I took time out of my busy schedule to enjoy a relaxing drive through the Shropshire and Welsh countryside in order to visit Powis Castle. The lower state rooms are decked out in the style of an Edwardian Christmas:
Powis has been home to the Herbert family for almost 800 years and various Christmas traditions have been passed down throughout the generations.
George Herbert, 4th Earl (1891-1952) and his wife Violet were the last owners to live at Powis before it was bequeathed to the National Trust in 1952. Although they had other homes, they always celebrated Christmas at Powis.
As well as enjoying the festive season themselves, they treated their servants and estate workers to their own Christmas parties and in doing so created a number of new traditions.*
In addition to seeing the lower rooms decked out in Christmas style, the cellars that are not open in during the main season were open for viewing. The cellars hold many fascinating artifacts. One of their most fascinating features was situated in the wine cellar… It is an escape tunnel to Welshpool!!
Also a doorway from the cellars led outside to spectacular views of the countryside (which is currently flooded) and the possibility of a glimpse through an archway to see what once were the Earl’s apartments.
I then visited the Clive Museum which also has many interesting artifacts. One of the room guides provided us with fascinating information to some of the pieces displayed there.
On my way out of the museum another guide pointed out the large traps that were hanging on the wall in the hallway. He informed me that they were man traps and that they were laid hidden in the estate grounds. They were designed to trap and kill (they were armed with large spikes) poachers on the estate.
After that horrific (though interesting) bit of information a brief walk on the upper garden terraces was needed. I was treated to some spectacular views across the countryside. The winter light added to the atmosphere, it also lit up the stone of the castle in a spectacular way.
It was a lovely relaxing visit…
Then we had to drive back to reality and the business of the season 
*National Trust information.
I took time out of my busy schedule
Hellishly busy getting around all those stately homes.
It was nice and relaxing
interesting text and nice photos to go along with them, CP.
It is one of my favourite gardens to visit.
Did they not let you photograph the interior? It’s funny how, when old stately homes become the property of national trust, viewable to the public, they cease to have that homey feeling,isn’t it?
There was no photography inside this one because the contents still belong to the family. It was quite homely though.
It’s nice to know that you can visit the place safely these days
Always good to have the opportunity to visit a stately home in the Christmas style … happened to me before last Christmas at Hardwick Hall near Chesterfield. Unbelievably I managed to get a host of Christmas presents in the shop for the family of the person I was there with at the time.
I must look out to see if Hardwick Hall is decked out for Christmas this year. It is one of my favourite places to visit