The castle, Harlech Castle. WALES, UK: THE SPECTACULAR Norman castles of nineteenth century Wales have been revealed in a series of stunning colour postcards. The astonishing beauty of Cardiff Castle in the Welsh capital is pictured from inside its grounds as the majestic main building takes centre stage. Wales is often called the ā€˜Land of Castlesā€™ and has over 600 castles located within its borders. This is more than any other country in Europe. Caernarforn Castle and the surrounding marina and ships are bathed in an orange glow as the sun sets while Penrhyn Castle in Bangor and Kidwelly castle in Carmarthen are displayed in all their glory. Other shots show the castle ruins that were beginning to spread across the country by 1890. A lone, party-demolished tower stands at Dolbadarn Castle in Llanberis while the castles in Aberystwith and Denbigh donā€™t fare much better.

By Mark McConville

THE SPECTACULAR Norman castles of nineteenth century Wales have been revealed in a series of stunning colour postcards.

 

Castle, Chepstow. WALES, UK: Library of Congress / mediadrumworld.com

The astonishing beauty of Cardiff Castle in the Welsh capital is pictured from inside its grounds as the majestic main building takes centre stage.

Wales is often called the ā€˜Land of Castlesā€™ and has over 600 castles located within its borders. This is more than any other country in Europe.

 

From the east, Cardiff Castle. WALES, UK: Library of Congress / mediadrumworld.com

Caernarforn Castle and the surrounding marina and ships are bathed in an orange glow as the sun sets while Penrhyn Castle in Bangor and Kidwelly castle in Carmarthen are displayed in all their glory.

 

Penrhyn Castle, Bangor. WALES, UK: Library of Congress / mediadrumworld.com

Other shots show the castle ruins that were beginning to spread across the country by 1890.

A lone, party-demolished tower stands at Dolbadarn Castle in Llanberis while the castles in Aberystwith and Denbigh donā€™t fare much better.

 

The castle, Aberystwith. WALES, UK: Library of Congress / mediadrumworld.com

The colour postcards were produced using a method called photochrom. Photochrom is a method of producing colourised photographs from black and white negatives via the direct photographic transfer of a negative onto lithographic printing plates.

 

Welsh costumes. WALES, UK: Library of Congress / mediadrumworld.com

It was invented in the 1880s and was most popular in the 1890s, when these images were taken. Although true colour photography had been developed by then it was not commercially practical yet.

 

Castle, Tenby. WALES, UK: Library of Congress / mediadrumworld.com

Photochrom reproductions became popular due to the craze with sending postcards.