15/10/2026
When Haowen, or George, as he is known on campus, first stepped onto the grounds of UWC Atlantic, he was struck by the undeniable presence of St Donat’s Castle. Encouraged by a Chinese friend who spoke glowingly of her own experience, George was eager to step into a new, diverse environment.
Walking past ancient stone walls every day as a student, George noticed how easy it was for classmates to live inside a piece of history without fully grasping its depth. Nurtured by years of self-directed study near Beijing and other historical projects in Thailand, his passion for the past sparked a new ambition: to bring St Donat’s Castle’s story to life for fellow and prospective students.
With financial support from Lighthouse, the College's student entrepreneurial hub, George set to work blending research with graphic design. Mentored by older students and guided by castle literature, he spent months uncovering hidden layers of St Donat’s past. He unearthed fascinating details, from a former pub once hidden within the castle walls to the fact that, despite its formidable defenses, the castle was never invaded. He traced the legacy of the castle’s owners - Stradling family through the Hundred Years' War and the Civil War, whose centuries of rule dramatically ended when the castle was lost in a duel.
George collated these discoveries into an accessible guidebook for students and visitors, and is selling copies to raise funds for the College’s scholarship programme. To extend his reach, he also creates content for the Keepers of the Castle Instagram channel, producing video tours and a historical series that has accumulated over 20,000 views.
For George, who studies Higher Level European History and aspires to pursue law or international relations, the initiative was far more than an entrepreneurial exercise; it was a personal contribution to the UWC Atlantic community.
"Living inside St Donat’s Castle every day, you realise how easy it is to take the history around us for granted. I wanted to create something that brings the depth of this ancient place back to life for my fellow students and visitors. To me, UWC Atlantic is the peak of modern idealism, a place that unites people from all over the world; creating this guidebook is my way of giving back to a community that has given me so much."
If your keen to read his book you can purchase here: https://uwcatlanticexperience.com/product/st-donats-castle-guidebook-by-george/
