July 2021
Chirk Castle
Chirk Castle was built in 1295 by Roger Mortimer de Chirk, uncle of Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, as part of Edward I’s chain of fortresses across the north of Wales, guarding the entrance to the Ceiriog Valley.
Sadly, we arrived 5 minutes before the last entry, so it was a rush to get through the house. As I wanted to see the gardens, I didn’t stop to take too many pictures of the house.
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The figure, commissioned by Sir Robert Myddleton in June 1720, was one of two, the other being Mars, which sat in the forecourt of the castle.
During the re-landscaping of the park in 1770 undertaken by William Emes, a pupil of Launcelot Brown, Hercules was moved to the E arm of Deershed (Deerslidd) Wood and later lost. He was recovered in 1987 and restored.
Caernarfon Castle
This fortress-palace on the banks of the River Seiont is grouped with Edward I’s other castles at Conwy, Beaumaris and Harlech as a World Heritage Site
In 1911, Caernarfon was used for the investiture of Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII). It is also the site of the investiture of Charles, Prince of Wales (who acceded as Charles III in 2022). Although
Caernarfon Castle has been the property of the Crown since it was built. It is currently cared for by Cadw (English: to keep), the Welsh Government’s historic environment division, responsible for the maintenance and care of Wales’ historic buildings.
The castle is a rabbit warren of empty rooms and long halls, and I got lost many times.