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Powderham Castle

With RoadTour you can hear about Powderham Castle and over 1500 other UK Heritage sites via your SatNav or Mobile as you drive! Pub & Restaurant guides also available. Buy RoadTour now online for your vacation to the UK...

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“Set in an ancient deer park on the western shores of the River Exe, Powderham Castle has been the historic family seat of the Earl of Devon for over 600 years. Although Powderham Manor was mentioned in the Doomsday Book, the castle was not completed until 1420 by Sir Philip Courtenay – a mammoth project which had lasted thirty years. The Courtenay family were originally foreigners from France but they soon acquired land and influence through a series of shrewd marriages. When finished, the castle included six grand towers, but five of these were destroyed in the 1660s during the English Civil War. This was a torrid period for the Courtenay’s, who were faithful to the King, Charles I. Powderham endured two long sieges, the second of which was successful and caused substantial damage, leaving it uninhabitable. Forty years later Sir William Courtenay moved his family back into the ruined castle and began the huge task of returning it to its former glory. The restoration work continued into the Victorian and Georgian eras and the contemporary design and architecture are still very much in evidence. The late eighteenth century Music Room, which was designed by celebrated architect James Wyatt, is one of the most splendid parts of the castle on display. The vast room, with its domed ceiling, was built for the 3rd Viscount’s coming of age party. Powderham’s longest living resident, Timothy the Tortoise, died in 2004 at the grand age of 160. In 1926, when Timmy was well into his eighties, zoological students discovered that he was, in fact, a girl! ”

Address:

Kenton, Exeter
EX6 8JQ
Visit Website

Opening Hours:

21 Mar-31 Oct: Sun-Fri 10-5:30pm

Prices:

Adult: £7.95
Child: £5.95
Concession: £7.50
Family: £22.45

Facilties:

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“Brilliant information, have used several of the pubs and visited many of the properties. Some that I didn’t know were so close to home. Keep up the good work.”
Steve, UK

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Graham, London

“The content is good and the level of detail about right, enough to pique your interest but not so much that you feel you're attending a lecture.”
Sam, Manchester

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John, UK

“The Audio commentary on the Garmin was well narrated and definitely had the feel of the audio guides you get when you are walking around the landmarks themselves”.
Linda, New Jersey

“Finding atmospheric pubs with good food is always a challenge when you don't know the area and can be stressful when you're hungry and tired!!”
David, Essex

“Road Tour has found us some great pubs which have made our journeys all the more enjoyable. Every place it's suggested has been a winner.”
Nikki, Cambridgeshire'

“The heritage commentary is really informative and entertaining – it’s great to discover the background to the brown tourist signs we normally whizz by on the motorway.”
Michael, Reading

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Guy, London

“It doesn't intrude on the journey it complements it with just enough information if you are not stopping at the attraction.”
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