Yesterday we celebrated the anniversary of Powis Castle being handed over to the National Trust by the 4th Earl. All the staff and volunteers from all the different sections of the Castle came together to celebrate in the tea rooms yesterday evening. In celebration of 60 years of Trust ownership we had an indoor BBQ and Powis Pub Quiz in the tea rooms. It was such good fun and really nice for us all to socialize together. Although we interact often it is rare we all get together like this so it was really lovely; good fun and friendly, a perfect reflection of Powis Castle in general.
The Castle in Summer
The Peacock statue in the gardens in Autumn
On our tables while we were eating was a timeline of the highlights of the last 60 years and I though it was really interesting, all the stuff that has happened here since the Trust has owned it is amazing!
1952 – 4th Earl died and bequeathed Powis to the National Trust
1950’s – The Caesar’s busts are removed from the Long Gallery
1966 – Bryn Davies joins the garden team, he’s still with us today!
1974 – 5th Earl dies
1974 – 1978 – the 6th Earl uses the room now presented as the smoking room as a dining room
1981 – Bellotto’s painting ‘A view of Verona’ is purchased by the Trust with the aid of National Heritage Memorial Fund, National Art Collections Fund, Victoria and Albert Museum Grant-in-Aid scheme and private contributions
1987 – The Countess Mountbatten of Burma opens the Clive Museum
1988 – 6th Earl dies
1990 – Bronze bust of Sir Herbert of Chirbury is purchased by the Trust with the aid of the National Museum of Wales with the aid of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the National Art Collections Fund
1993 – 7th Earl died and the title passed to the present Earl, John George Herbert
1995 – Powis Castle gardeners and others are invited to the garden party at Buckingham Palace
1995 – 1999 – H.R.H Prince Charles stays at Powis
1998 – H.R.H Prince Charles opens the new bridge by the Ice House in the gardens
1999 – Many items in the Clive Museum are purchased by Trust with the aid of National Heritage Memorial Fund and the National Art Collections Fund
2007 – A project to restore the 8 Caesars in the Long Gallery is accomplished
2008 – 2010 – The heraldry friezes in the Long Gallery are cleaned and restored
2009 – Lady Stephanie Herbert marries, arriving in the State Coach
2009 – Visitor figure exceed 100,00 for the first time, this year its 108,00
2010 – The Private Dining Room is represented as the Smoking Room
2011 – The Royal Wedding – A record number of visitors watch on a large TV in the gardens
2011 – Powis hosted in the start of the Tour of Wales for the first time
2012 – Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – more than 5,000 visitors celebrated at Powis
The garden in the winter
The gardens in spring
All credit to Jenny for doing the research for the timeline above. I feel so privileged to have been able to have this opportunity, and especially so to be working at such an amazing property during this milestone year! We have been so busy at the moment but it is worth all the rushing around and stress to know I am contributing positively to this beautiful place’s story, and hopefully helping it towards another successful 60 years . . . and many many more!
View from my attic 