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Garden Name: Chirk Castle
Last Modified: 09/02/2010
Garden ID: 0248

pic: 0248x_Spring.jpg

Owner: National Trust
Address:
Chirk
Wrexham
Clwyd
Postcode: LL14 5AF
County: Wales

tel: 01691-777701
fax: 01691 774706
website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-chirkcastle
email: chirkcastle {at} nationaltrust.org.uk

Features: 
Magnificent medieval fortress of the Welsh Marches; The last Edward I Welsh castle still lived in today; 700 years of history on one site; Award-winning gardens with thatched 'Hawk House', shrub garden, lime tree avenue and yew topiary; Circular woodland walk through the medieval hunting park; Stunning location with views over nine counties

English Heritage Grade:


Opening Times:
Garden, Tower & Estate: 6th Feb - 14th Feb, and 27th/28th Feb and 6th Nov - 19th Dec; Sat & Sun; 10am - 4,pm 
17th Feb - 21st Feb; Wed - Sun; 10am - 4pm,
3rd Mar - 31st Oct, 10am - 5, Wed - Sun, + Tues in July and Aug.
Open BH Mons. Last admission to garden 1hr before closing. Garden not open during Dec. Garden closes 5pm in Oct. Estate not open Feb/Dec

Best Times of Year to Visit: 
April - June
July - Oct
Feb

To see: 
Rhododendrons, magnolias, azaleas and daffodils
Roses, herbaceous plants, rock garden
Snowdrops - Special opening, phone for information.

National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: No
Comments: 

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: 

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments:  

House Open for Viewing: Yes
Comments: 3rd Mar - 31st Oct, 10am - 5, Wed - Sun, + Tues in July and Aug. State rooms by guided tour only 11 to 12, free-flow 12 to closing

Admission Prices:
Full castle: Adult £8.70, child £4.35, family £21.75.
Garden & tower: £6.15, child £3.05, family £15.35.


Parking: Yes
Lavatories: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Shop: Yes
Plants for Sale: Yes
Lunches: No
Teas: Yes
Refreshments: Yes
Picnics: Yes
Dogs allowed: No
Only on Lead: Yes
Events: Yes

Other Facilities:
Dogs on lead and only in car park, picnics also only in car park.
New Woodland Walk for less able visitors and the visually impaired, which links to full woodland walk.
Major re-servicing project of the castle under way. Access to some areas may be restricted at times and some items may be removed from display.


Designer: 
Description of Garden:
The views from this site compensate for its exposed nature, though belts of massive oaks provide enough protection to prevent you from being swept off your feet on windy Welsh days. The amazing topiary also provides protection for the beautifully planted borders and shrubberies with masses of roses sheltering in a sunken garden. Other trees such as a weeping Silver Lime with its delicious scent, purple-leaved beech, larch and cedar augment the lawns. There is a well planted rock bank, a thatched Hawk House, a legacy of the de Waldens', a shrub garden and banks of rhododendrons and azaleas amongst the magnolias, handkerchief tree, dogwoods and pieris.


History: 
Chirk Castle was built in 1310 as one of a string of defensive fortresses against the defeated Welsh. It is on a natural strongpoint with the river below on two sides and a view across up to 14 neighbouring counties. It has long been converted to a comfortable home lived in by the Myddleton family since 1595. William Emes landscaped the park in 1764 and built a pavilion on the Terrace from which to take in the panoramic views. The immense castellated and coned yews on the lawns, which take two gardeners two and a half months to prune, were planted in the late 19th century. Norah Lindsay, the famous garden designer, suggested to Lord & Lady Howard de Walden, who leased the castle from 1911-1946, that they be let to grow to their present size.

Local Inns: 
Bull Inn, Shocklach, E. of Wrexham
Poachers Pocket, Gledrid
Bridge Inn, Chirk

Accomodation: 
Hand Hotel, Chirk village
Lord Morton, Gledrid

Restaurants: 


Village/Town/Sightseeing: 
Llangollen
Llanrheardre Waterfall
Aqueduct & viaduct in Chirk village
Froncysyllte Aqueduct
Glyn Valley