Saturday, 4 February 2012

The Castle

Thursday - Seyella and Moore2Life have gone ahead to Trevor ...
... we've stopped at the northern portal of Chirk Tunnel ...
... and are off to visit  Chirk Castle, a walk of just over 1.5 miles ...
The magnificent iron gates are dated 1719 and bear the coat-of-arms of the Myddelton family. They are the work of the Davies Brothers, Robert and John of Croesfoel Forge, near Bersham, Wrexham and were erected between 1719 and 1721
The Lodge and gates from the inside of the grounds ...
... and another lodge about a mile up the road ...
... stunning views over the valley
Our first glimpse of Chirk Castle ...
... looks very interesting ...
Chirk Castle - the jagged line you can see just past the round tower is where the original building work finished, the rest of the building was finished much later
The drive up to the castle from the grounds ...
... fantastic building, still lived in today ...
Chirk Castle is 700 year old and was built in the late 13th century by Roger Mortimer, Justice of North Wales for Edward 1. The castle was sold for 5,000 UK pounds to Sir Thomas Myddelton in 1595 and his descendants continue to live in part of the castle today which ...
... commands fine views over ...
... the surrounding countryside



Clock and clock tower date back to 1609 ...
... and the opposite side of the courtyard (the right-hand side) is later in date as this part of the original building was never completed
Courtyard Well and 'window' into the lower guard room ...

... of Adam Tower C1300 original - you can see a 'space' in the top of the arch here ...

... looking up into that space and you can see a 'murder hole' used to assassinate unwelcome visitors!
The main guardroom ...
... somewhere to sleep - looks very comfy! ...
... all mod cons available ...
... and murder holes to keep away those unwanted visitors ...
The dungeon 9 meters below the courtyard
and the only tiny shaft of light that the prisoners would have seen
... just think of how many foot-falls have trodden these original winding stairs since the 13th century!...
...leading back up to the lower guardroom from where the prisoners were 'looked after'

These walls and ceilings are over 700 years old!

The workings of the tower clock on display
Sir Thomas Myddelton ...

Triple aspect ...
... adequate heating ...
... and spectacular views!

... although it's not certain what it's actual use was...
... it is named after the figure of a magistrate holding the scales and sword of justice above the hearth ..
The frieze depicts birds, bees,
... griffins, wolves heads and vines amongst them
The Servants' Hall

No noise, no strife nor swear at all, but all be decent in the hall
Once the entrance to Cromwell Hall this now houses the gift shop!
Inscription above the door to the Cromwell Hall, I can make out a few of the words but not all of them!
Same with the inscription over the door to the teashop - date 1636!
Sentry Tower on the battlements ...
... and on the outside - very ornate
On our way back to the canal now we see this ring of what was probably an ancient oak ...
... down to the lodge and those beautiful gates ...
The workmen have finished erecting the orange fence; we pull the pins and off we go ..
... we wonder if this floating ice was created by narrowboat Moore2Life as it entered Chirk Marina for fuel
Our mooring for tonight at least, we've heard that Trevor Basin has frozen over so we'll tarry here ...
... outside Chirk Marina, George hopes to meet up with a chap he used to work with who works here.
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2 comments:

  1. Gill - Wolseley BridgeSaturday, 04 February, 2012

    Just a thank you to you and your friends M2L and Seyella for the step by step account and many wonderful pictures of the Llangollen Canal. I am so enyoying the blogs of the travelling trio. We have walked sections of the Llangollen over the last few years the last being
    September from Chirk Bank to Trevor Basin. To see so many pictures along the way since you joined at Hurleston is fantastic. This is way better than a guide book where they only show a handfull of pictures, there are never enough pictures for me so this is a great way to see so many stunning shots along the way (Chirk Aqueduct from below in the frost) It is so good that you take the time for so many pictures to share and keep the blog updated for the likes of me and others - it looks the most beautiful canal and I can't wait for you to get a bit further along!

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    Replies
    1. CarolSaturday, 04 February, 2012

      Thank you Gill.
      Glad that you enjoy reading the blog and like the pictures.. I sometimes wonder if I insert too many but find that I can't leave some of them out because they tell the story of our journey. I will pass on your thanks to Ann and Chas on M2L and Mags and Geoff on Seyella, I know that they will be pleased.

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