16 eerie photos of the abandoned, 200-year-old Gwrych Castle in North Wales, which is said to be haunted

The castle's sweeping Gothic architecture has earned it the place as a local landmark.

"It's like out of your imagination," Baker told Insider. "It's like a fairytale."

In 1812, Lloyd Hesketh Bamford-Hesketh started building the castle as a memorial to his mother's family, the Lloyds of Gwrych. Once complete, he used the castle as a private residence. As the years wore on, the castle's grounds continued to expand and develop.

The sprawling estate is filled with hidden treasures from the castle's long history.

Baker said there are nine miles of walls in the castle, and today, they are covered in greenery and completely exposed to the environment.

Today, the stained glass is missing or shattered.

Lloyd left the castle to his son, Robert Bamford-Hesketh, who moved in with his wife, Ellen. Together, they expanded the castle's grounds. Their biggest contribution was the castle's gardens which included yew trees.

Robert and Ellen left the castle to their daughter, Countess Winifred, and her husband. They commissioned the British architect Detmar Blow to build a 52-step marble staircase in the house. Today, the staircase still stands.

Gwyrch Castle became known as "The Showplace of Wales" where tourists came to experience medieval reenactments. About 10 million visitors climbed the famous marble staircase over two decades.

Even though the castle was left in ruins, it still became the backdrop for the 1997 film "Prince Valiant," starring Katherine Heigl.

The most common ghost story heard at Gwyrch Castle is that Countess Winifred — a powerful woman who invested in hospitals, art, and religion — haunts the ruins. People say her spirit is still stuck in the castle.

"I've seen some strange things and heard some strange things," Baker said. He remembered seeing a ball of light on the marble staircase.

John Walker, the man behind Urban Ex Boys, explored the castle for his YouTube channel back in 2014 and said he remembers an unsettling feeling.

"The best part was going in and seeing that staircase, and there was a creepy feeling of being watched," Walker told Insider.

"Terrified, I heard the chain on the main gates rattle slightly and then the footsteps began to advance towards me," the duty manager wrote on the castle's website. "It was pitch black on the Main Terrace, and I was waiting for the electrician to finish in another part of the castle so I could lock up. The footsteps grew closer and closer … and then came to a dead stop about a foot in front of me. Barely able to take a breath, I got out my phone and flashed its torch … but there was nobody there."

Baker said the castle is a work in progress but called the ruins "incredibly special."

The castle's secrets have been exposed to the elements.

Since he was 12, Baker has been working to restore the castle to its former glory so that it can stand for many more decades.

"We have 120 rooms to restore," he said. "That's a massive undertaking."

As Baker turns the castle into a place that tourists can explore and learn, he wants everyone to remember that these ruins are filled with a storied past.

"In one site, you got 200 years of history," Baker said. "These stories are so rich and powerful. We want to save it and preserve it for the future. We want people to feel connected with that past."

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