Powis Castle , Wales

Powis Castle is a medieval castle, fortress and grand country mansion which is the residence of the Earl of Powis. Externally the building looks much as it did in the early Middle Ages. The castle is known for its extensive, attractive formal gardens, terraces, parkland, deerpark and landscaped estate.

Opened in 1987, the Clive Museum, hosted in the castle, features artifacts from India that were collected by the Clives in the 18th century, including textiles, armour, weapons, bronzes, silver pieces, jade, ivory and a formal tent.

The castle contains the portrait Lady Henrietta Antonia Herbert, Countess of Powys (1758–1830) painted in 1777 by Sir Joshua Reynolds. Lady Henrietta was daughter of Henry Arthur, first Earl of Powis and wife of Edward, second Lord Clive.

Dating from 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. Such a design derives from the days when the English gentry wished to emulate the elaborate etiquette that regulated the court of Louis XIV at Versailles. When improvements to the castle were being considered in 1772, the architect Thomas Farnolls Pritchard recommended that the bedroom be wholly preserved.

The window latches in the shape of the Prince of Wales's feathers commemorate the visit of the future King Edward VII. His son and daughter-in-law (later King George V and Queen Mary, visited in 1909.

Displayed in the Long Gallery, the marble group of a cat and snake, is Roman and dates from between 1st century BC and 2nd century AD. Representations of cats are rare in Roman art and the Powis group is unique amongst surviving classical sculpture.

The garden at Powis has survived the 18th century reaction against the formality of earlier garden design. It seems the terraces were hewn from the rock in the early 1670s under the direction of Frenchman Adrian Duvall of Rouen, although William Winde may also have been involved, up until he died in 1722.

A great deal of work to restore and improve the gardens was undertaken from 1911 by Violet wife of the fourth Earl, including the laying out of the formal gardens at the far south eastern corner.

Opening Times

Castle and Clive Museum
Closed Tuesdays
2 Mar - 31 Mar 11 1:00 - 4:00
1 Apr - 30 Sep 11 1:00- 5:00
1 Oct - 30 Oct 11 1:00- 4:00

Castle
Friday to Sunday Only
4 Nov - 31 Dec 11 12:00 - 4:00

Garden, restaurant and shop
Closed Tuesdays
19 Feb - 28 Feb 11 11 - 4:00
2 Mar - 31 Mar 11 11 - 4:30
1 Apr - 30 Sep 11 11 - 5:30
1 Oct - 30 Oct 11 11 - 4:30
4 Nov - 31 Dec 11 11 - 4:00 Friday to Sunday Only

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Ticket Prices

Castle and garden:
adult £11.20,
child £5.70,
family £28.20,
family (1 adult) £17.

Garden only:
adult £8.20,
child £4.10,
family £20.80,
family (1 adult) £12.40

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Disabled Facilities

Parking
Separate parking. Drop-off point

Building
Many steps to entrance, wheelchair access on the ground floor only. Very steep staircase to Castle and Clive Museum, no wheelchair access into the Clive Museum

WCs
Near garden entrance and in the formal garden

Grounds
Map available of the accessible route. Partly accessible – terraced with steps in some areas. PMV access to top terrace only due to very steep gradients on some paths. Access into the formal gardens can be arranged by telephoning the property in advance.

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More Information

Telephone: 01938 551944

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