National Trust, National Treasures, Powis Castle on DVD.
National Trust: National Treasures is a private tour of a selection of The National Trust's spectacular houses, castles and abbeys. Here, the medieval castle and beautiful gardens of Powis Castle in Wales.
DVD Features:
- An artsworld production
- An exclusive private tour of a National Trust property
- Approximately 1 hour running time
In a world of late trains, lousy weather and international sporting losses, it's easy to forget the things Britain is uniquely good at. Constitutional monarchies, for example, or Marmite, depending on your point of view. But perhaps best of all is The National Trust. Where would we be without the Trust's meticulously-preserved historic houses, beautifully-tended gardens or, (let's face it) diet-endingly delicious cream teas?
The National Trust was founded in 1895 by Victorian philanthropists. Over a century later, it now looks after over 612,000 acres of countryside in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 700-plus miles of coastline and over 200 houses and gardens, monuments and mills, and churches and chapels of outstanding interest and importance.
This series, National Trust: National Treasures examines a selection of these properties in detail. It takes you on a private guided tour of the selected properties, charting each of their often colourful histories and revealing a selection of their art treasures - from 17th-century tapestries and Renaissance stained glass to sculptures by Henry Moore and oriental rugs - with the help of the Trust's many and varied experts. Atmospheric, lavishly-shot and with great attention to detail and illuminating explanations from members of the properties' staff, it's almost as good a good as being there - although of course, you do have to provide your own scones and jam…
Powis Castle is a picture-perfect medieval castle, set in the lush green countryside of Powis, mid-Wales.
Its' world-famous garden, overhung with enormous clipped yews, shelters rare and tender plants. Laid out under the influence of Italian and French styles, it retains its original lead statues, an orangery and an aviary on the terraces. In the 18th century an informal woodland wilderness was created on the opposite ridge.
High on a rock above the terraces, the castle, originally built around 1200, began life as a fortress of the Welsh Princes of Powys and commands magnificent views toward England. Remodelled and embellished over more than 400 years, it reflects the changing needs and ambitions of the Herbert family, each generation adding to the magnificent collection of paintings, sculpture, furniture and tapestries. In addition, a superb collection of treasures from India is displayed in the Clive Museum, since Edward, the son of Robert Clive, conqueror of India, married Lady Henrietta Herbert in 1784, uniting the Powis and Clive estates..