Over recent years, Penrhyn Castle's legacy has been widely debated by many here in North Wales.
In 2018, Welsh author and language activist Angharad Tomos compared visiting the National Trust site as "going to see Hitler's home".
The writer, who grew up in Bethesda, Gwynedd made the scathing comments in her column in the Daily Post’s Welsh language section Yr Herald Gymraeg.
And while it's true that many people in the area do have a troubled relationship, it does have its admirers.
The historic building was recently used to film scenes for HBO's 'The Watchmen' series starring Jeremy Irons while Blur frontman Damon Albarn also recorded a song there.
The mock medieval castle was built in the 19th Century by the Pennant family who made their fortune out of vast slave plantations in Jamaica.
They also used their fortune to develop the slate industry in Bethesda and across north west Wales.
In 1900, after a mass walkout at the Penrhyn slate quarries in Bethesda, thousands of men were locked out by the castle’s owner, Lord Penrhyn
According to the Mrs Tomos, due to the issues around slavery and the "Great Strike" at the quarry, there has been a deep-seated hatred towards the castle from the people of Bethesda ever since.
Touring North Wales from your home
No one can deny that North Wales is a beautiful place.
But while the UK Government's lockdown over the coronavirus persists, we'll all have to do our bit to keep everyone safe by staying in doors unless it's absolutely necessary.
To make sure you don't miss out, we've teamed up with some attractions to give you a flavour of the renowned, hidden and historic sites across the region without leaving the comfort of your own sofa.
Keep an eye out for these pieces in the coming days and week or for more ideas of things you can do while observing the UK Government restrictions, visit our 'Stay In' section online.
Keep safe everyone - Diolch yn fawr.
In response, a spokesperson for the site said: "We fully understand that people may find it difficult to visit the castle because of the dark history behind the building and the personal connections people have with this history – but that’s what makes the Penrhyn story so powerful and so essential that it is told."
Here we take a closer look at an important part of world history that is right on our doorstep.
The mock medieval castle was built in the 19th Century for the Pennant family following their return from Jamaica by the famous architect Thomas Hopper.
Known for his unusual style, Hopper did not follow the fashion for Gothic architecture and instead chose a neo-Norman design.
The building included towers and battlements, a 115ft high keep containing the family apartments, elaborate interiors with abstracts adapted from medieval and Celtic sources, ornate ceilings, stained glass and 19th century Chinese wallpapers.
Once the castle was completed, Lord Penrhyn wanted to develop the castle’s collection of paintings and was able to gather an outstanding collection of Dutch, Venetian and Spanish paintings. The collection gave Penrhyn its reputation of being ‘the Gallery of North Wales’ at that time and can still be found on the castle's walls today.
Here are a few of them:
Philip Wouwerman’s Conversion of St Hubert
John Clevely's Watercolour
Henry Hawkins' The Penrhyn Slate Quarry oil painting
The castle also includes elaborately decorated rooms.
The Library
A place to relax and unwind with a good book and a crackling fire, visitors can also enjoy a game of billiards and a drink, or retire to the private 'carrel'.
Drawing Room
What was once a feminine influenced room, the Drawing Room was used as an office by the car manufacturing company Daimler during the Second World War.
Ebony Room
This is the room where Lady Penrhyn would write her letters and organise domestic arrangements with her staff as it was close to the servants' quarters. It's home to a many exotic furniture, including mahogany on the low chairs imported from Sri Lanka.
State Bedroom
This spacious apartment, together with its own dressing room, was reserved for important guests, including royalty. In fact, Queen Victoria and her family stayed at the site in October of 1859.
It is said that the queen slept on a one ton slate bed which had been specially made for her.
King's Bedroom
This room houses a brass bed and an imperial crown placed on top. It was the bed used by the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII, when he visited in 1894.
Lower India Room
The room is a reflection of the ‘East’, a label that was attached to anything that came from afar at the time, and many of the furniture have a Chinese or Japanese origin.
If you're a parent or guardian and are struggling to keep the kids entertained during lockdown, then we've come up with a couple of ways to get through it.
For activities for your young ones, you can sign up to the Chipper Club. It comes with a weekly newsletter in which Chipper will set each week’s project - all you need to do is fill in the form below or at this link.
For daily tips on how we can survive lockdown with our families sign up to our new Lemon-Aid newsletter here. From toddlers prone to temper tantrums, to teenagers struggling to adapt to the abrupt closure of schools and separation from their friends - we’ve got it covered. We’re with you.
