Penrhyn Castle is a 19th century mock castle situated near Bangor in North Wales. Poet Martin Perry considers its chequered past.

How heavy, so heavy, dark grey stone,
the slate hued walls of Penrhyn Castle,
a monument raisede to riches grown
on slaves' grey blood in ankle shackle, 
pale faces of men at quarry graft,
with slate hewn down, then groaned to truck,
while people in castle dined and laughed
and maybe humbled by their luck,
their fortune displayed in rooms ornate
in weighty styling, dim, oppressive,
each bed with its curtains, stone-black grate,
speak sombre silence, mood that's restive
in lacking a sense of calm and peace,
not castle built some foes to quell
who want to destroy, their power decrease,
but hungry pride succeeding well,
mock fortress Victorian hinting back
five hundred years to Middle ages
when armies attacked to rule and sack,
replaced by business strength and sages.

The poem continues on page 39 of our magazine.