Chirk Castle was a symbol of King Edward I’s power over the Welsh people, showcasing his impressive medieval fortress along the board. Although Chirk Castle is a little over an hours’ drive from our 5 star, owners exclusive Aberconwy Resort & Spa, it is well worth the travel to learn about the castle’s impressive 700 year history.
Never meant as a family home, the castle did eventually become this with centuries of occupants leaving their mark with lavish interiors and striking collections to view. Visit the State Rooms for a grand 18th Century saloon, which is filled with beautiful tapestries, then venture to the East Range for the impressive library and the 1920’s Bow Room. Take a walk outside in the award winning gardens, which is filled with immaculately manicured lawns and over 5 acres of rose, shrub and rock gardens. There are also 480 acres of stunning parkland to explore, which is home to sheep and wild ponies and is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with a beautifully preserved section of Offa’s Dyke. The parkland is also a designated Site of Scientific Interest because it is an important habitat for rare bats, invertebrates and beautiful wildflowers.
Chirk Castle’s history
Kind Edward I built the magnificent castle on the border to keep the Welsh population under English rule, with construction completed in 1310. It was originally built as a military fortress and had the most up-to-date defences during Medieval times, with spectacular ‘drum’ style towers that gave the resident archers a wide firing field. These impressive towers are actually wider at ground level and were designed to make it difficult for siege and battering rams to get close, snow casing the defences of the castle at the time.
It is said that Chirk Castle was so important that King Edward I made personal visits to see the castle during the construction. He handpicked the location specifically for its sparse treeless landscape, which meant his lookouts had a strategic advantage to keep a closer eye on the surrounding Welsh hills and valleys. Chirk Castle was designed as a symbol of power and did its job of dominating the surrounding land.
becoming a family home
In 1595 Sir Thomas Myddelton purchased the castle with the intention of turning it into a family home. Myddelton was the son of the Governor of Denbigh Castle who made his own fortune in London by investing in the East India Company, he was also knighted, built a mansion in Essex and became Lord Mayor of London in 1613.
Myddelton spent large sums of funds on Chirk Castle, turning it into a family home but never lived there, however, the family ruled the estate for over 400 years. Visit the State Rooms for centuries of collections, including Civil War artefacts, wonderful 18th Century large decorated mirrors and a beautiful King Charles I Cabinet, which was gifted to Thomas Myddelton II, who was a Royalist during the Civil War with Oliver Cromwell.
Chirk Castle was brought into the 20th Century by the 8th Lord Howard de Walden, Thomas Scott-Ellis, who fell in love with the castle and managed to negotiate a lease with the Myddelton family from 1910 to 1946. Scott-Ellis updated the castle in order to throw lavish house parties for the high society of the time. He also had a love for all things Medieval and often staged jousts during his parties, he also kept large collections of arms and armour, as well as having a suit of armour designed by the famous armourer Joubert.
opening times & prices
Open every day: 10am to 4pm
| Ticket Type | Cost |
|---|---|
Adult |
£15 |
Child |
£7.50 |
Family |
£37.50 |
There is also a shop and café, where you can enjoy delicious hot meals and drinks, or peruse the shop with handmade gifts from local artisan makers. Enjoy a full day out at the wonderful Chirk Castle.
owning at aberconwy resort & spa
Chirk Castle is just over an hour’s drive from Aberconwy Resort & Spa, and is definitely worth the drive for a fabulous day out, and as an owner at Aberconwy you can visit the castle as many times as you choose!
Our beautiful, 5 star resort is perfectly located on the Conwy Morfa Beach and boasts the stunning Snowdonia Mountain Range backdrop, ensuring wonderful views from all angles. Along with these breath-taking views, Aberconwy offers first class facilities, including an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi, the Aberconwy Spa is home to fully trained therapists and able to offer you luxurious Aromatherapy Associates treatments, as well as a range of Jessica Nail treatments too.
The Langley’s Country Club is a fully equipped gym, with everything you could want for a work out, including a separate room for HIIT workouts and a range of fitness classes and PT sessions to take advantage of. Mali’s Hair Salon will help you put a spring back in your step with a wonderful hair treatment and restyle from our talented hair artists. Enjoy a delicious meal from our award-winning Signature’s Restaurant, owned by husband and wife team, Jimmy and Louise, Signature’s has accumulated many awards over the years, and is a firm favourite dinner spot to our owners, and many across the North Wales coastline.
Book your park tour today to visit us and see what Aberconwy Resort & Spa can offer you, our friendly Sales Team will be able to showcase a selection of our stunning holiday homes for sale in North Wales, with beautiful beach views and all the amenities you could need for a holiday home.
For more information about ownership, call us our dedicated team on 01745 858010 or talk to an advisor via our Live Chat service on the website.