Powis Castle facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Powis Castle
Powis Castle from the south, showing the distinctive terraced gardens
Type	Castle
Location	Welshpool, Powys, Wales
Architect	William Winde, Robert Smirke, George Frederick Bodley
Owner	National Trust

Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales
Official name: Powis Castle
Designated	1 February 2022; 3 years ago (2022-02-01)
Reference no.	PGW(Po)35(POW)
Listing	Grade I


Listed Building – Grade I
Official name: Powis Castle
Designated	25 April 1950
Reference no.	7746


Listed Building – Grade I
Official name: Aviary Terrace in Powis Castle Gardens
Designated	11 March 1981
Reference no.	16775


Listed Building – Grade I
Official name: Orangery Terrace in Gardens at Powis Castle
Designated	11 March 1981
Reference no.	16776


Listed Building – Grade I
Official name: Apple Slope Terrace in Gardens at Powis Castle
Designated	11 March 1981
Reference no.	16777

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Powis Castle (Welsh: Castell Powys) is a very old castle, fortress, and grand country house. You can find it near Welshpool in Powys, Wales. This amazing place is famous for its beautiful formal gardens and stunning rooms inside. People say the gardens are "the most important" and the interiors are "the most magnificent" in the country. Today, the National Trust looks after both the castle and its gardens. Powis Castle is a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very important historic site. Its gardens also have a special Grade I listing.

The castle you see today was built in the 13th century. What's special is that a Welsh prince, Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn, built it. Most castles in this area, called the Welsh Marches, were built by Norman barons. Gruffydd was the prince of the ancient Kingdom of Powys. He was friends with the English king Edward I during the wars of the late 1200s. This helped his son, Owain, keep his position, even though the kingdom itself was ended in 1283. After his father died, Owain became the first Lord of Powis. When he died around 1293, his daughter, Hawys Gadarn, known as "the Lady of Powis," took over. Hawys married Sir John Charlton in 1309.

In the late 1500s, the Herbert family bought the castle. They still have a connection to it today. The Herberts were Roman Catholic for a long time. Because of this, they sometimes faced problems, like being put in prison or sent away from the country. But even with these challenges, they changed Powis from a border fortress into a grand country house in the late 1600s and early 1700s. They also created one of the few remaining Baroque gardens in Britain.

In 1784, Henrietta Herbert married Edward Clive. Edward was the son of Clive of India, a very rich and famous person. This marriage helped the Herbert family get back their wealth. In the early 1900s, the 4th Earl of Powis updated the castle with help from architect George Frederick Bodley. His wife, Violet, worked on the garden. She wanted to make it "one of the most beautiful... in England and Wales." The 4th Earl died in 1952. Since his wife and sons had passed away before him, the castle was given to the National Trust.

History of Powis Castle

Early Castles at Welshpool: 1111–1286

Unlike many castles in Wales built by the English to control the Welsh, the castles near Welshpool were built by Welsh princes. They were the main home for the rulers of Powys Wenwynwyn. There were two early castles, called motte-and-bailey castles, and some earthworks nearby.

The first mention of a castle here was in 1111. Cadwgan ap Bleddyn planned to build a castle at Trallwng Llywelyn. This is the oldest record of a Welsh-built castle. It's thought that Domen Castell, a motte-and-bailey near the modern railway station, was the site. However, it's not clear if it was finished because Cadwgan was killed that same year. The first written account of a castle at Welshpool being used was in 1196. An English army attacked it, but the Welsh took it back within a year.

The first castle on the current site might have been a wooden building. It was likely built by Owain Cyfeiliog or his son, Gwenwynwyn, who ruled from 1197 to 1216. The stone castle we see today has parts from the 13th century. These were probably built by Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn, who ruled from 1241 to 1287. In 1274, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd destroyed Gruffydd's "first castle" at Welshpool. This was a punishment because Gruffydd was involved in a plan to kill Llywelyn. The castle was mentioned again in 1286 as "la Pole Castr." After Edward I's conquest of Wales in 1282–83, the king let Gruffydd rebuild his castle. This was a reward for Gruffydd's loyalty.

The Castle's Early Owners: 1286–1644

Edward Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Cherbury

In 1286, Owain ap Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn, Gruffydd's son, became the last prince of Powys. He gave up his royal title and was given the title Baron of de la Pole. This name meant "of the Pool," referring to Welshpool. The old Kingdom of Powys was much larger before. By the 13th century, it had become two smaller areas. Welshpool was the capital of one of these, Powys Wenwynwyn. When Owain died, his daughter Hawys inherited the castle. She married Sir John Charlton. The Charltons lived at Powis until the 1400s. Then, two daughters, Joyce Tiptoft and Joan Grey, inherited the castle. They divided it, and each daughter and her husband lived in a part of it.

In 1578, a distant relative, Sir Edward Herbert, began renting the castle. Edward eventually bought the castle in 1587. This started the long connection between the Herberts and Powis Castle. Sir Edward's wife was Roman Catholic. The family's loyalty to Rome and to the Stuart kings would shape their future for over a hundred years. Sir Edward started changing Powis from a military fort into a grand country house. The most important part of his work that still remains is the Long Gallery.

A later Herbert, William Herbert, 1st Baron Powis, was a strong supporter of Charles I. He was given the title Baron of Powis in 1629. His loyalty during the English Civil War meant he lost his castle and lands. On October 22, 1644, Parliamentary soldiers captured Powis Castle. The family didn't get it back until Charles II became king again in 1660.

The Herberts Return: 1660–1800

After the king returned, the Herberts came back to Powis. In 1674, William Herbert became the Earl of Powis. He added a grand state bedroom around 1665 and built the Great Staircase in the 1670s. These changes were likely overseen by William Winde, who might have also designed the terraced gardens. Even though William Herbert got his lands back and a new title, his Catholic faith stopped him from holding important jobs under Charles II. When James II became king in 1685, Herbert became one of the new king's main advisors. He was given an even higher title, Marquess of Powis, in 1687. But when James II was overthrown in 1688 (the Glorious Revolution), Herbert followed him into exile in France. William III gave the castle to his nephew. Herbert died in exile in 1696.

Even though they were exiled for 30 years, the Herberts continued to develop the castle. They even lived there sometimes. The beautiful Baroque water garden below the castle was finished during this time. Their wealth also grew a lot because they found a valuable lead mine on their Welsh lands. The second Marquess, also named William, got his titles back in 1722. When his son, the third Marquess, died in 1748, the title of Marquess ended. The castle and lands went to a relative, Henry Herbert. He was made the first Earl of Powis by George II. Henry married Barbara, the granddaughter of the 2nd Marquess, in 1751. Their oldest son, George Herbert, died without marrying. During his time, Powis Castle was not well looked after. A visitor in 1774 said it was "in Neglect and Ruin." However, people still saw its potential. In 1756, a politician named George Lyttelton said that spending about £3,000 on Powis Castle would make it "the most august place in the Kingdom."

The Clives and Herberts: 1801–1952

The Outer Courtyard with the Fame statue in the foreground

In 1784, Henry Herbert's daughter, Henrietta, married Edward Clive. Edward was the oldest son of Clive of India. Edward had worked in India, just like his father. Henrietta's brother died in 1801, and the family title ended. But in 1804, her husband was made the first Earl of Powis again. The Clive family's money paid for much-needed repairs to the castle. These were done by Sir Robert Smirke. Their son, Edward, inherited the Powis estates when he turned 21. He changed his last name to Herbert, as his uncle's will required. Edward Herbert worked in government. He died in 1848 after a shooting accident at Powis. No other big changes were made to Powis during his time, or during the long time his oldest son, Edward, was in charge. However, the castle was kept in good condition.

The last big changes to Powis Castle happened in the early 1900s. George Frederick Bodley worked for George Charles Herbert, 4th Earl of Powis (1862–1952). The rooms Bodley designed are still there today. The 4th Earl lived a long time, and his sons died before him. He left the castle to the National Trust, so his early 20th-century changes remained. The 4th Earl's wife, Violet, made the final changes to the gardens. She believed they could be "the most beautiful in England and Wales." The Countess died in a car accident in 1929. Lord Powis outlived both his sons. Percy died from injuries in World War I in 1916, and Mervyn died in a plane crash in 1943. When Lord Powis died in 1952, he gave the castle and gardens to the National Trust.

The National Trust: 1952–Present

After the fourth earl, his cousin Edward Herbert became the fifth Earl. The Herbert family still lives in part of the castle today, thanks to an agreement with the National Trust. The National Trust has done a lot of important restoration work since they took over. This includes fixing the Marquess Gate, the Grand Staircase, and the statue of Fame in the Outer Courtyard.

The castle and its gardens welcome about 200,000 visitors every year.

Exploring Powis Castle

Ground plan of the castle

Outside the Castle

You enter the castle through an outer gatehouse. The stables are to your right, and a coach house is to your left. The castle's medieval history is quite complicated. It has been changed and added to many times over the years. On the left side, there's the North Range. This building used to have offices downstairs and a ballroom upstairs. The bottom part of this building was once the outer wall of the original castle.

The first floor of this area also holds the Clive Museum. Here, you can see amazing items brought from India by the Clive family in the 1700s. In the outer courtyard, you'll find a lead statue called Fame. It's thought to be from the workshop of John van Nost. This statue was originally in the water gardens. A grand staircase leads to the main castle entrance, which is between two round towers. You can also enter the main castle through the Marquess Gate. This has iron gates and steps leading up to a fancy Baroque doorway. Both entrances lead into the small Inner Courtyard. This courtyard used to be open, but it was enclosed in the 1820s. The main castle building has the Herbert family's living areas. The rest of the North Range has the kitchen and servants' rooms.

Inside the Castle

Experts describe the castle's interiors as "the most magnificent in Wales." They feature beautiful wall and ceiling paintings by artists like Antonio Verrio and Gerard Lanscroon. You'll also see a collection of family portraits from the Elizabethan and Jacobean times. The castle has rich and high-quality furniture from the time of King Charles II. There are also items from Robert Clive's art and Indian collections. The changes and redecoration done by George Bodley in the early 1900s were very well done. This is the only remaining example of his decorating style that hasn't been changed. This work took from 1902 until Bodley's death in 1907 and cost about £30,000.

The Great Staircase

The great staircase was built around 1673-85, probably by William Winde. The painting on the ceiling is by Verrio. It likely shows Catherine of Braganza, the wife of Charles II. King Charles gave William Herbert his Welsh lands back and made him the first Earl of Powis in 1674. The painting was inspired by a famous artwork in Italy. The staircase has been closed to visitors for many years because it was not stable. In 2017, the National Trust started raising money to fix it. A study in 2020 looked at whether vibrations from visitors walking on the stairs were damaging the paintings. The study said there wasn't a direct link, but it showed how hard it is to let visitors enjoy the castle while also protecting its old parts.

The State Dining Room

Henrietta Clive, Countess of Powis whose marriage re-established the family fortune

The dining room was created by Bodley by joining two smaller rooms. The fourth earl was very interested in Bodley's work and helped decide much of the decoration. The fireplaces in the room were copied from examples in the Victoria and Albert Museum. The ceiling was copied from an old pub in Banbury. Both of these ideas came from the earl. The room has a portrait of Henrietta Clive, Countess of Powis (1758–1830). It was painted in 1777 by Sir Joshua Reynolds. Henrietta was the daughter of Henry Herbert, 1st Earl of Powis and wife of Edward Clive, 1st Earl of Powis.

The State Bedroom

The State Bedroom is a rare survival from the 1660s. It's the only one in Britain where a railing separates the bed area from the rest of the room. This design shows how the rich families in Britain and Wales wanted to copy the fancy rules of King Louis XIV's court at Versailles in France. The room is thought to be designed by William Winde. When changes to the castle were being planned in 1772, an architect named Thomas Farnolls Pritchard said the bedroom should be kept as it was. The bed itself is from this time. The room was designed for a visit from King Charles II, and it has many decorations with his initials, CR. The window latches are shaped like the Prince of Wales's feathers. This remembers the visit of the future King Edward VII. His son and daughter-in-law (later King George V and Queen Mary) also visited in 1909.

The Long Gallery

Sir Edward Herbert built the Long Gallery after he bought the castle in 1587. It has an unusual "T" shape for an Elizabethan long gallery. In the gallery, you can see a marble statue of a cat and a snake. It's probably Roman, from between 1st century BC and 2nd century AD. However, it could also be a fake from the 1700s. Statues of cats are rare in Roman art. The marble was likely bought by Clive of India for his wife when he visited Italy in 1774. The gallery also has a set of busts (head and shoulders statues) of the Roman Caesars. They are very heavy. The National Trust moved them because they were worried the floor might collapse. But after the floor was fully rebuilt, they were returned.

The Clive Museum

An interior view

When Robert Clive returned to England, he was incredibly rich. He had about £234,000, which would be like £23 million today! This made him one of the wealthiest self-made men in Europe. Some historians say that much of Clive's wealth came from things taken after the Battle of Plassey in India. Many of Clive's treasures are on display in the Clive Museum at Powis Castle. You can also see items bought later by Edward and Henrietta when Edward worked for the East India Company and as the Governor of Madras. These include Tipu Sultan's amazing state tent, made of painted fabric. There are also gold and jeweled tiger's head decorations from Tipu's throne. Two cannons are now placed on either side of the castle entrance. You can also see textiles, armor, weapons, bronze items, silver pieces, and collections of jade and ivory.

The Clive Museum opened in 1987. It has been talked about a lot recently because people are more aware of the links between old country house collections and colonialism. This is partly due to the Black Lives Matter movement. The National Trust is working to help people understand the history of the South Asian collection better. In 2020, they started a research project with the Ashmolean Museum to learn more about its history and where the items came from.

Castle's Special Listings

In Wales, a group called Cadw is in charge of listing historic buildings. They use the same system as England. Buildings are put into three groups:

Grade I: The highest level, for buildings that are "exceptionally interesting."
Grade II*: For buildings that are "more than specially interesting."
Grade II: The lowest level, for buildings that are "specially interesting."

Powis Castle is a Grade I listed building. This means it's considered very important. Other parts of the castle and gardens also have separate Grade I listings. These include the Outer Gatehouse, the Marquess Gate, the Ballroom Range, and the Top, Aviary, and Orangery Terraces. The statues of Fame and Hercules are listed as Grade II*. Other garden features and some smaller buildings like the Ice House are listed as Grade II.

The Amazing Gardens

The Orangery Terrace

Garden experts say the gardens at Powis are "the most important and magnificent" in Wales. They are one of the few Baroque gardens left in the UK. This style was very popular in the 1600s and 1700s. The terraces were carved out of the rock between the 1670s and 1705. This work was led by William Winde and later Adrian Duvall, a French gardener.

The idea of formal terraces came to northern Europe from Italian gardens of the 1500s. The gardens originally had six terraces that went down from the castle, ending in a water garden. Winde had worked on similar terraced gardens before. The castle gardens are listed as Grade I on the Welsh Register of Parks and Gardens. This listing describes them as the best remaining Baroque gardens in Britain.

The Water Garden

A late 18th-century view showing the terraces and water garden

Duvall might have known a lot about water systems. He was in charge of the original water gardens, which were designed in a Dutch style. Their design was probably influenced by the gardens of the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye near Paris. This chateau was where King James II lived after he left England. So, the Marquess of Powis and his son would have known it well. Its gardens had gravel paths, flower beds, fountains, and pools. By 1705, even though the Herberts were away, the water garden was finished. A visitor in that year wrote that "the waterworks and fountains are much beyond anything I ever saw."

The Powis water garden lasted just over 100 years. It was taken apart by 1809, following advice from William Emes. Emes, who learned from the famous garden designer Capability Brown, wanted to get rid of the formal flower beds. He even suggested blowing up the terraces! The earl didn't agree to destroy the terraces, though the lowest two were turned into grassy slopes. But he did allow the water garden to be replaced with a large lawn. The water garden used to have many pools and fountains, with flower beds and statues. Some of these statues, like Fame and Hercules, were moved to other parts of the estate.

The Terraces

View along the Aviary Terrace

Four of the original terraces are still there. The last two became grassy banks with shrubs. Each terrace is about 150 meters long. The Top Terrace has many yew trees, which are a special feature at Powis. They were once neatly trimmed into tall, narrow shapes, but now they have grown into unique, curvy forms. The 14 "tumps" (small mounds) on the Top Terrace and the hedge at its east end were planted by the 2nd Marquess in the 1720s. The darker Irish yew trees elsewhere in the garden are from the 1800s. Below this is the Aviary Terrace, where a bird house used to be. It has four statues of shepherds and shepherdesses by van Nost. They used to be painted in colors, but now they are a uniform grey. The third level is the Orangery Terrace, which has an orangery. This building was once heated and open to the outside. But in the early 1900s, windows and a door were added. A lead statue of a peacock on this terrace originally came from Claremont, Robert Clive's country house. The last remaining terrace is the Apple Bank. The gardens have different planting styles: tropical plants on the Top Terrace, Mediterranean plants on the Aviary Terrace, and traditional British flower borders on the Orangery Terrace.

Later Garden Work

The Powis yews on the Top Terrace

William Emes, despite removing the water garden, did make improvements to the estate. He moved a road that went through the park below the castle. He also planted many trees on the Wilderness Ridge, which is a line of hills across from the castle. The last big change to the gardens was done in the early 1900s by Violet, the wife of the fourth earl. She wanted to turn a "poor and meagre garden into one of the most beautiful... in England and Wales."

Violet's work included moving the entire kitchen garden, including its greenhouses, to a new spot behind the Wilderness ridge. She also designed the formal garden at the bottom of the terraces, and a fountain garden and a croquet lawn in the far south-eastern corner. The kitchen garden used to be hidden from the castle by a line of elm trees. But these trees fell in a storm in 1912. This exposed a view of the greenhouses, which the countess hated. She said, "I am greeted every day by the repulsive sight of the detestable little [hot]houses which stare in their naked horror up at the beautiful terraces and the grand old castle towering above."