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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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Iford Manor, West Wiltshire (By gasbag43)

Iford Manor is a Grade II listed building in Wiltshire, about 2 miles southwest of the town of Bradford-on-Avon.

It is a Grade II listed building sitting on the steep, south-facing slope of the Frome valley. The Manor House was built in the late 15th or early 16th century, but most of what is visible is from a rebuilding as an early Georgian house c1725-1730.

Iford is best known for its beautiful gardens, which are designated Grade I in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens by Historic England

The Manor house and Gardens are the main reason for recommending this as a location to fly your drone, but its setting in one of the "20 most beautiful villages in the UK and Ireland" (Condé Nast Traveler in 2020) strengthens its case as a great place to visit

To cap it all, immediately outside the manor is a very pretty and ornate medieval stone bridge built circa 1400

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.32901, -2.287597 • what3words: ///vague.leans.healers

Farleigh Hungerford Castle, Mendip (By gasbag43)

Farleigh Hungerford Castle is a medieval castle in Farleigh Hungerford, Somerset.

The castle was built in two phases: the inner court was constructed between 1377 and 1383 on the site of an existing manor house overlooking the River Frome.

A deer park was attached to the castle, requiring the destruction of the nearby village.

Later, the castle was extended with an additional, outer court, enclosing the parish church in the process.

In 1643, the castle was seized by Royalist forces in 1643, but recaptured by Parliament without a fight near the end of the conflict in 1645. As a result, it escaped the destruction of its defensive capabilities following the war, unlike many other castles in the south-west of England.

It is now owned by English Heritage, is a Grade I listed building and a scheduled monument.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.31743, -2.286771 • what3words: ///full.worry.both

Stoney Littleton Long Barrow, Bath and North East Somerset (By gasbag43)

Stoney Littleton Long Barrow is one of the country’s finest accessible examples of a Neolithic chambered tomb. Dating from about 3500 BC, it is 30 metres long and has multiple burial chambers open to view.

The barrow is also known as the Bath Tumulus and the Wellow Tumulus and is located near the village of Wellow in Somerset. It is an example of the Cotswold-Severn Group and was scheduled as an ancient monument in 1882.

Excavations in the early 19th century uncovered bones from several individuals. The stone structure is about 30 metres (98 ft) in length and contains a 12.8-metre (42 ft) long gallery with three pairs of side chambers and an end chamber.

The central passage and entrance are roughly aligned towards the midwinter sunrise.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.31329, -2.381826 • what3words: ///amends.safety.upward

Great Pulteney Street, Bath and North East Somerset (By ColinPeachey)

At over 1,000 feet long and 100 feet wide, Great Pulteney Street is the widest, grandest thoroughfare in Bath, flanked on either side by beautiful Georgian properties.

One of the longest streets, it is also home to the shortest street in the city. A side street just off Great Pulteney Street, Sunderland Street, has only one address!

This beautiful street, completed in 1789, was commissioned by Sir William Pulteney and designed by Georgian architect Thomas Baldwin.

At one end you will find Laura Place, with its pretty fountain at the centre. At the other end stands the magnificent Holburne Museum, the city's first public art gallery, and Sydney Gardens, the only remaining eighteenth-century pleasure gardens in the country.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.38533, -2.351677 • what3words: ///sound.draw.flank

Bayard's Cove Fort (By Grazuncle)

This Tudor fort, built by the borough of Dartmouth between 1522 and 1536, contained heavy guns to protect the prosperous harbour town from attack.

It was the last line of defence against enemy ships that had eluded Dartmouth and Kingswear castles and the iron chain stretched across the Dart estuary between them.

Occupying a terrace cut from the rocky river bank, Bayard’s Cove Fort is picturesquely sited at the entrance to Dartmouth harbour.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.34802, -3.577593 • what3words: ///over.degrading.proudest

Charston Rock , Monmouthshire (By gasbag43)

Charston rocks is a mini lighthouse protecting shipping from the rocks it sits upon and the large sandbank upstream of it (Charston Sands).

Great views of the Severn Prince of Wales Bridge and Estuary.

Due to its location and its position in relation to the bridge, this has great potential as a sunset location

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.5892, -2.694547 • what3words: ///ranges.keyboards.song

St Pauls Cray, Bromley (By grandad1950)

Lots of old gravel pits in the area although some are SSSI. Parking is quite restricted.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.40144, 0.114997 • what3words: ///closes.gears.cards

Drakestone Point, Stroud (By gasbag43)

Drakestone Point is part of Stinchcombe Hill, a ridge overlooking the Severn Vale and the Cotswold escarpment.

It's a popular spot for walkers, with the Cotswold Way passing through, and there are various paths leading up from Dursley and from a car park near the golf course (that's where I parked and then walked in)

The point itself is a triangular area of grassland, with an oak tree and a memorial bench at the tip, offering stunning views.

There's some evidence of earthworks at the site, possibly indicating an Iron Age beacon or a signaling post. It has also been suggested, though not definitively proven, that it might have been a castle site in the past.

The main draw of Drakestone Point is the extensive views it offers over the Severn Vale, towards the Forest of Dean and the Welsh hills. Its summit reaches a height of 220m, add on 120 metres of drone altitude and the view from above of the valley below is the main attraction of this recommended location.

Parking was by the golf club house, TOAL from the public footpath approaching the viewpoint (The Cotswold Way)

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.67985, -2.382274 • what3words: ///chum.best.fittingly

Shielfield Park, Berwick-upon-Tweed (By Heading270)

Shielfield Park is home to Berwick Rangers FC of the Scottish Lowland League, and also Berwick Bandits Speedway team.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 55.76004, -2.015476 • what3words: ///atom.organ.linen

The Royal Border Crossing, Berwick-upon-Tweed (By Heading270)

The Royal Border Crossing is a railway viaduct over the River Tweed in Berwick.

Designed by George Stephenson, son of railway pioneer Robert, it boasts 28 arches and has been carrying rail traffic 37m above the water for 175 years since Queen Victoria opened it in 1850.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 55.77369, -2.013288 • what3words: ///bumps.chin.beans


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