Castle Name: Powis Castle (Cymraeg: Castell Powis)

Built by: Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn

Location: Near Y Trallwng, Powis (Welshpool, Powys)

Native/Non-Native: Both… sort of

Year Built: 13th century (current castle)

Overseer: National Trust

Powis Castle is a medieval castle & country house which stands near Y Trallwng (Welshpool), Powys. It can be debated whether or not the castle is native as, whilst it was certainly built by a Welshman in Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn.

He was also a Welshman who sided with King Edward I during his Conquest of Wales and he later adopted the Norman name of “de la Pole”, meaning “of Poole” – a reference to the family seat of “Poole”, which is today known as “Welshpool”. Therefore, I will leave it up to you to decide on whether this castle is native or not.

Gruffydd’s son, Owain ap Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn, would be the first to officially renounce his title of Prince of Powys and formally adopt the de la Pole name.

The castle would move into the possession of the Charlton family following his death. Sir Edward Herbert purchased the castle outright sometime around the year 1587 and, to this very day, the castle remains in the ownership of this family.

He also initiated the castle’s transformation from the medieval castle it once was to the country manor house it more closely resembles today.

Like many nobles living in Cymru during the 17th century, the Herberts were loyal to the Crown during the English Civil War and, again, like many of the other nobles, they were on the losing side and Powis Castle would be taken from them by the Parliamentarian forces in 1644 – though it would be returned to the family once more following the Restoration of Charles II in 1660.

In the late 18th century and throughout the 19th century, the castle would come under the ownership of the Clive family when Edward Clive married Henrietta Herbert in 1784.

Clive was the first British Governor of the Bengal Presidency and he is considered as being arguably the single most responsible person for the Bengal Famine of 1770, which tragically reduced the population of Bengal by 1/3.

His policies with regards to the Indian revenue system and agricultural practices maximised profits for the East India Company whilst devastating Bengal and causing widespread poverty.

Today, the Herberts still reside in a part of the castle as a result of an arrangement with the National Trust. Powis castle remains open to visitors.

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Sally George

Sally is a proud wife of a Welshman, editor & writer of Welsh Histories. She’s all about stories—that shout ‘anything Welsh.’ Drop her an email if you have an advice, insight, experience, or a story to share.