Powis Castle — Historical Castles ,Wales, Amazing History, Beautiful views

Powis Castle (also known as Castell Coch, Castell Pool, Castell Pola, Castell Pole and more) is an amazing medieval castle, fortress and a grant mansion near the beautiful town Welshpool, located in Powys, Wales. Perched high on a rock above the world-famous garden terraces, the Powis Castle, originally built circa 1200, began life as the medieval fortress of the Welsh Princes of Powys, who held onto their kingdom despite the threats of their more powerful neighbours in Gwynedd and England.

In 1587, Powis Castle was sold to Sir Edward Herbert who created the romantic long gallery, which is richly decorated with the coats of arms of his ancestors. In 1784, the marriage of Lady Henrietta Herbert and Edward Clive, son of Robert Clive, the conqueror of India, combined the Powis and Clive estates.

Today, the medieval Castle contains one of the finest collections of paintings and furniture in Wales. It was originally built by Welsh Princes and was then the ancestral home of the Herberts and Clives. The beautiful collection of treasures from India is displayed in the Clive Museum.

The amazing views:

This incredible castle is known for the beautiful formal gardens, terraces, parks and landscapes. There you can fund magnificent planted terraces including an amazing Italianate terrace inspired by the palace of St Germain-en Laye in France. Plants on the walls at Powis Castle include beautiful roses, budlias, pomegranates and many other rare plants and subtropical plants. You will also see some of the finest and largest yew hedges anywhere. The kitchen garden has been converted to a flower garden in the year 1911 by Lady Violet and there are lovely colours everywhere. Rhododendrons and azaleas add colour and there are rich autumn tints. The Castle once lived in by Princes Powis has beautiful state rooms and is finely decorated. It has one of the most amazing collections of paintings, sculpture and furniture in the world.

Interesting fact:

The unusual spelling of the name “Powis”, using the letter “I” instead of the letter “y”, actually comes from comes from the Herbert family’s title as Lord, and later Earl of Powis. The name “Powis” is a shortened version of the Latinised spelling of the Welsh Powys.

History of the castle:

Powis Castle, began life as a medieval fortress. It has been remodelled and embellished for over 400 years and reflects the changing needs and ambitions of the Herbert family. From defensive structure to party house, the major phases of remodelling in the 16th, 18th and 20th centuries are still apparent today. Each generation has added to the magnificent collection of paintings, sculpture, furniture and tapestries. The internationally renowned collection shows the wealth and influence of the Herbert family. In 1784 Henrietta Herbert’s marriage to Edward Clive, son of Robert Clive, also brought the superb collection of treasures from India to Powis Castle which are displayed in the Clive Museum.

Most of the Welsh castles allowed to decay once the medieval was came to an end, and they were no longer needed but the Powis Castle is an example of a military stronghold which was preserved and renewed by continual occupation.

Its fabric contains architecture of many different periods, beginning with a medieval square keep and stone hall.

Interesting facts:

The historical sources refer to the area as Pool or Pole, from which comes the modern Welshpool. “Pool’ was the stronghold of the Welsh princes of Powys, who held an ambivalent position between the Welsh and the English. Their rivalry with the house of Gwynedd, coupled with a practical appreciation of their situation, tended to drive them towards the English, although expediency could persuade them the other way.

Let’s learn some more:

In 1286, four years after Edward I’s conquest of Wales, Owain ap Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn, a Welsh prince who was lord of the part of Powys known as Powys Wenwynwyn and sided with Edward I in his conquest of Wales of 1277 to 1283., renounced his royal claim title and was granted the title of Baron de la Pole, (i.e. “of the Pool” a reference to Welshpool, formerly called just “Pool” and the location of Powis Castle). The ancient Kingdom of Powys had once included the counties of Montgomeryshire, much of Denbighshire, parts of Radnorshire and previously large areas of Shropshire, but by the 13th century had been reduced to two independent principalities — Powys Wenwynwyn and Powys Fadog — roughly equivalent to Montgomeryshire and South Denbighshire (plus Maelor Saesneg), respectively; Welshpool had latterly become the capital of Powys Wenwynwyn, of which Owain had been heir. On the death of Owain, the baronry passed to his daughter Hawise (known to history as Hawise Gadarn, the intrepid) who married Sir John Charleton. The Charletons continued to live at Powis until the fifteenth century when two daughters, Joan Tiptoft and Joan Grey inherited the castle. The Grey family took control of the whole castle in the 1530s.

Intriguing facts:

The Clive Museum features artifacts taken from Bengal, and other parts of modern-day Bangladesh, India[5] by Robert Clive (1725–74) and his son and daughter-in-law Edward, 2nd Lord Clive (1754–1839) and Lady Henrietta Clive (1758–1830) in the 18th and 19th centuries, including textiles, silk, fine bamboo, magnificent hand woven carpets, refined jute handicrafts, armour, weapons, bronzes, gold and silver pieces, jade, ivory, and a formal tent. There is a rich archive of documents connected to the collection, but little is known about their acquisition. “Much must have been obtained as booty, or as presents from the native princes…”. The collection came to Powis Castle in 1804. The current museum opened in 1987.

The castle is the ancestral home of the Herbert family, with connections to the Clive family, though contrary to popular misconception Robert Clive never owned or lived at the castle. The property is under the care of the National Trust having been bequeathed to the organisation in 1952.

The Castle’s Amazing Collection:

Powis Castle is home to a large array of paintings, sculpture, furniture and tapestries, but be sure not to miss a superb collection of treasures from India in the Clive Museum, which includes textiles, armour, weapons, bronzes, silver pieces, jade, ivory and a formal tent, all amassed by the Clives in the 18th century.

A remarkable survival of the 1660s, the State Bedroom is the only one in Britain where a balustrade still rails off the bed alcove from the rest of the room. The design reflects the desire of the English gentry to emulate the elaborate etiquette practiced at the court of Louis XIV at Versailles.

The garden:

Powis is one of the few Baroque gardens to survive almost intact since the 1680s. You can wander the grand Italianate terraces blasted from the solid rock.

The combination of terraces, formal and informal gardens make the Garden at Powis a delight for enthusiasts as well as lovers of beauty and tranquility. The Garden is of the highest horticultural and historical importance.

You can find even more information about this beautiful place here: http://www.castlewales.com/powis.html

Or you can enjoy more of our amazing stories: https://historicalcastles.com/

Originally published at https://historicalcastles.com on August 25, 2020.