A proposed cafe above Caernarfon's gatehouse raises a question about conservation priorities during the 2021 visit. The scheme promises income, views over the town and castle, and a way to bring more people into history. Those benefits are welcomed, although the preference expressed here is to spend more on maintaining the existing fabric. Leaks at several Cadw castles and a need for lime-mortar repairs at Caernarfon underpin that criticism. An interactive display raises a separate concern by presenting a Roman emperor and princess in a castle story, even though the Roman fort stood uphill from the medieval site. Reservations about the facilities and interpretation coexist with admiration for parts of the castle.
Notable Point · 0:42-4:38
Caernarfon's cafe proposal and conservation priorities
The 2021 visit weighs a proposed gatehouse cafe and better access against maintenance needs and the treatment of a Roman foundation story.