Castle Green House

Miss Wood’s Room

An indomitable force of nature in a headscarf, with red lipstick and numerous cats!

Barbara Wood was the last private owner of Cardigan Castle, residing there for nearly six decades. In 1940, she purchased the Castle and, along with her mother, moved into Castle Green House. Her father remained in Hertfordshire and was engaged in War work in London, and died before the end of the war.

Over time the property fell into disrepair, and by 1984, after ten years alone following the death of her mother, Barbara’s home was declared unfit for human habitation. Despite these conditions, Barbara remained on the premises, even after the house was deemed uninhabitable, moving to live in a two berth caravan parked just outside the house, along with her cats. In 1999, due to declining health, she relocated to a nursing home.

The Castle was subsequently sold to Ceredigion County Council in 2003, and leased to the Cadwgan Building Preservation Trust which masterminded its successful restoration. Miss Wood passed away in 2009.