Powis Castle’s £60k windfall to exhibit Indian treasure

Powis Castle has successfully secured more than £60,000 in funding that will help it exhibit a prized possession that has sparked plenty of debate over Britain’s colonial past.

The stunning tiger head finial from the throne of Tipū Sultān is a significant item in the internationally important South Asian Collection at the National Trust property.

It was brought to Wales and gifted to the wife of Edward Clive, the son of Robert Clive (Clive on India). Following three wars the British defeated and killed Tipū Sultān, the ruler of the Indian state of Mysore, in 1799.

The project will cost £68,356.70, with the Welsh Government’s Cultural Transformational Capital Programme covering £61,520.70.

Powis Castle explained that the funding will support a redesigned exhibition space that places the object in its broader context, helping visitors to explore the complex colonial histories behind its presence in the South Asian Collection and “engage more meaningfully with the stories it represents”.

Shane Logan, General Manager at Powis Castle and Garden, said: “This vital support provided by the Welsh Government will allow us to share and discuss with all our communities, a key moment in British and South Asian history through the lens of Tipū Sultān’s tiger head finial.

“This is an exciting step forward not only allowing us to tell more open and inclusive histories but also inviting people to interrogate the past by understanding what it means to the people of Wales today and what it means to a more cohesive and equal Wales in the future.”

What is the Cultural Transformational Capital Programme?

It will provide vital funding to six public libraries, three museums, and two archive services to help them modernise facilities, create a more sustainable future, and improve their offer to local communities.

This investment supports the Welsh Government’s commitment to promote Wales’ cultural institutions whilst continuing to advance the Welsh language, sustainable development, tourism, the arts, reflecting the needs of local communities and contributing to their well-being, as part of the government’s recently published Priorities for Culture.

Jack Sargeant, Minister for Culture, said: “Cultural services across Wales provide vital spaces for communities to learn, connect, and engage with our rich heritage. This £1.8m investment will help transform these services to be greener, accessible, and responsive to local needs.

“Programmes like these have, and continue to be, a vital way for our cultural assets to ensure their services are fit for purpose, modern and that their delivery can become more sustainable.”