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Tenby Castle added to Historic Buildings in Wales by clinkadink on 29/09/2023

Parking: 51.671225, -4.703398
TOAL: 51.672866, -4.695374

High on a hill above Tenby harbour stand the remains of 13th century castle walls along with a ruined gate and tower. The first castle here was built by an unknown Norman lord sometime before 1153, when it was captured by the Welsh under Lord Rhys. That first castle was defended by earthen banks and ditches. It may stand on the site of a yet earlier castle founded by the Welsh in the 9th century.
The castle was built on a promontory joined to the mainland by a narrow neck of land, and linked to the medieval town walls. The most prominent features of the castle are the D-shaped gatehouse, with barbican defences, and the stump of a stone keep with a stair turret.

The castle defences were strengthened in 1377, but just 9 years later an enquiry found the fortress suffering from neglect, with work needed on the roof timber and leading. It seems efforts to maintain the castle were sporadic at best.

During the Civil War the castle was held by a band of Royalist soldiers for 10 weeks. The Royalists were starved into submission by Parliament.

In 1832 one of the medieval residential buildings beside the gatehouse was transformed into a National School. The building was enlarged a decade later, but closed in 1874. In 1878 the school building was altered once more to serve as the Tenby Museum and Art Gallery. The museum boasts displays on the archaeology, geology, maritime, and natural history of the Tenby area, plus local art and exhibits relating to the Castlemartin (Pembrokeshire) Yeomanry.

In 1865 the space within the castle was drastically altered when an imposing statue of Prince Albert was added at its highest point. Prince Arthur, eldest son of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria, unveiled the statue on 2 August 1865. Just beyond the statue is the Watchtower, built in the 13th century. This consists of a round tower linked to a later staircase tower. It was used by the Admiralty for many years but is now home to a Met Office weather station.

The castle remains include the smallest 'great tower' of any castle in Wales, and may have been inspired by the great tower at Pembroke Castle. Only small sections of the castle walls remain intact. On the north side is a small stretch of wall with medieval arrow slits and a section of the wall walk. You approach the castle through a very simple gate through the curtain wall, defended by a small barbican, leading to the museum.

Also on Castle Hill is The Old Coastguard House, built in the early 19th century as a coastguard station. There are also several old cannons on Castle Hill. These originally formed part of the town defences. They were restored and remounted in the 1960s by the Royal Regiment of Artillery and the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers from the School of Artillery at Manorbier.

From the late 18th century Castle Hill was a fashionable area for Tenby natives and visitors to promenade and take the views. From 1897 they could also listen to open-air concerts from the Bandstand. The original bandstand was dismantled so its metal could be used for the WWII war effort. It was restored in 1991.

THE TOWN WALLS
Tenby's medieval walls are very well preserved, and indeed may be considered of greater historical interest than the rather scanty castle ruins.

Tenby was sacked by Rhys's son Maelgwyn in 1187, and again by Llewelyn ap Gruffudd in 1260. To add an extra measure of defence the extensive town walls were built by the Norman lord William de Valence. The walls served their purpose, saving Tenby from an attack by Owain Glyndwr's French allies in 1405.

In 1873 the town council wanted to pull down the medieval walls, but were prevented by the efforts of a certain Dr Chater. As a result, we can get a good idea of what most Welsh medieval town walls would have looked like (leaving aside the very grand and extensive walls at major centres like Caernarfon and Conwy).

Castle Hill is very easy to reach from the harbour and is well signposted from around the town. There is no parking on the site, but there are several pay and display parking areas near the harbour.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenby_Castle

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

Co-ordinates: 51.67255, -4.694564 • what3words: ///hems.rationing.centuries

The originator declared that this location was not inside a Flight Restriction Zone at the time of being flown on 06/08/2023. 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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Fishing boat wrecks, Wyre (By Seadog)

When the fishing industry collapsed in Fleetwood many boats were just left to rot (probably too expensive to maintain.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.91962, -3.009546 • what3words: ///rewrites.bravo.nickname

St Margaret's Church, Wealden (By dandf19)

Grade 1 listed buliding failry isolated from Isfield Village near Uckfield, East Sussex. Peaceful and quiet area, a few dog walkers. Plenty parking down Church Lane (single track but in good condition) which ends at the church (TN22 5EY). Turn onto Station Road by the Lavender Line (heritage railway station - probably worth a visit but is only open (some) Sundays for their Summer Season) follow the road for a while and turn onto Church lane.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.9445, 0.054001 • what3words: ///slicing.cowboys.brisk

Bradwell-on-Sea Coastal Defence Barges, Maldon (By uav_hampshire)

A set of 11 WW2 sunken barges that were filled with concrete to protect the wetlands, mudflats and salt marshes in the Special Protection Area at Dengie from coastal erosion.

Obviously more visible as the tide recedes but they can be captured also without a low tide at times. Not recommended if the wind picks up as it does gust at that location without notice.

No issues with TOAL whatsoever along that stretch of coast but it is popular with visitors to the nearby historic chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall.

From eyesight to the barges from a small public carpark is around 20-30 minute walk depending how fast you are!

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.74432, 0.939631 • what3words: ///skippers.bleaker.sheep

East Hoathly, Wealden (By grandad1950)

A fine old village in East Sussex. Lots of room to fly at the recreation ground .
The village is worth a stroll.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.92621, 0.16174 • what3words: ///slyly.thrashed.flask

Wightwick Manor, Wolverhampton (By D0c.Col)

Nestled in the heart of Wolverhampton, England, stands Wightwick Manor—a breathtaking Victorian masterpiece. This architectural gem, with its rich Arts and Crafts design, is a time capsule of Pre-Raphaelite beauty, brimming with William Morris textiles and wallpapers.
Built in 1887 and expanded in 1893, Wightwick Manor was the vision of Samuel Theodore Mander, a member of a prominent Wolverhampton family. The Manders had made their fortune in the paint and varnish industry, shaping the city's industrial and cultural landscape for generations.
The family's roots in Wolverhampton date back to the 18th century, when Thomas Mander moved to the town from Warwickshire. His son, Benjamin Mander, founded a japanning and tinplate works in 1773 and over the years, the business flourished, evolving into the renowned Mander Brothers paint company. By 1879, Samuel Theodore Mander and his cousin Charles had become company directors, continuing the family's legacy.
Wightwick's history stretches back much further. The oldest building on the estate, the Old Manor, dates to the early 17th century, built by Francis Wightwick and his son, Alexander. The Wightwick family had lived on this land since at least the 13th century and had taken their name from the estate owning it until 1815, when it was sold to the Hinkes family. Samuel Theodore Mander re-acquired the estate in 1887, once more breathing new life into its legacy.
Inspired by the Tudor Revival style, Theodore commissioned architect Edward Ould to design the manor. The result was a stunning fusion of craftsmanship and artistry—timber-framed exteriors, intricate carvings, and grand fireplaces—all reflecting the ideals of the Arts and Crafts movement.

The Manor is in the middle of a suberb in Wolverhampton, so if you haven't got NT membership you can park just outside in one of the streets. TOAL is right next to the property so Line of Sight is good, just watch out for the Karen's and Ken's.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.58368, -2.194129 • what3words: ///pure.manage.tall

Buxted Deer Park, Wealden (By grandad1950)

No deer but fine parklands to explore. A lovely old church and an upmarket hotel to be discovered

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.98602, 0.114096 • what3words: ///shame.proposes.frostbite

The South Coaster (By pross)

Ship wrecked in Dec 1943 easily accessible from pebble beach.

You do have to cross a live traintrack so remember to look both ways!

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.61459, -3.442264 • what3words: ///spite.squabbles.gripes

Wintour's Leap, Forest of Dean (By gasbag43)

Wintour's Leap is a noted rock climbing location and viewpoint located near the village of Woodcroft in Gloucestershire, on the English side of the Wye Valley, north of Chepstow.

Wintour's Leap is named after Royalist Sir John Wintour who, hotly pursued on his horse by Parliamentary forces, according to local myth survived a leap off the cliff and, landing safely in the Wye (100 metre drop…) below, swam to safety in the nearby Chepstow Castle. In fact, Wintour did escape from the Roundheads by using the river nearby on two separate occasions, but from less spectacular positions at Lancaut and Sedbury.

The area around Wintour's Leap is a very popular limestone rock climbing area. It contains over 300 recorded routes most of which are multi-pitch. It has a high proportion of quality climbs up to 100-meters in length.

The location is pretty spectacular (albeit better when the tidal river is higher!) with the cliffs to the left of the photo while to the right is the "lost village" of Lancaut. All that remains of this medieval village are the ruins of St James Church said to have been built by the Lord of Chepstow Castle around 1067.

Access is via the Offa's Dyke footpath. TOAL site is a 10 square foot of bare rock 10 feet off the footpath (you need to push through some bushes to access it) with a 100 metre sheer drop at its edge and no safety barrier.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.66297, -2.66367 • what3words: ///sheds.spike.months

Crowborough Leisure Centre, Wealden (By grandad1950)

Lots of parking and room to fly. After you have finished flying you could go for a jog .

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.06322, 0.166131 • what3words: ///inflation.behind.snowballs

Tretower Castle, Powys (By gasbag43)

Tretower Castle is a Grade I-listed ruined castle in the village of Tretower in the county of Powys, Wales. It was built around the beginning of the twelfth century as a motte and bailey castle, enlarged in the early thirteenth century, but later fell into ruin.

This monumental tower with four storeys and stone walls nine feet thick is roughly triangular in plan, with the motte and keep occupying the western corner. The 12th century shell-keep is an irregular enclosure with a gate-tower on the line of approach from the bailey. In the centre of the shell stands the tall cylindrical 13th century keep. The keep is of three storeys, with an original entrance at first floor level

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.88399, -3.185778 • what3words: ///reconnect.nickname.hush


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