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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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Burry Port Lighthouse, Carmarthenshire (By kdavies33)

Burry Port Lighthouse is disused but was used in conjunction with the Whiteford Lighthouse on the opposite side of the Loughor Estuary. It is located a few miles west of Llanelli, South Wales. There is easy parking and access to the beach. If the tide had been in l would have image the harbour as well.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.67747, -4.251173 • what3words: ///blotches.replayed.fewest

Centenary Park, Lewes (By grandad1950)

A large park just above Peacehaven on the Sussex Coast.

Multi use sports facilities and a very good children's play area. Views to the sea, the town and the downs.

Lots of room to fly and good parking.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.79443, 0.010943 • what3words: ///racing.sculpting.cork

Noup Head Lighthouse Westray Orkney, Isles (By Damocles)

Noup Head Lighthouse is a great place to fly not just because it is one of the most northley lighthouses on Orkney, and is in a great cliff top, but involves an adventurous journey to get to it apart from the 1 and half hour boat trip from the Orkney mainland there is then a 2ml off road drive to get to it, which can be a bit testing in places.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 59.33105, -3.06946 • what3words: ///procured.bulbs.vies

St Agatha's Coates, Chichester (By grandad1950)

Nestled in the South Downs National Park is the remote village of Coates with its 12th century St Agatha's church, The church is a grade 1 listed building.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.95108, -0.581396 • what3words: ///maddening.lizards.blend

Peacehaven waste water works, Lewes (By grandad1950)

Every town has to process its waste water and sewage and in the South Downs National park it is a challenge to not spoil the environment. The treatment works in Peacehaven achieves this by almost burying itself in the folds of the landscape covered by a grass roof. A fine piece of design.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.79574, 0.015428 • what3words: ///clothed.salutes.patrolled

Duke's Wood oilfield, Newark and Sherwood (By bryand)

There is very little left of England's first onshore oilfield, near Eakring in Nottinghamshire. Its production peaked in 1944, when the crude was sent to Castol in Wakefield to make lubricants.
There are several derelict 'Nodding Donkey' pumps in the woods. Probably best to look for them in winter, when you can see through the foliage.
The SSSI is almost entirely flora-related, so won't mind being overflown.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.13455, -0.988442 • what3words: ///diplomat.eternally.dated

St John The Baptist parish church, Chichester (By grandad1950)

The Parish church of St John the Baptist in the village of Kidford, West Sussex.

The oldest parts date from the 12th century and it is a Grade 1 listed building.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.02863, -0.548823 • what3words: ///tangling.glider.liberty

Shakespeare's Avon, Stratford-on-Avon (By TheLittleRedJen)

Birthplace and resting place of England's greatest playwright, Stratford upon Avon needs no introduction. Alongside the tranquil River Avon there are many features of interest, from Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare lies buried, to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, and the Tramway and Clopton Bridges, there is plenty of interest for the aerial photographer.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.18839, -1.70526 • what3words: ///scope.chained.fell

Hurlestone Point, Somerset West and Taunton (By TheLittleRedJen)

The stature of the Exmoor hills is frequently hidden from inland, but from the coast their full height is apparent. Here, on the western side of the Exmoor coast, lies Hurlestone Point, with its abandoned coastguard lookout. To the east, there is the shingle ridge of Bossington Beach, with Porlock Weir (and its fine pub) at its far end. The area is NT land, but TOAL is possible from the beach.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.23129, -3.577285 • what3words: ///flame.milkman.strictest

Culmstock Beacon, Mid Devon (By TheLittleRedJen)

On the south west side of the plateau is the last remaining Elizabethan beacon hut in the country, which would have been used to signal the approach of the Spanish Armada. There are extensive views too, from Exmoor to Dartmoor.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.92815, -3.267722 • what3words: ///wolf.earlobe.depth


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