Chirk Castle Wrexham

UK Castles: Chirk Castle (Castell y Waun)

Jake Davies

Chirk Castle, Wrexham, Wales. — Chirk Castle

Located in the county of Wrexham in North Wales, just across the border from England, Chirk Castle is in fact just 200 meters from Offa's Dyke, the ancient defensive wall built probably in the 8th century along the border of the old kingdom of Mercia. From its hilltop vantage point it has commanding views over the Ceiriog Valley to the south.

The courtyard of Chirk Castle. — The courtyard of Chirk Castle

History

The castle was built in 1295 and has been inhabited almost continuously since then. It was built by Roger Mortimer de Chirk as part of King Edward 1st's chain of fortresses built across North Wales.

Mortimer had been given the land by the King following the Welsh defeat of 1282. Similarities to the design of Beaumaris Castle suggest that royal engineers and architects had a hand in its design.

Much of the present castle, including the impressive entrance, are original and date back to the 14th century, however over the centuries it was modified and altered. For the latter half of its existence the castle was a stately home rather than a military fortress.

In 1593 the castle was bought by Sir Thomas Myddelton and stayed in the family until quite recently. It is now owned by the National Trust.

One of the many legacies from the Myddeltons are the fantastically detailed wrought-iron gates. Dated to 1719, these impressive Baroque gates were produced locally and feature the Myddelton family crest with its "red hand".

There is no definitive explanation of the red hand, but the most common is that it refers to a race between two members of the family to decide who would inherit, and the erstwhile "winner" having his hand cut off at the finish line to prevent him from touching the finish line.

Much of the interior of the castle, including the dungeons, is open to visitors. — Much of the interior of the castle, including the dungeons, is open to visitors

Garden & Interior

Surrounding the castle is 480 acres of parkland with trails. A free map can be had from the ticket office.

Entry to the estate is free as is entry into the inner courtyard of the castle, but the interior of the castle and a delightful 5 acre garden carry an entry fee for anyone not a member of the National Trust.

Details of the opening times and prices can be found on their website (see below).

The interior of the castle includes some of the original rooms of the castle including the dungeons. Weapons and armor can be seen and sometimes tried on.

The Myddelton home contains a variety of architectural styles and details. Both furniture and artwork are on display as well as more weapons.

The old servants quarters are also accessible. The East Wing was occupied by the Walden family in the early part of the 20th century and these rooms are filled with elegant furnishings and art from this period.

There is also a gift shop and a cafe serving hot and cold drinks and snacks as well as cream teas.

There are a variety of guided walks and tours as well as numerous activities to take part in.

The castle is located about 1 mile directly west of Chirk Station on the Shrewsbury to Chester Line (see access details below). The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is also nearby.

The impressive baroque-style gates of Chirk Castle. — The impressive baroque-style gates of Chirk Castle

Access - Getting to Chirk Castle

National Trust Chirk Castle
Chirk, Wrexham
UK LL14 5AF

Tel: 01691 777 701
www: nationaltrust.org.uk/chirk-castle

The closest station to Chirk Castle is Chirk Station on the Shrewsbury to Chester Line. From Chester Station the journey time is about 30 minutes. The Arriva 2/A bus from Wrexham to Oswestry also stops near the station.

From the station it is still 1.5 miles to the castle and a quarter of a mile to the gates of the estate.

By car the castle is 7 miles south of Wrexham, 5 miles from Llangollen and 8 miles north of Oswestry.

See a listing on hotels in and near Wrexham