News

Cardigan Castle’s chatelaine endured years of squalor to retain her beloved home

Published

1 year ago

February 3, 2025

For over half a century, Barbara Wood lived a life of abject squalor as the unrelenting chatelaine of Cardigan Castle.

With no electricity, gas nor running water, her living conditions were extreme. But as the property continued its relentless decay, the spinster clung onto her realm with an unquenchable commitment. Despite the concerns of the people around her, nobody was going to take Cardigan Castle away from Barbara Wood.

“She’s a very difficult woman to sum up as she combined so many contrasting characteristics,” said local historian Glen Johnson.

“In many ways she was a Jeckyll and Hyde. She was intelligent, witty and charming, but she could also be stern, bad tempered, selfish, manipulative and cantankerous. In many ways she was like Marmite. You either loved her or you hated her.”

Barbara Wood, pictured outside Cardigan Castle

Glen first met Miss Wood when he was a 14-year-old schoolboy with a keen interest in local history – particularly Cardigan Castle. The following year -1985 -he helped establish Cardigan Castle Volunteers.

“I was a little nervous when I first met her because this, after all, was the woman who owned Cardigan Castle.

“And what struck me about her more than anything was that she was a living version of Miss Havisham. She still saw herself as the lady of the manor despite the fact that everyone else could see the awful conditions she was living in, and the way in which the castle was being neglected.”

Barbra Wood bought the castle in 1940, after receiving an inheritance on her 21st birthday. The asking price was £2,500, however her gift enabled her to have just enough money to cover the cost of the deposit, which totalled £600.

She moved in with her mother but within 12 months, they’d accrued a substantial bill as a result of the electricity they’d used. Their electricity supply was subsequently cut off in 1941, shortly followed by the gas supply and the water supply.

Following her mother’s death , Miss Woods remained confined to one room.

“She slept in an old chair filled with blankets so she could keep herself warm, but there was a small hole in the ceiling and a much larger hole in the roof of the floor above,” says Glen.

“So she could see the stars quite clearly from where she was living. The kitchen had this overwhelming smell of paraffin and cat pee, as well as the demon fridge. Obviously the fridge wasn’t working, as there was no electricity, and when you opened the door, the stench from inside was horrendous.

“She’d then take out some fluffy object and eat it.”

Despite the house being surrounded by two-and-a-half acres of trees, Miss Wood chose to tear up the parquet flooring in the dining room together with the joists and skirting boards and use them to light fires to keep herself warm.

Shde would never rise before noon, and would never be seen outside the castle gates until 5pm.

“This stemmed back to the days when the bailiffs would be waiting outside the castle gates,” explained Glen. “She knew they bailiffs would knock off at 5pm, so she’d never venture out until then.”

With a curvature of the spine as a result of all the years she’d spent sleeping in a chair, Miss Woods would hobble through the streets of Cardigan on two sticks, always wearing a bright yellow PVC mac, a red pixie hood and bright red socks. Her face was caked in thick white powder and her lips were painted scarlet.

“Yes, there were a lot of shopkeepers in town who didn’t think highly of her as a result of the money that she owed them, but then, conversely, many people admired her stoicism and the fact that despite all the adversity she endured, she remained a proud and independent woman.

“I remember one afternoon we were doing some work in the castle grounds and we went up to ‘Kwik Chip’, next door to the castle, to get some fish and chips for lunch. It was during the summer holidays and there was a long queue inside the shop, but suddenly we heard these clicks making their way down to the counter. I knew immediately it was Miss Wood on her sticks, and she made her way to the front of the queue, poked the person who was in front in the ribs to push them back, and she said to the person who was serving, ‘I want sausage and chips’. Needless to say, she got her own way.”

It was this over-riding doggedness that resulted in Barbara Woods’ repeated rejections of attempts to salvage her castle.

“Miss Woods could most certainly have got assistance, but the biggest stumbling block was the fact that if public money was spent, then there would have to be public control. But she wasn’t willing to relinquish this. Every time it looked as if the castle might be moving in a positive direction, either by CADW or by Ceredigion County Council, she would once again get obstructive.”

Deteriorating ill health eventually resulted in Miss Wood being admitted to the Brondesbury Lodge Nursing Home, Cardigan, in 1996, where she remained until her death in 2009. She was buried in a pauper’s grave in Cardigan Cemetery.

Six years before her death, Miss Wood finally sold the castle to Ceredigion County Council for £500,000 and its restoration has been a driving force in the town’s subsequent revival.

“Miss Woods once told a journalist that it broke her heart to see the castle in the condition it was in during her time there,” concludes Glen Johnson.
“Obviously the castle has evolved considerably in the past 20 years, but there are times when I’m inside it, when I remember exactly how it once was. I’ve no doubt that Miss Woods would be a bit sniffy about all these people walking around her home, but I’m certain that she’d appreciate all the attention that her home is now getting.

“There must have been times when she felt like all the rest of us, yearning to see the property that she cared for being saved for future generations.”

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the launch of Cardigan Castle Volunteers, Glen Johnson will be hosting an afternoon of anecdotes and memories of Barbara Wood which takes place at Theatr Mwldan on April 12.

Local Government

Milford Haven civic service marks start of mayoral year

Published

6 hours ago

June 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Mayor’s charities named as civic leaders gather at St Katharine and St Peter’s Church

THE CIVIC SERVICE of the Mayor of Milford Haven, Cllr Mark Woodward, took place at St Katharine and St Peter’s Church on Saturday (June 20).

The service marked Cllr Woodward’s election as Mayor and First Citizen of Milford Haven.

It was conducted by Rev Dr Adrian Furse and Canon John Cecil, with music from church organist Richard Stephens, Gelliswick Community Choir and Milford Haven Town Band.

Guides and Brownies, Milford Haven Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets were also among those taking part, with councillors Colin Sharp and Yvonne Southwell acting as ushers.

Refreshments followed at Milford Haven Bowling Club.

Local MS Paul Davies was among those attending the service and wished the new mayor all the best for his term in office.

Cllr Woodward’s chosen charities for the year are Patch Charity and Greenacres Rescue.

Photo caption:

Civic guests attended the Mayor of Milford Haven’s service at St Katharine and St Peter’s Church on Saturday (Pic: Supplied)

Charity

Toy Story fans fill charity toy box at Haverfordwest cinema

Published

16 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Donations pour in for SNAP Specialist Play as families embrace Toy Story 5 launch

A TOY STORY-themed charity appeal at a Haverfordwest cinema has got off to a flying start, with families donating toys to support children with additional needs across Pembrokeshire.

The Palace Cinema has teamed up with local charity SNAP Specialist Play to collect new and pre-loved toys during screenings of the newly released Toy Story 5.

The appeal centres around an “Andy’s Toys” donation box, inspired by the beloved Pixar films, which has already been filled by generous filmgoers.

***Toy Story magic: The Palace Cinema foyer has been transformed with themed decorations to celebrate the film’s release***

Cinema manager Hannah Cramp said the response from the community had exceeded expectations.

Families attending opening screenings have arrived carrying bags of toys, with many children keen to share their own treasured items to help others.

The cinema has transformed its foyer into a colourful Toy Story-themed experience, complete with hand-painted decorations, character silhouettes, bunting and famous film slogans including “Reach for the Sky” and “To Infinity and Beyond”.

Many visitors have also embraced the spirit of the occasion by attending in costume as their favourite Toy Story characters.

***Specialist support: SNAP’s sensory facilities help children with additional needs learn and develop through play***

The toys are being donated to SNAP Specialist Play, a charity based within the Child Health Department at Withybush Hospital.

SNAP supports pre-school children with additional and complex needs through specialist play sessions designed to encourage communication, physical development and sensory learning.

Its facilities include sensory rooms, therapeutic play spaces and bespoke equipment used by speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

Project manager Cindy Jenkins said the charity was delighted by the partnership and grateful for the generosity shown by local families.

She said every toy donated would be put to good use, either during specialist play sessions, at family events, or through seasonal initiatives such as Christmas gift boxes for children and their siblings.

The appeal will continue until mid-July, with organisers hopeful that even more donations will be received over the coming weeks.

Anyone attending Toy Story 5 at the Palace Cinema is invited to bring along a new or good-quality pre-loved toy to support the appeal.

Cover photo:

Fancy dress fun: Palace Cinema manager Hannah Cramp helping launch the Toy Story charity appeal.

Health

Medicine shortages now ‘most severe on record’, health leaders warn

Published

16 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PATIENTS are facing some of the worst medicine shortages ever seen in the UK, with pharmacists warning the situation now poses a serious risk to safety.

The National Pharmacy Association said shortages affecting commonly used medicines are becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and causing increasing disruption for patients, GP surgeries and pharmacies.

The warning comes as Serious Shortage Protocols for Creon, used by people with pancreatic cancer and cystic fibrosis to help digest food, have been in place since May 2024 and have now been extended until July 10, 2026.

HRT treatment Estradot has also been under a Serious Shortage Protocol since December 2024, with the current extension also running until July 10.

Patients travelling between pharmacies

A survey by the National Pharmacy Association found that 98 per cent of pharmacies had encountered patients who had visited several pharmacies in one day to find a prescription.

It also found that 96 per cent of pharmacies believed the current situation posed a serious risk to patient safety, while 89 per cent said they had been unable to dispense a medicine at least once a day because of supply problems.

Some pharmacy teams have also faced anger and abuse from patients unable to obtain medication.

Olivier Picard, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “Medicine shortages are becoming more frequent, lasting longer and causing increasing disruption for patients.

“These shortages are some of most severe the UK has experienced.

“It is deeply distressing to find patients who have travelled from pharmacy to pharmacy to find the medicines they need without success.”

Calls for urgent taskforce

The NPA is calling on the government to convene an emergency taskforce involving manufacturers, wholesalers, clinicians and pharmacists.

It also wants changes to rules which currently stop pharmacists from making simple substitutions, such as changing a tablet to a capsule or a cream to an ointment, even where a safe alternative is available.

Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, President of the Royal College of GPs, said medicine shortages were frustrating for patients, GPs and pharmacists, and added pressure to already stretched services.

She said the College supported pharmacists being able to make limited changes to prescriptions where a medicine is unavailable and a safe alternative exists.

She added: “The most important thing is that patients are able to access the medication they need safely and without delay.”

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Pancreatic Cancer UK have also raised concerns about the impact of shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, including Creon, on people who rely on the medication to digest food, maintain weight and stay well enough for treatment.