(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

Cardiff's hidden gem opens its tower for rare glimpse inside

by · Wales Online

Visitors can climb the tower on top of a Victorian mansion in Cardiff on Sunday and take in a view of the city seen by very few.

On Mother's Day (March 15) Insole Court's majestic tower will be open to the public for the final day of its special opening as part of National Lottery Open Week.

It is a rare opportunity to reach a height that is seldom accessible to visitors.

Construction of the venue, in Llandaff, began in 1856, the same year of the Cymmer Colliery mining disaster. In that, 114 men and boys lost their lives at in the Rhondda Valley at the mine, owned by the Insole family and coal baron James Harvey Insole.

The mansion has secretly doubled as a filming location for Doctor Who, Industry and A Discovery of Witches.

Inside it harbours secrets like wartime sketches of Hitler, Churchill, Stalin and Uncle Sam — drawn onto the foyer fireback by a policeman during the Second World War.

The Grade II* listed Victorian mansion is taking part in National Lottery Open Week (March 7 to 15) , an annual UK-wide event, with hundreds of venues throwing open their doors to offer free entry, discounts and special offers to say thank you to National Lottery players. Tower tours run exclusively during the open week on March 13, 14 and 15.

Look at images from the tower below:

The views of the grounds, but the city in the distance too(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
The views from the top have changed massively since construction began in 1856(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
Views for miles as the tower opens for a rare glimpse inside(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)