CHIRK CASTLE – WREXHAM WALES
Medieval Marches Castle and Stately Manor
Chirk Castle is one of several medieval fortresses built during the reign of the Plantagenet kings of England to control the lands of Wales. Not one of Edward I’s iron ring fortresses, but built about the same time by a loyal supporter of the dynasty, Roger Mortimer de Chirk. Work on the castle was begun in 1295 and completed, or at least stopped by about 1310. The outer defensive fortress walls are long gone, leaving a symmetrical round tower cornered interior castle, which stands visible on a hillside surrounded by grazing sheep, turned from a medieval castle into an elegant family mansion.
The original castle guarding the entrance to the Ceiriog Valley on the Welsh marches border with England, then called Chirkland, was possibly designed by Edward I’s architect James of St George as it bears a similarity to Beumaris Castle, the last of Edward’s to be built (see Beumaris Castle Angelsey). The castle had the most effective defenses for the time, built of round towers, allowing archers a broad field of fire, with the thickened bases at ground level to make the use of siege towers and battering rams more difficult. The outer walls consisted of four corner towers joined by a curtain wall, with half gate towers in the middle.
Mortimer de Chirk was a soldier under Edward I and fought at the Battle of Falkirk, rising in power through the loyal service to the king. He was knighted at Westminster in May of 1306, in order to escort Isabella of France to England to marry the first Prince of Wales (see Caernarvon Castle) soon to be Edward II, in 1308. Mortimer of Chirk was the uncle of the more famous (or infamous) Roger Mortimer of Wigmore, the First Earl of March, who played a role in the drama of the Edward II and Edward III, nearly overthrowing the Plantagenet monarchy and for whom “Mortimer’s Hole” at Nottingham castle is named (see Mortimer’s Hole).
The castle which had fallen into neglect after the medieval period was bought by Thomas Myddelton in 1595 for about £5,000. His son was a “Roundhead” Parlimentarian follower of Cromwell during the English Civil War. The castle was seized during the war, but Myddelton the younger deftly switched to the Royalist side in 1659 during the Cheshire Rising and after the Restoration, his son, the third Thomas, became the 1st Baronet of Chirk. The castle remained in the family for 400 years, turned into a family manor until 2004, when it was turned over to the National Trust.
The features of the castle remaining from its 700 years include the Medieval tower and the Dungeon, the Long Gallery dating from the 17th Century, and the elegant 18th-century State Apartments and lavishly furnished family rooms, servants' hall and laundry. The castle is perhaps best known for it award winning gardens of sculptured Yew Trees, giving it sort of an Alice in Wonderland feel. The terrace with stunning views looks out over the green plains of Cheshire and Salop and the surrounding parkland offers wild flowers and old trees, bounded by intricate wrought-iron gates, added by the brothers Davies in 1719.
When visiting the castle, the medieval days are depicted through a character named “Will the Archer” who supposedly served in the Welsh conflicts from 1310. Young visitors have the opportunity to try on armor and join a stint in guard duty on the tower. The rooms of the East Wing have been refurbished, telling the story of Thomas Scott Ellis, the eighth Lord Howard de Walden; who many consider to be the last great patron of Welsh art.
Visiting Chirk Castle
The castle is open from 10am to 5pm and the estate grounds from 7am to 7pm. Admission to the full property is £10.90 for adults, £5.45 for children and a Family Ticket available for £27.25. By train the castle is about a quarter mile from Chirk station, by car about a mile off the A5, 2 miles west of Chirk Village and 30 minutes from Chester. The steam heritage train and canals of Llangollen (see Llangollen Steam Train) are about 10 minutes to west. © Bargain Travel Europe
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SEE ALSO:
RUTHIN
CASTLE HOTEL - GHOSTS & MEDIEVAL BANQUETS
LLANGOLLEN CAR MUSEUM COLLECTION
