Chirk Castle

Chirk Castle was built in 1295 by Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March as part of King Edward I's chain of fortresses across North Wales. It sits on a hilltop with views over the valley below. It was completed in 1310, and is the last Welsh castle, from the reign of Edward I, still lived in today. It was the administrative centre for the Marcher Lordship of Chirkland.

The Castle

It is a late 13th century stone quadrangular fortress, with a curtain wall and simple arched gateway flanked by drum towers. It has three central towers. In 1595 the castle was bought by Thomas Myddelton for £5,000. His son, Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle was a Parliamentarian during the English Civil War, but became a Royalist during the Cheshire Rising of 1659. Following the Restoration, his son became Sir Thomas Myddelton, 1st Baronet of Chirk Castle.

During the 1930s the Castle was home to Thomas Scott-Ellis, 8th Baron Howard de Walden, a prominent patron of the arts and champion of Welsh culture. The Myddelton family resided at Chirk Castle until 2004. Lieutenant-Colonel Ririd Myddleton was an extra equerry to Queen Elizabeth II from 1952 until his death in 1988. It is now in the care of the National Trust but the Myddleton family still own and work much of the estate.

Features from its 700 years include:

• a 14th-century medieval tower and dungeon, known as Adam's Tower. The dungeon is on two levels and a number of upper rooms showing the 5m thick walls, two of which contain 'murder holes' through which material could be poured on to anyone trying to batter or burn down the doors below.

• 17th-century Long Gallery

• 18th-century servants' hall

• 18th-century grand state apartments, with elaborate plasterwork, Adam-style furniture, tapestries and portraits

• 20th-century laundry

The Gardens

Within the gardens there clipped topiary yews, herbaceous borders and a shrub garden, with many rare varieties. Also

• a thatched 'Hawk House' and rock garden

• A terrace with stunning views looks over the Cheshire and Shropshire plains

• a classical pavilion

• 17th-century lime tree avenue

The Hawk House H Heasley

The Parkland

The 18th-century parkland provides a habitat for rare invertebrates and contains many mature trees and also some splendid wrought-iron gates, made in 1719 by the Davies brothers. The gates, which has the coat-of-arms of the Myddleton family, originally stood a little way in front of the main castle gate but was moved to its present position in 1770 during landscaping of the park.

Chirk Castle Gates   Jordi Roque

Further information Grid   Location: Chirk Castle, nr Wrexham, Denbighshire Ceremonial County: Denbighshire Grid Reference: SJ268380 Map Link: StreetMap Aerial photo: Google Aerial Route(s):   Best Times to Visit:   E-mail: chirkcastle@nationaltrust.org.uk Website: NT Other useful websites: Castles of Wales      Wiki        chirk.com Castle UK        Aerial View Nearby Locations:   Other Relevant pages: Castles of Wales How to photograph a castle

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By: Tracey Park	Section: Castles	Key:
Page Ref: chirk	Topic: Castles	Last Updated: 03/2011

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