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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.

Where to fly your drone

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Bordon Village Park, Swale (By grandad1950)

A lovely little village with a multi use park right in the centre. Loads of room to fly.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.33477, 0.703702 • what3words: ///watch.compliant.rehearsed

Kingswood Canal Junction, Warwick (By t0mroche)

Plenty to take in, lots of canal barges, bridges & countryside views. There is also a railway line running through if you’re lucky enough to spot a train like I was!

Walked from their car park through to the T junction and took off from the bridge at the end. Not many people around but do be mindful of potential inhabitants of the barges.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.33617, -1.727498 • what3words: ///skylights.twinkled.joystick

St. Mary The Virgin Church, Warwick (By t0mroche)

A lesser known gem of the Warwickshire country side. Quite an impressive building with barely anybody around (visited on a Tuesday lunch time).

Parked their car park to the rear & walked through the church yard & took off from the road. Not the easiest place to fly due to the height of surroundings & houses nearby but can be done with care

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.33775, -1.762012 • what3words: ///decent.alas.inserting

Umberslade Obelisk, Stratford-on-Avon (By t0mroche)

Visible from the M40 northbound. Flying from the shown TOAL point provides good views of the M40 in both directions as well as countryside.

Parked & took off from the section of Nuthurst Rd that overpasses the M40, the obelisk is visible & provides good VLOS for flying

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.3423, -1.78795 • what3words: ///excusing.handwriting.next

St Mary Church, Mid Sussex (By grandad1950)

St Marys is a grade 1 listed church in Balcome West Sussex. There has been a place of worship on this site since pagan times

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.06262, -0.13621 • what3words: ///reflect.chap.swung

Swale Marina, Swale (By grandad1950)

Tucked away at the end of Conyer creek off the river Swale is the small tidal marina of Swale Marina near Sittingbourne in Kent. There is a good footpath down to the coast

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.34703, 0.81217 • what3words: ///browser.factoring.unzipped

Padstow Harbour, North Cornwall (By akey_uk)

Lovely harbour on the North Cornwall Coast, worth a visit to the National Lobster Hatchery while you are there. Lots of opportunities for TOAL outside of the main Harbour. Lots of choice for food and drink while around the harbour.

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Co-ordinates: 50.54114, -4.937013 • what3words: ///clotting.appointed.brilliant

Charlestown Harbour (By akey_uk)

Beautiful old harbour with 2 beaches. Parts of Poldark were filmed here.

Easy parking at the top of the town, some great places to grab a drink and a bite, its also worth taking in the Shipwreck museum while you are here. Can get busy, but there is usually somewhere quiet to TOAL.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.33153, -4.756629 • what3words: ///rejoins.guideline.handfuls

St Peter's Church, Mid Sussex (By grandad1950)

St Peter's church in the West Sussex Village of Ardingly is a Grade 1 listed building dating from the 14th century.

An interesting village to explore with a great artisan bakery. Nearby is the South of England Show Ground and Ardingly Reservoir.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.05215, -0.089996 • what3words: ///bearings.untruth.topical

Grove Park, Swale (By grandad1950)

On the edge of Sittingbourne, Grove Park has lots of space to fly providing there is no cricket match on.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.3458, 0.706061 • what3words: ///adopters.exclaim.series


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