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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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St John's Tower, Ayr South Harbour and Town Centre (By Zipco)

St John's Tower is all that remains of Ayr’s original parish church, which was dedicated to St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of Ayr

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 55.46375, -4.636505 • what3words: ///reject.annotated.coder

Bradenstoke Abbey, North Wiltshire (By Rustyo200le)

Bradenstoke Priory was a medieval priory of Augustinian canons regular in the village of Bradenstoke, Wiltshire, England. In the 1930s the property was purchased by William Randolph Hearst and some of its structures were used by him for the renovation of St Donat's Castle, near Llantwit Major, Wales.

The land is now privately owned and I asked permission from the owners before flying who were more than happy for me to do so.

You can park outside St Mary's Church if there is space and it's a short walk up to the Abbey.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.51053, -2.007537 • what3words: ///congested.smiled.analogy

Windmill Hill, Gravesham (By grandad1950)

On the edge of Gravesend , windmill Hill gives great views along the River Thames. Sadly the cloud and mist rolled in when I was there but on a clear day there are great views to be had. There is no longer a windmill on the hill.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.43542, 0.370418 • what3words: ///hiking.loads.comic

All Saints Church, Wealden (By grandad1950)

All saints in Danehill with a fine avenue of pollarded trees.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.02968, -0.00166 • what3words: ///trader.flagpole.giants

Nairn beach (By Steviecam)

Stunning beach and harbour area in Nairn just off the Lochloy holiday park which doesn't allow drone flying in its holiday park however the beach and surrounding areas are public. There are occasional notams due to military air traffic in the area at times.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 57.59331, -3.859023 • what3words: ///enter.butchers.uncouth

Porthgain Harbour (By stubbyd)

Porthgain Harbour and hamlet.

aka - the last flight of my much shortened trip before Storm Amy dug her claws in ...

Porthgain means ‘Chisel Port’ in English with the chisel representing the quarrying that once took place here.

From around 1850 slate, then brick, and then granite were shipped from the harbour. The crushed granite road stone was dispensed from the massive brick built hoppers, built at the beginning of the twentieth century, directly into small ships alongside Porthgain harbour. There was also a tramway built between the Blue Lagoon and here so that it was easier to ship out their slate.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.9486, -5.182237 • what3words: ///trams.purifier.buzzards

Belleisle Hotel, Alloway and Doonfoot (By Zipco)

Belleisle Hotel is a former mansion house that was damaged by fire in 2019. The hotel lies within the Belleisle Estate which includes a Golf Course and recently renovated Conservatory surrounded by imacculate gardens.
There is ample parking in the area.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 55.43869, -4.641754 • what3words: ///soaks.aspect.richer

Abereiddy and Blue Lagoon, Pembrokeshire (By stubbyd)

I flew here just before Storm Amy hit, and other than a couple of cold water swimmers and a dog walker the place was deserted.

In the first image you can see the Welsh Blue Lagoon which was closed due to breading seals and their pups in the area, and also the reason I stayed out at sea for my panorama.

In the second shot, you can see the tiny hamlet of Abereiddy on the right, with the remains of the old slate workers cottages mid-picture (just in front of the standalone white building [public toilets, and very clean ones too]) and the Blue Lagoon off to the left with 'Abereiddi Tower' in the distance.

I believe it is a popular surfing and coasteering location and the white hut on the beach is for the parking attendant - so there is a cost during high season.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.93573, -5.205996 • what3words: ///date.alert.bloomers

Horsted Keynes sports ground, Mid Sussex (By grandad1950)

Lots of room to fly at the sports field in Horsted Keynes, or even at the cricket club. The historic grade 1 listed St Giles church is also worth a visit just a few minutes away

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.03564, -0.027399 • what3words: ///selling.nicely.hillsides

Harveys Brewery, Lewes (By grandad1950)

Famous throughout Sussex, Harveys produce a fine pint of bitter . Located on the river ouse in Lewes and dates from 1880.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.87468, 0.016504 • what3words: ///typified.eyelashes.trails


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