One of the four nymphs found within the grounds and magnificent gardens of Chirk Castle, 14th September 2022 (Author’s Collection).
My one and only previous visit to Chirk Castle was an early morning in early July of this strangest of summers, and a morning of going utterly wrong but through good fortune, serendipity and the kindness of strangers, going utterly and perfectly right. Today is far more straight forward but whereas I sneaked into the courtyard of the castle under the early morning cover of anonymity when probably I shouldn’t have, this afternoon I couldn’t, but I could instead marvel at the incredible castle gardens that were closed during my previous early morning visit in July.
The small Welsh town of Chirk is also synonymous for the accreditation of being a World Heritage Site for its aqueduct which at just 40 feet wide (in total), 710 feet long and 70 feet high in the sky, is a sister/cousin to the much larger, longer and higher aqueduct at Pontcysyllte in “Trevor Basin” just a few miles along the Llangollen Canal. Our virtual rolling pictorial stroll will commence here before the splendour of the town’s castle and gardens and as ever, I sincerely hope you enjoy this peek into a historical past.
*All images captured by me on Wednesday 14th September 2022*
Welcome to Chirk Aqueduct!
I realise it’s just a long straight aqueduct but it is 70 feet high in the sky! The following is taken directly from its dedicated website: “Visit Chirk Aqueduct and you can have one foot in England and one foot in Wales. A few minutes’ walk from Chirk town centre, it straddles the border between Wales and England and sits companionably next to Chirk viaduct. Looking down at Chirk basin and the aqueduct from the road above is a sight to behold”.
Also taken directly from its dedicated website: “The aqueduct, designed by William Jessop and Thomas Telford, was built between 1796 and 1801. It had an innovative design: the weight was minimised by the ten semi-circular masonry arches being hollow and by the water channel having an iron bed plate and brick sides sealed using hydraulic mortar“.
Taken directly from the Chirk Viaduct website: “Designed by Scottish engineer Henry Robertson, and built by Thomass Brassey, Chirk viaduct was opened in 1848. It is accessible by foot, with a footpath passing underneath it, or from the towpath on Chirk aqueduct, which sits just next to the viaduct”.
A beautifully stereotypical view from on high and from the middle of the aqueduct of Wales’ famed sheep!
A beautiful peek through the arches of the neighbouring viaduct — Part 1.
A beautiful peek through the arches of the neighbouring viaduct — Part 2.
With the neighbouring viaduct to your left and Chirk Tunnel AKA “The Darkie” straight ahead, you are currently standing in England and 710 feet away from walking into Wales.
Welcome to Chirk Castle!
Two external views of Chirk Castle — Part 1.
Two external views of Chirk Castle — Part 2.
Taken directly from its dedicated website: “Started in the late 13th century, Chirk Castle was one of several medieval Marcher fortresses sited on the Welsh-English border to keep the Welsh under English rule”.
One of Chirk Castle’s four bronzed nymphs. This is taken directly from the information board nearby: “The four bronze nymphs in the garden are by a sculptor named Andrea Carlo Lucchesi (1860–1924). He trained and worked predominantly in London, and was an exponent of the naturalistic and symbolist “new sculpture” style, specialising in the female nude”.
“The east front of the castle and lawns circa 1894”.
The east front of the castle and lawns today — Part 1.
The east front of the castle and lawns today — Part 2.
The east front of the castle and lawns today — Part 3.
Taken directly from the information board nearby: “Lord and Lady Howard de Walden, who leased the castle from the Myddelton family from 1911 to 1946, brought the statues to Chirk Castle from their London home”.
Taken directly from the information board nearby: “The statues originally stood in their Dining Room, before Lady Howard de Walden insisted they be moved to a more appropriate location”.
Taken directly from the information board nearby: “The statues are titled “Destiny (left of the steps), “Vanishing Dream” (right of the steps), “Oblivion” (by the pond) and “Flower of Fancy” (at the end of the main path)”.
A view from “The Meadow” which is “usually carpeted with daffodils”.
A picture book picturesque perfect “Summerhouse” within the grounds of the castle.
I couldn’t resist this image! Captured on the edge of the castle’s enormous grounds and gardens.
Not a bad spot for a game of Draughts/Checkers eh?
The highly recommended and equally highly beautiful, Chirk Castle.
Sitting pretty outside the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon the day after the day before, 15th September 2022 (Author’s Collection).
Thanks for reading. My “Summer Project” has taken me to the waterways as well as many local historical and religious ruins as I’ve crisscrossed the border between England and Wales, and my three most recently published travel articles are linked below:
