<P> During the 1960s and 1970s the grounds were redeveloped as a visitor attraction . There was a boating lake, a chairlift and a small fair behind the ruins of the main house . Concrete floors were installed in Alton Towers house so that it could be opened to the public . The building was listed as Grade II . </P> <P> After millionaire property developer John Broome married the daughter of majority shareholder Denis Bagshaw in 1973, he bought out the controlling stake in Alton Towers . Over the next few years he laid the foundation for the modern theme park by installing various permanent rides and developing areas of the grounds in progressive stages . In 1978 the newly restored sunken gardens featured in a series of 30 - second TV commercials for Accurist starring John Cleese . </P> <P> Alton Towers began its evolution into a major theme park in 1980 with the installation of The Corkscrew rollercoaster, the Pirate Ship and the Alpine Bob sled ride . In 1981, Talbot Street, the park's first permanent themed area, was opened on the site of the old fairground behind the Towers, as well as the Log Flume constructed near to the boating lake . In 1984 the park's second roller - coaster, The Black Hole, arrived . Throughout the next decade, more attractions, areas and rides were added to Alton Towers . </P> <P> In 1990, the park was purchased by The Tussauds Group . The change of ownership heralded an era of intense development, with a range of large attractions and new areas being built at the park, including the dark rides The Haunted House (1992) and Toyland Tours (1994), thrill rides such as Nemesis (1994), Oblivion (1998) and Air / Galactica (2002), and a hotel complex in 1996 . </P>

Who lived in the castle at alton towers