About:
Mark Baker was born on
16th April 1985 and grew up in
North Wales, amongst its magnificent
architecture. He was educated at Rydal School
in Colwyn Bay and gained his honours degree
in ‘History and Archaeology’from the University of
Wales, Bangor. Mark is currently at Cardiff University
reading ‘British Medieval History’ for a Master of Arts.
From a young age, history and architecture were fundamental passions for
Mark – visits to the great houses and castles of England and Wales always
were frequent destinations. It was at the age of nine that Gwrych Castle,
Abergele resurfaced in Mark’s psyche; he had visited several years before
on a
family walk but this building had made a lasting impression. Passing everyday
to
and from school, the building loomed high above the A55, hanging onto the
wooded
hillside; Gwrych looked enchanting and utterly inviting. A visit was arranged
and the trip
down memory lane began – but this time not on the shoulders of his father.
Years of neglect had taken their toll and poor Gwrych was in a very sorry
state;
windows had been smashed and water was pouring through the roof. A return
visit
some time later found that the building had been gutted by New Age Travellers
who
had literally stripped the Castle to its bare bones. Shocked and angered
by this assault
on this historic house, Mark wrote an impassioned letter to the Editor of
the Liverpool
Daily Post pleading for the rot to stop and for the building to be returned
to its former glory.
Out of the blue a reporter from the Daily Post turned up to interview Mark at his home – it had captured their imagination that an eleven year old could be so ardent about their heritage. The Guardian Newspaper and Sunday Telegraph picked up the story and thus followed a flurry of media appearances; BBC's Country File and Newsround, and The Big Breakfast amongst others. SAVE Britain’s Heritage had been extremely helpful and supportive with the campaign to save Gwrych Castle. The Castle had appeared in their buildings at risk handbook for many years as its fate remained uncertain. Mark had been inspired and encouraged work of HRH The Prince of Wales, whom he had the privilege of meeting to brief HRH on the campaign to save Gwrych Castle. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair and William Hague, were other notable persons who had taken a keen interest in Gwrych.
With 1000’s items and files full of information on Gwrych Mark decided to write a book about the Castle. The Rise and Fall of Gwrych Castle developed over a period of about two years and was released in November 1999. It was followed up with a postcard collection in November 2000. A biography of the Countess of Dundonald of Gwrych Castle was released during August 2003 and included an updated edition of 1999’s Rise and Fall of Gwrych. 2005 saw the release of Hafodunos Hall – Triumph of the Martyr which chronicled the fate of this gothic mansion followed devastation by fire. Another book looking at the ghosts of Gwrych was released in 2006 entitled the Myths and Legends of the Gwrych Castle Estate. Concurrently, research was completed for Mark’s BA Dissertation on the architectural developments of Baron Hill, Beaumaris and Garthewin, Llanfairtalhaiarn. At Christmas Plas Teg – A Jacobean Country House was released and quickly sold out; testament to the interest of the public in their built heritage. During 2007, Mark completed a commission from the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust to research and write a tome on the history of Llwynywormwood, Carmarthenshire for presentation to the Prince of Wales. Permission has been granted for this to be published in the public domain in the near future. For some years, Mark had been working with Michael Tree, Welsh Trustee of the Georgian Group on a work revolving around buildings at risk in Wales. Over two hundred sites have been visited and the book ‘The Forgotten Houses of Wales’ is to be published. Keep checking for updates.
Simultaneously, Mark founded a Building Preservation Trust in aid of Gwrych
which facilitated its eventual sale in 2007 following publication of the
Trust’s feasibility study and high profile media campaign. Lecturing has
now formed part of the corpus of work together with talks and exhibitions
on the various buildings and heritage issues involved with houses. Currently
Mark is working on several private commissions for house biographies and
articles for journals.
Above - The ruins of the ancient mansion of Aberpergwm, Glynneath, South
Wales