I Capture The Castle

It was Lord Jon's 55th birthday yesterday. How did we celebrate? We left the country! But, in these strange Covid times our trip to a foreign land didn't involve passenger location forms, travel insurance, lateral flow or PCR tests, it was simply a matter of getting in the car and arriving in Wales 75 minutes later. Our destination was the magnificent Mediaeval Powis Castle, built in the 13th Century by the Welsh prince, Gruffydd.

In 16th Century Powis Castle was purchased by Edward Herbert, the youngest son of the Earl of Pembroke, said to have been dashingly handsome (as you can see from the painting). The family remained Catholics until the 18th Century and suffered periods of imprisonment and exile but despite these setbacks managed to transform the border fortress into an aristocratic country house and surround it with what was said to be one of the finest English Baroque gardens.

Edward Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Cherbury (3 March 1583 - 5 August 1648)

 In 1784 Henrietta Herbert married the eldest son of Clive of India, a match that restored the much-depleted family fortune. In the early 20th Century, George Herbert, the 4th Earl of Powis, redeveloped the castle whilst his wife, Countess Violet, sought to turn the garden into one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful gardens, in England and Wales. Upon the Earl's death in 1952, his wife and sons having predeceased him, the castle was bequeathed to the National Trust. 

Lady Henrietta Herbert in 1777, by Sir Joshua Reynolds

The skies were distinctly ominous on our drive into Wales. After the previous day's heat, the weather had turned distinctly Autumnal with a cool breeze and ink-black skies. The twenty-four forecast was atrocious but if that stopped us Brits from having a day out we'd never go anywhere. Although it was raining when we reached the car park, by the time we'd eaten our lunch it had all but stopped.

We remembered the castle's resident peacocks from the last time we'd visited Powis Castle, back in 2016. This time they formed a welcoming committee and escorted the birthday boy into the grounds. 

What a shock to the system - crowds of people! Although it's great having National Trust places to ourselves it was rather exciting to hear foreign tourists and share their joy at getting back to normal.

The 300-year-old yews are visible from every spot in the garden and are described as melting like clouds into the landscape. 

You know me, I always end up with my outfit matching the surroundings. This time I'm complimenting Colin the peacock (yes, that really is his name!)

 

Notoriously greedy, he soon tired of my conversation and went off to harass a tourist for their cream tea.

The interior of the castle is magnificent and just as grand, over-the-top and opulent as you'd expect. Sadly photos aren't allowed but highlights included a marble sculpture of a cat dating to 100BC and the Twelve Caesars, a set of late 17th century Italianate busts brought to Powis Castle in 1704 and each weighing in at 150kg, causing the hall floor to need reinforcing. 

Our last visit was on my 50th birthday and in the depths of Winter. I'd heard great things about Powis Castle's garden and it didn't disappoint. 

Beneath the castle, blasted out of the bare rock, are the Italianate Terraces which are considered the finest surviving example of a 17th century terraced garden in Britain. From their position high up on the hillside, you can admire breath-taking views across the garden, deer park, Severn Valley and in the distance, the pointed profiles of Long Mountain and the Breidden Hills.

We swooned over spectacular herbaceous borders flowering with a profusion of perennials, dancing lead and stone statues and an Orangery with a spectacular 18th century stone doorway that was once the entrance to the castle.

My photos don't do the gardens justice, they really were gorgeous.

We managed to complete a circuit around the lake and get back to the car just as the heavens opened and continued for the next twelve hours. 

Lord Jon's birthday celebrations aren't over yet, there's a crate of Mythos beer in the kitchen and a table booked at Walsall's new Greek restaurant. The reviews say it's the best food outside of Athens, we'll let you know!

Yammas!