiastic couple, Judy Cornett and Peter Welford, who find a derelict 500 year old castle in Wales and decide to buy it. They move in on an auspicious date which was the 350th anniversary of the house being sacked during the Civil War, Does it bode well?They are in their 20’s and want to set up their own businesses. However they have the energy and enthusiasm to cope with the squatters they find currently living there and the odd but often entertaining parade of people that just appear in theirs and the Castle’s life to help out. Corbett makes camping out in a cold, draughty castle without heating and the necessity to wear several layers all the time whilst taking care not to disturb the bats and other animal intruders. However, this restoration is no quick fix with grants and money available. They live on site whilst trying to establish their businesses: Judy and her bookbindery and Peter with his art history and other projects. Leaky rooves, roaming patrolling peacocks with their unearthly and the realisation that this will be a lifetime’s work soon become commonplace. A chance and surreal encounter with a group of Japanese tourist who gain entry unofficially and Judy comes down still in pyjamas and several layers to find them snapping away. One says to her that it’s a pity that they don’t have a gift shop and that sets her thinking about ways to attract visitors without going down the usual heritage route. They feel that it wouldn’t be in keeping with Gwydir’s ambience. But they do need money and a regular source of it. Especially when they start dealing with a former owner, Arthur Clegg, dubious attempts at home improvements
They start to take in guests – some get it, some don’t. Slowly a wedding venue starts to take shape although they start to call a halt to long boozy parties.
And they turn detective. Gwydir’s contents were all auctioned off in 1921 and people tantalisingly offer them catalogues of what was sold. But one room, panelling and all, was bought by William Randolph Hearts the newspaper magnate. Is it in his vast warehouse of artefacts San Simeon? They track it down to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York where it lies still in its 1920’s crates in a Bronx warehouse after Hearst bequeathed it to the Museum, They sell it to Judy and Peter and it duly arrives but with no assembly plans…they are undaunted.
However Gwydir is also tenanted by the unseen and I loved the book’s Gothic overtones. A former owner announces herself by pushing Peter in the back and then scaring Judy in her bindery by locking all the doors from the inside and then a horrific accident involving Peter and a spade. Slowly the story emerges of a loveless marriage and an angry wife. A woman’s figure seen in a blue dress in the garden, a phantom dog that vanishes and yet the couple’s 2 dogs play with him. Could this be the dog who’s skeleton is discovered within the house and who owned the skull found on its own…..
And so we leave them as the Castle is a flourishing concern and given a Royal Seal of Approval by Prince Charles visiting by helicopter. It’s their love of Gwydir that shines through although maybe at times they may have felt that they’ve taken on more than they thought.
But by the book’s end I was full of admiration for them and their determination to bring the Castle back to life.

[Kerry Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝙋𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙫𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙭𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚. 𝙒𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚. 𝙏𝙤 𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙪𝙢 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚, 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙯𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙚𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙞𝙜: 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮. 𝙄𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙚, 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨, 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮’𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣. 𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙝 𝙂𝙬𝙮𝙙𝙞𝙧’𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙩. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙩𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙥𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡-𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙎𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙩𝙤𝙣, 𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙤𝙙𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨.⁣
⁣
This book was an utter delight.
⁣
Judy Corbett and Peter Welford live the dream by buying an old castle in Wales and making it their home, frogs, bats, peacocks, ghosts and all! Who hasn’t imagined living in a huge tumbledown castle???? Well, maybe not everyone, but I sure have.
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⁣This memoir about how they accomplished this dream is filled with humor and wonder and passion and mystery and a sublime reverence for history. ⁣
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As a couple, Judy and Peter are quite out of the ordinary. She’s an antiquarian bookbinder. He’s a painter. Together they are of one mind about how Gwydir Castle is to be restored, maintained, cherished, and revered. It’s lovely and inspirational and admirable. ⁣
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The inner workings of a 500+ years old castle are fascinating. From flooded cellars to gigantic fireplaces to gravity fountains to plasterwork and wood paneling.

The adventure story of how their dining room was sold off in 1921 and restored to its rightful place in 1998 is alone worth reading the book for. But you also get ghost stories and local colorful characters and tourists and wedding mishaps and a visit from the Prince of Wales!

⁣
Read this book!

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

"A fascinating account of leaving London for the wilds of North Wales to restore a crumbling castle.

"When Judy Corbett caught sight of a large stone mansion in the craggy foothills of the Snowdonian mountains she had little idea of the adventure on which she was about to embark. She and her husband-to-be Peter had long had pipe-dreams of buying an old ruin and escaping the city, the pace and excesses of modern life. But it was only when they'd moved into a squalid, filthy, cold and wet Gwydir Castle that they began to realize what restoration dramas they'd let themselves in for.

"Castles in the Air is the compelling, mysterious and deeply romantic story of a couple that took on a house, but uncovered a world -- from a delicate ecosystem of frogs, bats and mice to ghosts both human and animal. A world full of architectural puzzles that took them years of detective work to solve and that sent them on missions to secret museum storerooms in New York.

"Restoring the sixteenth-century Gwydir Castle reduced the couple top near penury and almost put-paid to their wedding int the castle's chapel. It turned their lives into a curious blend of real and imaginary, past and present. But the magic of the house, its history and the landscape ensured that they stayed to tell their own unique story of escape and homecoming."
~~back cover

"This is a lovely little memoir and I should have enjoyed it more than I did. I don't know why I didn't.

[Janice Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately I didn't meet the author, nor had I read the book before my recent visit to Gwydir Castle in North Wales. Both would have add to the already fascinating experience. I haven't met a castle or historic house that I didn't love, and Gwydir was no exception.

Dating from the 14th century, it is more Tudor manor house than castle, and Castles in the Air is the story of how Corbett and her partner Peter Welford purchased what was then a crumbling 45 room "party house" in the 90s. To say that it needed work is a vast understatement, but the couple saw its potential. Welford, an artist, was trained in conservation, and Corbett was also knowledgable about what needed to be done, so they both went into it knowing what they were getting into. Almost 25 years on, the restoration work continues, and it's evident from meeting Welford, that despite the trials and tribulations (and floods) outlined in the book, the love affair with the castle continues.

The book is written with a great deal of humour, so even if you've never heard of Gwydir Castle or have the faintest interest in home renos, it's worth the read. Yes, there is a ghost, and a sort of mystery as Welford and Corbett attempt to track down the fate of two entire rooms that were dismantled and sold in the 1920s.

[Craig Beam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debbie and I took a small tour of Gwydir Castle on July 4th of this year hosted by Judy and Peter who have owned and worked tirelessly worked at restoring this castle since 1994. The restoration is not complete and most likely never be completed because a 1500’s era castle degrades every year. They have made so much success in the last 31 years. It is inspiring. After an encompassing tour of the house we were actually served tea and scones on the back lawn. Great day.

“Gwydir lieth two bowshots above the river Convey”
Leland, 1536

When Judy Corbett caught sight of a large stone mansion in the craggy foothills of the Snowdonian mountains she had little idea of the adventure on which she was about to embark. She and her husband-to-be Peter had long had pipe-dreams of buying an old ruin and escaping the city, the pace and excesses of modern life. But it was only when they’d moved into a squalidy, filthy, cold and wet Gwydir Castle that they began to realize that restoration dramas they’d let themselves in for.

This book fills us in on all the back story. I personally loved it.

Thanks Judy