53 Chirk Castle Facts: Learn More About This Beautiful Welsh Fort

Chirk Castle is among the best-listed castles in Chirk, Wrexham County Borough, Wales.

It was constructed in the year 1295 and became fully functional by 1310. It was made under Roger Mortimer's command.

Chirk Castle has great 700-year-old medieval towers and dungeons. Sir Thomas Myddelton purchased the castle in 1595 for £5,000 (about $12.4 million today), and it has since undergone numerous historic architectural and design modifications.

Chirk Fortress is a fantastic day trip for both adults and children, offering a glimpse into both a stately mansion, parkland, and a medieval castle. There is so much to see and do in Chirk Castle, and with a wonderful cafe to keep you going, it will be an amazing day spent traveling through history.

You will also witness the firearms of civil war at this castle.

This castle will provide the scenic beauty of rock gardens, dining rooms, fortresses, a courtyard, and many more. This castle is very close to the railway station as well as to the Chirk village, giving it a perfect Sunday go-to place status.

Facts About Chirk Castle

Chirk Castle is located near the English border in a region that was historically a battleground between two kingdoms.

• It was constructed in the 13th century as part of a chain of castles erected during Edward I's reign.
• King Edward was renowned as the 'Hammer of the Scots,' but before he began pounding north of the border, he had managed to bring the Welsh under his rule, constructing several castles that provided Norman power centers throughout the kingdom.
• The formal gardens of Chirk Castle have a grand baroque layout.
• Chirk Castle was initially constructed in the shape of a rectangle, with towers at each corner.
• For whatever reason, the towers were not erected to their maximum height, and as a result, they are no higher than the walls that connect them, giving the Chirk castle an abnormally stocky appearance.
• In contrast to many of Edward I's other castles, Chirk lacks a moat and an exterior curtain wall. It does, however, have 16.4 ft (5 m) of solid walls, a double portcullis, and murder holes, so its ability to survive an attack should not be overlooked.
• During the summer months, Chirk Castle is very busy, and there are long lines and tailbacks to see the interior, particularly Adam's Tower, which is available to climb.
• The state dining room, tavern, and drawing room are among the most luxurious rooms in the north range.
• There's also the bedroom of the king, which was titled after Charles I's two-night stay at the castle, though it's unlikely he remained in this particular room.
• While out in the courtyard is a 19th-century clock constructed by the architect Pugin, who was responsible for some of the castle's re-modeling during that time. The clock is still operational.
• A very prominent feature of the castle’s park is the earthwork of the Dyke of Offa, which runs 176 mi (283.2 km) long along the border between Wales and England.
• The lake's development partially drowned the earthwork. The Clwyd-Powys Archeological Trust unearthed a portion of Offa's Dyke here in 2018 and uncovered considerable bank and ditch remains.
• The Dyke's ruins have been preserved in part thanks to the parkland landscape.
• The Battle of Crogen, which took place in 1165, is commemorated by the oak tree at the Gate of the Dead, which is located 984.25 ft (300 m) from Chirk Castle.

Chirk Castle's History

Built in 1295, the Chirk castle has been inhabited virtually constantly since then. It was erected as a component of King Edward the First's line of fortifications across North Wales by Roger Mortimer de Chirk, while it was under English rule.

• Following the defeat of the Welsh in 1282, the King granted Mortimer the country.
• Resemblances to the layout of Beaumaris Castle show that it was designed by royal engineers and architects.
• Much of the current castle, notably the spectacular gateway, is original and dates from the 14th century, but it has been rebuilt and remodeled over the ages.
• For the last half of its life, the Chirk Castle was a noble house instead of a military fortification.
• Sir Thomas Myddelton purchased Chirk Castle in 1593, and it remained in his family until recently.
• The National Trust currently owns the property. The magnificently crafted wrought-iron Chirk castle gates are one of the Myddeltons' many legacies.
• These spectacular Baroque gates, which date from 1719 and bear the Myddelton family insignia with its 'red hand', were made locally.
• The most frequent interpretation of the red hand is that it relates to a race involving two family members to determine who would inherit, with the former 'winner's' hand being chopped off at the final line to stop him from reaching the finish line. It is believed that the red hand is like a curse being put on the Myddelton family.

Chirk Castle's Significance

Chirk was not intended to be a family home. Chirk Castle was a military castle when it was first built, and King Edward I paid a personal visit to it during construction in 1295.

• The King awarded Roger Mortimer the Chirklands, recommended his own master builder, James of St. George, and might have loaned Roger Mortimer money to build the fortress.
• Chirk Castle was strategically placed to enhance its defensive potential. The fortress, which was built on a rocky cliff at the top of the Ceiriog valley, could also control the Dee Valley and trade along the boundary.
• The yard well is 93.5 ft (28.5 m) deep, and with only 11.8 in (300 mm) of water at the bottom, it could only support a garrison of 20-30 soldiers. Clever defenses, on the other hand, compensated for the shortage of troops.
• With spherical 'drum' towers that provided archers with a broad firing field and formed a 'death zone' in which the fields of fire intersected, Chirk Castle possessed the most modern defenses for the time.
• The towers, which were broader at ground level and had 16.4 ft (5 m) thick walls, were purposefully constructed to protrude outwards, making siege towers difficult to approach.
• The Chirk Castle was originally made up of four corner towers connected by a short curtain wall and half-towers in the center of each side. Because the towers only had linking corridors on the higher floors, attackers would have to fight over and take each one independently.
• The residents would have lived within the towers because the small curtain walls were too thin to be used for anything more than a passageway.
• The interiors of the towers were meticulously designed, including hidden murder holes and barrier locations.
• Murder holes (many of which were well-disguised) allowed the troops inside to hurl stones at unsuspecting attackers.
• The battle to the top of every tower would've been arduous and fatal because of the holes in each floor. Murder holes can still be found in the Adam Tower, so keep an eye out when you go!
• Chirk Castle stands out in the treeless environment, particularly when viewed from North Wales, and it's quite likely that it was lime-washed white.
• Lookouts could keep a tactical eye on the Welsh valleys and hills from the watchtowers. The castle, which controlled the boundary and dominated the surrounding land, was a sign of English might and glory.

Facts For Tourists

There is a 480 acre (194.24 ha) parkland with pathways surrounding the castle. Remember to look out for signs for the ticket office first when entering, as the ticket office will also provide you with a complimentary map. It is approximately 2 mi (3.21 km) from Chirk village and 1.5 mi (2.41 km) from Chirk Station.

• The estate is free to visit, as is the inner courtyard of the castle. However, anyone who is not a member of the National Trust must pay to visit the inside of the Chirk castle and the lovely 5 acre (2.02 ha) formal gardens.
• The castle's interior features parts of the castle's original rooms, including the dungeons. Weapons and armor are on display and can be tested on.
• On the eastern side, there used to be kitchen gardens and formal kitchens adjacent.
• The architectural styles and elements in the Myddelton mansion are diverse. More weapons, as well as furniture and artwork, are on show.
• The former servants' quarters are also available for viewing. The Walden family lived in the East Wing in the early 20th century, and the rooms are loaded with beautiful furniture and art from that time.
• The Cromwell Hall of Chirk Castle has very rare firearms from the civil war.
• There is also a gift shop as well as a cafe that serves beverages, snacks, and cream teas.
• There are several activities to participate in, as well as guided walks and tours.
• On the Shrewsbury to Chester Line, Chirk Castle is about 1 mi (1.6 km) straight west of Chirk Station. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a waterway in Wales that is very close to this castle.