The Road Goes Ever On

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Powis Gardens

Powis' terraced gardens are centuries old, reflecting the Italian/French gardening tastes of the 17th century and before. Thankfully, they've not changed, and there are thus at Powis both garden and parkland experiences to be had. The pix below reflect walking the terraces down to greens below, with occasional glances back toward the castle.

The giant yews, sculpted into mountain landscapes

Just as soon as you see a really big wisteria, a bigger one pops up

Did I say Italianate?

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Powis, 2016

We visited Powis in 2009, and came away impressed, adding it to the list of sites to be revisited some day. We visited again this year, came away even more impressed, and have added it to our list of must-see sites. Powis' great age, its Elizabethan interiors, its imposing setting, the museum of Clive of India, the terraced gardens, the parkland, all add up to one spectacular place, one of our top favorites, regardless how far it is off the beaten path. Our post from 2009 is http://roadeveron.blogspot.ie/2009/10/powys.html. We spent most of the day in 2016 at Powis and did the forest park hike not once, but twice. The ample rhododendrons and azaleas were at their height at Powis at this time and hard to resist.

Powis from the fields, looking up past the terraced gardens

Another view, from one of the lower terraces

Alas, Powis still has a "no fotos!" interior; at
least they say "unfortunately"

Sicilian wagon once belonging to the family

One of the principal attractions for us at Powis is the museum
of relics from Clive of India; in my 2009 post I rather understated
his achievements; he rose from the position of assistant shopkeeper
in the East India Co., at a time when England was not a major
player in colonizing India, through enlistment and then a brief and
shining career of daring and military intellect, after three Indian
episodes, to become the equivalent of governor-general, and, some
would say, author of the Raj; not without his critics, too

Standard portrait; a mid-18th century man; he
was given titles as his fortunes and military
triumphs increased; but he is known simply as
Clive of India; no title could eclipse that

In one of the several rooms of the Clive museum at Powis; his
son married into the family and thus the relics came to Powis;
the relics of Lord Curzon at Kedleston are perhaps more
impressive, but they came from a time of glory, not the time
conquest; so to speak

At one of the many treaties

Among the prizes of war, an Indian glamping tent

Inlaid desk; in 1775, Clive was offered command of British
forces in North America; we're probably lucky he refused that
offer; he died a few years later, aged 49

Moving right along, looking at the Elizabethan ceiling in a
alcove off a major room

And in the Long Hall

The current Prince of Wales slept here; although we were told
he travels with his own mattress (probably fits in his carry-on,
right?)

Peacocks all over the grounds at Powis

Entry-way statue...something about victory, glory...

Monday, June 6, 2016

Welshpool

From Attingham we drove across the border to the town of Welshpool. Formerly, it was just Pool, Wales, but in the 1800s was changed to Welshpool to preclude confusion with other Pools and -pools. Liverpool, for example. Liverpool residents are called Liverpudlians, as I recall, so Welshpool residents must be called Welshpudlians. I infer. Travel is so broadening. We spent the night among the welcoming Welshpudlians and walked their main street the next morning...another bank holiday...and modestly stimulated the local economy.