| POWIS
CASTLE |
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Powis Castle sits
close to the Wales - England border in what was the old Welsh county of
Montgomeryshire. The original castle dates from mediaeval times and
figured
prominently in the civil war when it was captured by the Parliamentary
troops. Many alterations and improvements to both the buildings and the
gardens were made during the 18th and 19th centuries with the latest
carried out by G F Bodley during the Edwardian period. The Castle
and its grounds were bequeathed by the Powis family to The
National Trust in 1952.
 View from roof looking towards the Shropshire Hills It must have been
during the alterations by Bodley that the first heating
and electrical engineering services were installed. A significant amount
of the original heating distribution system still remains in use, but
the original DC electrical system has all but been removed together
with the generating plant.
Several important
items of
engineering history were discovered at Powis Castle, including
vertical tubed heaters, early style radiators, ventilation equipment
and a warm air stove.
In the Oak Drawing Room quadrant shaped heaters (possibly ventilating type) as made by William Graham have been installed in the corners of the room. Each heater is enclosed in an ornate carved oak timber enclosure. |
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| The Long Gallery
is heated by a number of early pattern sectional cast iron
radiators
manufactured by the American Radiator Company (note the
intertwined
ARC emblem). These radiators are also enclosed by carved timber
enclosures. The radiator
handwheels are fitted with metal disks identifying the name
of Richard Crittall who has to be the installer of the heating
system. Note the side inlet bottom entry wheel valve. |
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| Under the Orangery in the furnace basement room the original G&J Haden warm air stove is still fitted, but now unfortunately in a derelict state. However, research carried out in the Haden Archive held at the Wiltshire Record Office found the stove to be Number 556 ordered on 4th February 1841 at a cost of £17 - 1 - 10 including packaging. It was to be installed in March 1842. |
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| The Castle has its own fire fighting equipment, comprising hoses, dry riser pipework and landing valves. Obviously needed due to the distance of the Castle from the nearest town. |
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| In the old stable block the original ceiling mounted extract pattern propellor fan can still be seen. Manufactured by Musgrave and Co. of Belfast, the fan is fitted with its original DC electric motor made by Verity Ltd, and the variable speed fan controller is still in its wall mounted position. Musgrave and Co. were well known in the late 18th and early 19th centuries for supplying and installing the complete range of ironwork and engineering services for Stable Blocks. |
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| The only remnants of the original DC electrical installation found, were two small sections of timber trunking fitted at ceiling level in the basement. |
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| Only two items of old
style sanitaryware were noted, 1) sluice pattern water
closet 2) unusual pedestal pattern wash hand basin,
and 3) "a loo with a view" |
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