Mark Baker

Who is Mark Baker?

Mark Baker is an author of several books on Welsh country houses and estates. His first book was published at the age of 13 in 1999 on the Rise and Fall of Gwrych Castle, Abergele by Gwasg Helygain, making him one of Britain's youngest published authors. He subsequently founded the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust at the age of sixteen in 2001 as well as spearheading a high profile campaign for the building's restoration. This proved fruitful when the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust precipitated the sale of Gwrych Castle by pursuing compulsory purchase action. This earned Baker recognition within the heritage world and he was made the youngest honorary life member of SAVE Britain's Heritage.

Baker was educated at Rydal-Penrhos School, Colwyn Bay and later attended the University of Wales, Bangor, in 2003; here he graduated with a BA in history and archaeology in 2006. Baker's MA was taken at Cardiff University, and he is currently working on a PhD, researching the development of Welsh Country Houses. Baker was made a member of the National Trust Committee for Wales in 2009.

In 2005 Baker published a history of Hafodunos, Llangernyw—a masterpiece of Victorian gothic architecture, which was followed by a detailed study of Wales' most important Jacobean mansion, Plas Teg, near Mold in 2006. The first pressing sold out and is now in its second edition.