Paxton's Tower and Middleton Hall

The Tywi Valley is dominated by Paxton's Tower, built to commemorate the death of Admiral Viscount Nelson at Trafalgar in 1805. The folly, which could serve as a dining room for the nearby Middleton Hall (now the site of the National Botanic Garden of Wales), was designed by Samuel Pepys Cockerell (1753-1827). Middleton Hall was the home of Sir William Paxton (1743/4-1824), a business partner of Cockerell's brother Sir Charles Cockerell (1755-1837).

Paxton's Tower is open to the public. It is owned by the National Trust.

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Paxton's Tower from the site of Middleton Hall © David Gill, 2010

Spring round the corner at the National Botanic Garden of Wales

It felt like spring was still round the corner at the National Botanic Garden of Wales. There were one or two daffodils out but most have yet to cover the banks in splashes of yellow. The snowdrops were nearly over but the crocus were making a white display around the dome.

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© David Gill, 2010