Roch Castle near Haverfordwest: £6m refurbishment finished
A £6m refurbishment of a 13th Century Pembrokeshire castle once damaged in a Civil War siege has been completed.
Roch Castle near Haverfordwest was completely wrapped in plastic during restoration to protect the stonework during its conversion into a "corporate retreat".
The owner, architect Keith Griffiths, also has plans to create a small hotel at Haverfordwest Castle.
This and other proposals would create more than 35 jobs, he said.
Roch Castle, which was built early by Norman knight Adam de Rupe, had been continuously inhabited until damaged by Cromwell in the Civil War in 1646.
It lay in ruins until it became a private home after restoration work in 1900.
New concrete floors were built within the medieval shell and an extension created to the original tower.
However, the concrete was made of salty sea sand and pebbles, which caused the steel beams and reinforcement to corrode.
Mr Griffiths said his foundation, which bought the castle in 2008, replaced all the floors and roof, and placed the entire building in a protective wrapping for two years.
He is also involved in creating more luxury accommodation at two sites in St Davids.
Penrhiw Priory has undergone a £3m transformation, while work starts on Twr y Felin Hotel in May.
St Davids-born Mr Griffiths said 22 people would be employed once all three properties were up and running under his Retreats Group.
The Griffiths-Roch Foundation has also been offered a lease, subject to planning and listed building consent, on the prison, governor's house and grounds of Haverfordwest Castle.
Mr Griffiths wants to carry out a £3m restoration to create a small boutique hotel, restaurant and gallery.
The project would create work for 25 local people during the three-year construction period, with up to 15 people employed once it was up and running, he said.