Powis Castle and Gardens

Built in the 13th century as a medieval fortress, the castle and garden you see today reflects the changing ambitions and visions of the Herbert family, who occupied the castle from the 1570s.

Below the Castle are the Italianate Terraces which are thought to be the finest surviving example of a 17th century terraced garden in Britain.

Stunning herbaceous borders, statues and the Orangery with an 18th century doorway which was once the entrance to the Castle.

On the site of the Kitchen Garden is the Edwardian Garden created by Violet, Countess of Powis. As you walk along the avenue of apple trees, listen to the sound of the water in the nearby Fountain Garden.

And don’t miss a wander through the Wilderness.

Leave time for a visit to the Castle and to the Clive Museum, currently housed in the Billiard Room.

National Trust Members visit for free.

In the middle of the 13th century, Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn, a Welsh prince, built Powis Castle. Unlike many other castles in North Wales which were built by the English to consolidate Edward I’s conquest of Wales, Powis was built as a stronghold against the princes of North Wales.

In 1274, the Castle was destroyed by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd but three years later, Llywelyn’s position had fallen and King Edward I allowed Gruffydd to rebuild the Castle.

In 1309, the castle and lordship were inherited by Hawise, wife of Sir John Charlton from Shropshire. Hawise’s uncle tried to claim the lordship by attacking the castle but when his attempt failed, Sir John increased the defences of the castle by building two drum towers.

In 1421, with no male heir, Powis Castle was divided between two daughters, Joyce wife of Sir John Grey and Joan wife of Sir John Tiptoft.

In 1530s, Edward Grey, Lord Powis, took possession of the whole of the estate from the Tiptofts and their descendants, and began a major restoration programme.

Powis was leased in 1578 to Sir Edward Herbert, second son of William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke and his wife Anne Parr. In 1587, Edward bought the whole estate and it remained in the Herbert family until 1952 when George, 4th Earl of Powis, gave the Castle to the nation.

George Herbert was the great-grandson of Edward Clive (Clive of India) and had inherited the title and estate in 1891. He and his wife, Violet, updated the house with advice from the architect G F Bodley.

But sadly, tragedy followed. In 1916, their eldest son died in the Somme. Thirteen years later, Violet died after a car accident. And in 1942, their younger son was killed during the Second World War.

With no direct heir, George bequeathed the estate to the Nation.

GARDENS

The origins of the garden date back to 1680s when William Herbert, 1st Marquess of Powis commissioned the architect William Winde to create a series of terraces below the Castle. Winde had previously worked at Clivedon in Buckinghamshire.

As a Catholic, the 1st Marquess fled to France in 1688 and his garden remained unfinished until his son returned to Powis in 1703.

With advice from Adrian Duval, a French gardener who had worked in Holland, a spectacular water garden was laid out below the terraces.

In 1771 William Emes was invited to Powis by Henry Arthur Herbert, 1st Earl of Powis. He planted the Wilderness surrounding the terraces and Dutch water garden. Emes also worked at nearby Erddig.

But by 1809, the water garden had been grassed over.

Originally the Yew ‘tumps’ were clipped into cones or pyramids but at the end of the 18th century, they were allowed to grow naturally. But in the Victorian era, topiary came back into fashion and the trees were pruned once again.

Violet, Countess of Powis wanted to make the gardens: ‘one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful in England and Wales’. She added new varieties of shrubs and perennials and relocated the Kitchen Garden away from the Castle. In its place, she created the formal garden with its flower borders, croquet lawn and fruit trees.

CLIVE OF INDIA

Amassed during the British colonisation of India, these objects arrived in Wales and came to Powis Castle during the early 19th century. The museum houses more than 1000 items from South and East Asia, dating from about 1600 to the 1830s. It includes ivories, textiles, statues of Hindu gods, ornamental silver and gold, weapons and ceremonial armour.

Two generations of the Clive family are responsible for the collection. Robert, who became known as Clive of India, and his son, Edward who married Henrietta Herbert, daughter of the 1st Earl of Powis.

Robert Clive was an important figure in the East India Company and amassed a vast fortune in gold, silver and jewels.

The National Trust is currently carrying out further detailed research into some of the stories connected to these objects and to Clive of India.

For Clive of India, also see, Claremont Landscape Garden in Surrey.

Powis Castle and Gardens

Powis Castle and Gardens

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