Apple Slope Terrace in Gardens at Powis Castle

Cadw's description

Location

Forms the lowest tier of the terraces immediately S of the castle

Exterior

History: The design of the terrace gardens at Powis is attributed to William Winde, who is known to have been employed to rebuild the Powis London residence between 1684 and 1688, and who is also thought to have been responsible for work on the castle from c1673. There is no firm dating evidence for the gardens but it is unlikely that the gardens predate 1668, and they were probably largely completed by 1705. From 1703, the name of a Frenchman, Adrian Duvall, is also associated with these gardens (to him is attributed the blasting away of rock to create the terraces, and the hydraulics of the lost water-garden). It may be that Winde began work before 1688, and that Duvall was brought in to continue construction, possibly working for Winde.

Description: The terrace is approached by symmetrically arranged steps running in straight flights to either side of the projecting centrepiece. The stone steps have brick parapets with moulded stone copings and panelled stone piers. The brick wall between them appears to have been reconstructed in the C20, but is surmounted by the original stone balustraded parapet.

Listed at grade I as part of the outstanding late C17 terraced gardens at Powis, highly important as a very rare British example of an Italianate garden.

References: The National Trust, Powis Castle, 1988, pp.38-43
Elizabeth Whittle, The Historic Gardens of Wales, 1992, pp.30- 31.