Wednesday 31 May 2023

A Special Day Out - Powis Castle Part 1

 Now, left to my own devices, I would always have an outing mid-week, when places are quieter, but I was going with my friend Pam, who works for herself, and only has weekends free.  She couldn't do Saturday, so Bank Holiday Monday it had to be.  I don't now about you, but most folk I know think it's a good idea to stay at home on a Bank Holiday . . .  Anyhoo, I wanted to visit Powis Castle.  Things were going well until we turned in to approach the castle, straight into a long tailback of cars trying to get to the car park.  When we eventually got to turn in across the park, we were advised it might take up to an hour's wait at the car park just to get a space.  We thought, well, we've come this far, we'll go in.  Just as well as we got a space straight away . . .  


Well of course, we knew it would be busy and goodness, the house was absolutely HEAVING with people and if I get away without having caught Something Nasty in the cold department, I shall count myself very fortunate.  I really did NOT want to be cheek by jowl with so many people, trying to see the rooms - imagine a little fenced off area in the doorway, where you crammed in to see the room.  Not ideal.  

HERE IS A LINK to the history of the castle, and lots more photos including the collections.  That will keep you quiet for hours!  MUST SEE LINK FOR GARDENS - if you are a gardener, oh my goodness, you are in for unboundless delight at the plantings . . .

How's this for a door-knocker?!

    My goodness, WHAT an amazing place and furniture to rival anything at Buckingham Palace!  Fabulous painted ceilings throughout (totally over the top!) with beautiful plasterwork into the bay windows, leaves and a stag figured.  No photos allowed of course and tan-coloured rollerblinds throughout to only allow a dim light in to protect the tapestries, paintings and furniture.  Much to see and we didn't see all of it I'm sure.  I am planning to go back and have a SLOW walk around on a quiet day.  Probably before the schools break up in July, when the gardens are at their best.

    There was a display of Kaffe Fasset tapestry cushions, patchwork quilts and knitted throws, all seen in a dim light.  Some of the quilts were laid across the main staircase which was a nice way of displaying them.  I have to say, his colour-way is always very bright, but some appeared to have been pieced by whatever pattern happened to come to hand and really didn't "gel" together.  One lady in front of me was saying how lovely they were, but "she could never do something like that."  Of course you can, I told her, you start small, and make yourself a cushion, or even just a wee pincushion and see if you enjoy it.  I hope she will.  Just as well we didn't go into the main shop as I found out (when I got home) that they were selling Kaffe Fasset patchwork kits (cushions I assume) and his latest book Quilts in Wales in the shop . . . I've taken some photos from the little free guide they hand out.

Not a very restful palette in the first quilt.  That would jangle my nerves no end!  It's that pale blue . . .


I find the stone heads a bit spooky, especially the one on the left who made me think of Medusa. Sorry these aren't very clear (page wouldn't open properly), but you get the idea.    

    I have got to try and get Keith walking better, as although the castle is not the LEAST bit wheel-chair or disabled friendly, they do offer a wheelchair for seeing round downstairs, as long as you can manage the steps INTO the castle.  Lots of stairs to see the upper floor, so that's a non-starter.  Likewise, 15 steps (I did count them) up into the amazing Clive Exhibition, this having been Clive of India's house.  After Tipi Sultan, the Mughal Emperor was killed in battle, his palace was ransacked and needless to say, the top wallah of the East India Company got the pick of the contents. . .  Keith would have been in his element - so many weapons, and armour, and unusual artifacts.  So, he is into training again now that he's off the anti biotics and is hopefully mending again - though he still needs to DRINKMORE!  We fell out about that big time yesterday - why can't he just say, I'll try to drink more?  Nope, every time I get the reply, "I drink plenty/enough" Arrrrrrrrrrgh!!

    Now, the gardens.  Not at their high summer best but I DID want to see the absolute fountain of Wisteria and I was not disappointed.

I think all you can say is WOW!




Rosa Madame Gregoire Staechelin


A big stand of Achillea just coming into flower, and Alliums going to seed, with Cranesbills linking the two.


In the opposite border, the Alliums were still in full bloom.  I think I will add some here in the Autumn.


Just one of the lovely Paeonies in the borders.


HUGE Papaver officianalis!


The long view - one day I'll get down to those bottom garden rooms . . .  You need all day here really.  I had to be back for 4.30 because someone was collecting something I'd sold on Facebook Marketplace, plus I don't like to abandon Keith for too long. I already felt badly enough about going here without him as he would have LOVED it if he'd been fit enough to walk round.


This is on my wish list - it's a Scotch briar rose (so tough as old boots) called Rosa Pimpinellifolia William III.


Just part of the amazing yew "hedge" - well, it started off as a hedge, grew away and is now trees which have been clipped like clouds.

More tomorrow, this had taken me over an hour so far . . .












17 comments:

  1. It's amazing, isn't it. Not the most PC in terms of how the riches were come by, but a fabulous day out. We had a whole day there years ago, so went right around the gardens top to bottom. The cloud hedging is my favourite. (Can't sign in today for some reason!) Veg Artist

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  2. Wisteria Fountain WOW indeed! I would not have coped with such crowds, you did well! I guess the Car Parking gods were looking after you! Also, I do hope you haven't picked up another cold.

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    1. I heard about it last week, and thought, that would make a good very belated Birthday Day out. Certainly worth delaying my outing 6 weeks! A cold I could just about cope with - Covid I couldn't and the new variation is easily spread. I truly did want to run away, but breathed shallowly and had my fingers crossed.

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  3. About as Colonialist as you get, but you cannot change the past, nor should we apoligise for it. I can tell you for nothing, people do not change and it doesn't take much for society to break down, and looting and pillaging to stat.

    That cloud hedging is stunning and unique I think. I like the long borders in the height of summer, oh my! I have a very watered-down version here but it's gradually coming together.

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  4. Wow - that hedge - stunning!
    Alison in Wales x

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    1. Isn't it just?! You have to love the British way of creating stupendous gardens.

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  5. Wonderful to see this place, sorry you had to out up with such crowds.

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  6. What an amazing place to visit. I am not sure I would even have gone inside as those gardens are so lovely.

    God bless.

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    1. You need a whole day to do justice to both. Next time I will spend longer there - and hoping to be able to get Keith there at some point too.

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  7. Wow indeed! I first visited Powis en route to the Lleyn Peninsula in September 1995. With an almost two-year-old and six weeks pregnant I needed that break during a long car journey! We have visited many times since and at one time I had Artemisia Powis Castle growing in the garden. It soon expired on my Surrey clay soil but I should find one for here as it would thrive on my sandy soil. I made meadowsweet tea yesterday for the first time - a natural pain reliever - sipped while watching Springwatch from Dorset (lovely lowland sandy heathland just as we have here) - and I do believe it worked. Also before I forget Antiques Roadshow came from Powis Castle last Sunday. Wish I could teleport you to some of our beautiful houses and gardens around here. Look after yourself BB and enjoy pottering in your garden. I have a new regime - one hour of gardening - two or three different jobs - followed by one hour of sitting down relaxing. Repeat no more than twice in one day. I have to be strict with myself otherwise I would be gardening all day long! Yesterday I trimmed three box balls, planted out chillies and cucumbers in the greenhouse and watered them well and weeded and mulched the asparagus. My treat was the final picking of asparagus and the first picking of roses. I have Ghislaine de Feligonde, Penny Lane and Pearl Drift in bloom already. Sarah x

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  8. Just gorgeous. Wow to that wisteria!! Would so love to visit there but I have checked and its one hour 20 mins from caravan and OH never keen on going that far for a day out. It was recommended to us by some guy we got chatting to at Croft Castle. Thanks for the photos. Must admit I try very hard not to go anywhere that might be busy on bank holidays. Hope you don't catch a cold or other nasty virus.

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  9. What an amazing place and even more amazing garden. Lucky us having you to visit and share the experience with us. I had a "discussion" about fluid intake with my husband yesterday too.

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  10. I do have to say that I came back here to take in the wisteria, and that hedge, and the garden and oh my gosh, so much beauty to take in during one afternoon. I would have just exploded with the joy of it all.

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  11. That wistaria waterfall is magnificent. Also find Fassett over the top in his colours, and tapestry covered chairs must constitute an awful lot of work. Hope Keith can get to Powis Castle one day, think I would give the castle a miss and just go and worship the garden.

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  12. Oh goodness, that brings back such great memories - we went there with our son when he was about to turn 7 ... he's just turned 43 (how DID that happen??) ... and outside our front door is a wooden hedgehog we bought there, with bristles for cleaning your shoes on his back.It's never been exposed to the weather so has lasted very well... 36 years isn't bad 'value for money! That wisteria is simply stunning. We spent lots of time in the gardens (as one does with a young companion). But back then, there were few other visitors. We remember the day vividly, and look forward to your next blog recount. While DH is watching rugby this evening I'll follow your links, thank you.

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  13. That Wisteria is magnificent, so other word for it. :-)

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  14. I have never been there though it is on the cards. That Wisteria is amazng

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