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Powis Castle, Welshpool added to National Trust in Wales by D0c.Col on 29/06/2023

Powis Castle
The present Powis Castle was built in the mid-13th century by a Welsh prince - Gruffudd Ap Gwenwynwyn who wanted to establish his independence from the aggressive princes of Gwynedd in North Wales. This was an act of defiance and in contrast to those built by the English at Conwy, Caernarfon and Harlech in order to suppress the Welsh and consolidate Edward I’s conquest of Wales.
By the late 13th century, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd of Gwynedd had established himself as Prince of Wales, and in 1274 he destroyed Powis Castle, forcing Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn into exile.
However, within three years Llywelyn’s principality had crumbled leaving Gruffudd of Powys able to regain his lordship and rebuild the castle. Gruffudd, his son and grandson had all died by 1309, and with no male heir, the castle and lordship passed to an heiress, Hawise who married Sir John Charlton from Shropshire.
In 1312, Hawise’s uncle attacked the castle in an attempt to claim the lordship but failed. Charlton repaired the damage and built two great drum towers that can be seen today, either side of the castle’s west entrance.
Descendants of the Charltons continued as Lords of Powis for over 100 years but in 1421, the lack of a male heir resulted in the castle and estate being divided between two daughters, Joyce and Joan, who had married Sir John Grey and Sir John Tiptoft respectively.
Under the Tiptofts and their successor, Lord Dudley, the Outer Ward of the castle was neglected and needed considerable restoration. Luckily, in the 1530s Edward Grey, Lord Powis, took possession of the whole castle and began a major re-building programme.

In 1587, Edward Herbert purchased the castle and estate and it remained in the hands of the Herbert family until 1952 when George, 4th Earl of Powis, bequeathed the castle and gardens to the National Trust.
In 1902 George began its modernisation by introducing electric lighting and a state of the art hot-water central heating system, and at the same time he worked with his architect to re-establish the 17th Century décor in many of the state rooms, a style he thought more befitting of a medieval castle.
The estate was at its height during the Edwardian Period with notable guests arriving every weekend throughout the winter season, including the Prince and Princess of Wales in November 1909. However, this golden era was not to last as George was to suffer a number of family tragedies. The countess died following a car accident in 1929, both his sons, died whilst on active service, Percy from wounds received at the Battle of the Somme in 1916, and Mervyn in a plane crash in 1943. With no direct heir to the castle, on his death bed in 1952, George bequeathed Powis to the nation, in the care of the National Trust.
In the garden four of the 150m long original terraces remain, the last two having reverted to banks of earth covered with shrubs. The top Terrace is planted with a range of yew trees, a distinctive feature at Powis.

William Emes, apart from the destruction of the water garden, did make improvements to the estate. A road that cut through the park just below the castle was diverted, and much planting was undertaken on the Wilderness Ridge, the line of hills opposite the castle, on the other side of the Great Lawn. The last major transformation of the gardens was undertaken in the early 20th century by Violet, wife of the fourth earl.

The Herbert family continue to live in part of the castle, under an arrangement with the National Trust. The Trust has undertaken a number of major works of restoration during its ownership, including the Marquess Gate,[ the Grand Staircase, and the sculpture of Fame in the Outer Courtyard. Powis Castle is a Grade I listed building, while its gardens have their own Grade I listing and together they form an irresistible attraction that receives over 200,000 visitors a Year.

The flight was inside a FRZ but had authorisation from the relevant ATC and the local council does not have a bylaw to prevent TOAL. I was easily able to launch the DJI mini 3 Pro close from a public path just outside NT property and maintained VLOS with the assistance of a spotter (my wife).

https://www.youtube.com/@DocColVideo/

View and discuss this location in more detail on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.65246, -3.15728 • what3words: ///strongman.snapper.just

The originator declared that this location was inside a flight restriction zone at the time of being flown. Permission to fly was obtained from Welshpool ATC. It remains the responsibility of any pilot to check for any changes before flying at the same location. Landowner permission may be required before taking off.

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Waddow Weir, Ribble Valley (By Bilbo)

Surrounded by beautiful countryside, Waddow Weir is a historic structure on the River Ribble, located near Waddow Hall in Waddington, Clitheroe. The weir is located on the River Ribble, between Edisford Bridge and Brungerley Bridge, near Waddow Hall. The surrounding area is described as Undulating Lowland Farmland with Wooded Brooks and Valley Floodplain, according to the Forest of Bowland Landscape Character assessment.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.87832, -2.405422 • what3words: ///sedative.cleans.brief

Rowlands Castle Recreation Ground, East Hampshire (By grandad1950)

The recreation ground in Rowlands Castle, East Hampshire.

Good views of the village, the sports facilities and the local golf club.

Lots of space to park and fly.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.89242, -0.963793 • what3words: ///revived.slyly.reworked

Nostell Priory, Wakefield (By richrab)

Nostell Priory is a Palladian house in Nostell, West Yorkshire, in England, near Crofton and on the road to Doncaster from Wakefield. It dates from 1733 and was built for the Winn family on the site of a medieval priory.[2] The Priory and its contents were given to the National Trust in 1953 by the trustees of the estate and Rowland Winn, 3rd Baron St Oswald.

TOAL from the Doncaster road outside the grounds, only parking option was a pull in with a locked gate to Ashfield Angling fishing lake. Ok for a ten min flight, but I would not park and walk off as access may be required.

This was within the advisory boundary zone of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, so be aware.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.65159, -1.387835 • what3words: ///crafted.jets.taxpayers

Brodsworth Community Woodlands, Doncaster (By richrab)

Following the closure of Brodsworth colliery in the 1990s, the community suffered from high unemployment and health and social problems, compounded by the large area of derelict land which became a focus for antisocial behaviour. The site was remediated as part of the National Coalfields Programme, transforming it into a thriving natural space which offers rich habitats for wildlife and a valuable recreational space for the local community.

Visitors can explore an extensive network of walking and cycling trails that wind through picturesque woodland and open meadows, where kestrels can often be seen soaring overhead. The site’s carefully designed wetland areas support diverse flora and fauna, making it a haven for birdwatchers and nature lovers. With panoramic views and peaceful surroundings, Brodsworth Community Woodland is an ideal retreat for those seeking to enjoy the outdoors.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.55695, -1.206158 • what3words: ///longer.armed.alpha

Saltend Power Station, East Riding of Yorkshire (By Osdog)

An easy place to photograph. No restrictions that I could see regarding TOAL. It's the King Charles 3 Coastal Footpath which runs right alongside the Power Station.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.73433, -0.242922 • what3words: ///ending.glare.rocket

Danny House, Mid Sussex (By grandad1950)

aerial view of the grade 1 listed Danny House in West Sussex. An elizabethan mansion house near Hurstpierpoint on the south downs and now used as an upmarket retirement home.

No direct access but easy to photograph from the South Downs Way

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.91904, -0.173228 • what3words: ///grafted.prune.wiping

Ayr Harbour (By Zipco)

Ayr Harbour, located at the mouth of the River Ayr, is a historic port on the west coast of Scotland with a commercial focus and facilities for leisure craft. It features lighthouses on the north and south breakwaters, as well as range lights within the dock area. The harbour has a rich history tied to the movement of goods like coal, wool, and fish, as well as shipbuilding.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 55.46785, -4.638196 • what3words: ///scrapping.ranges.earphones

Crossraguel Abbey, Carrick South (By Zipco)

The Abbey of Saint Mary of Crossraguel is a ruin of a former abbey near the town of Maybole, South Ayrshire, Scotland. Although it is a ruin, visitors can still see the original monks’ church, their cloister and their dovecot.

Founded in 1244 by Donnchadh, Earl of Carrick, following an earlier donation of 1225, to the monks of Paisley Abbey for that purpose. They reputedly built nothing more than a small chapel and kept the balance for themselves. The Earl took the matter to the Bishop of Glasgow for arbitration and, winning his case, forced the monks to build a proper abbey.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 55.33878, -4.720914 • what3words: ///robes.whirlwind.cemented

Dalquharran Castle, Carrick South (By Zipco)

Dalquharran Castle was designed by Robert Adam, the architect responsible for the building of nearby Culzean Castle. Despite enormous investment in the preservation of the 18th century Culzean Castle by the National Trust of Scotland, its contemporary Dalquharran has for various reasons fallen into disrepair and ruin in recent years.

Similarly to Culzean Castle, Dalquharran was designed as a family mansion incorporating castle-style features. It was commissioned by Thomas Kennedy in 1785 as a new ancestral seat for his descendants, after Old Dalquharran Castle (ruins of which stand on the same land approximately 300m away) became uninhabitable. The old castle is now a listed monument.

Overlooking the Water of Girvan, sadly the new castle is also now in a ruinous state after Kennedy’s heirs sold the property in the 1930s. Eventually, Dalquharran became too costly for subsequent owners to maintain and was abandoned, with the roof strategically removed in the late 1960s as a means of avoiding paying tax. Although by early 2017, the interior of the castle were in total ruin and entry into the building was prohibited for safety reasons, Dalquharran stands as an evocative and romantic echo of its cousin Culzean, located a mere 8 miles away.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 55.28324, -4.724879 • what3words: ///porridge.debater.dented

Cobham recreation ground, Elmbridge (By grandad1950)

A multi use sports facility and playground very close to the centre of Cobham in Surrey

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.33246, -0.413854 • what3words: ///pass.kept.energetic


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