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Please use the following format and info on your own site to link to your page in Gardens-Guide.com: at Gardens-Guide.com http://www.gardens-guide.com The premiere directory of open gardens in the UK and Ireland today Ask your friends and suppliers as well to link to your page in Gardens-Guide as well. Every link we get into your page helps rankings for both of us in search engines. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** **************************************************************** Garden Name: Chirk Castle Last Modified: 18-01-2011 Garden ID: 0248 pic: 0248x_Spring.jpg NOTE: If this says "missing", then please send us a picture for your page which is at least 1000 x 1000 pixels in size. Thanks! 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 English Heritage Grade: Opening Times: NOTE for 2012: Please check with garden owners or their website to confirm current dates open http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-chirkcastle Estate: 2nd jan - 31st Dec; daily; 7am - 6.30pm Garden, Tower: & shops: 5th Feb - 27th Feb; Sat & Sun; 10am - 4,pm 21st Feb - 25th Feb; Mon - Fri; 10am - 4pm, 2nd Mar - 30th June; Wed - Sun; 10am - 5pm 1st July - 30th; daily; Oct, 10am - 5pm 5th Nov - 18th Dec; Sat & Sun; 10am - 4pm 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: 9th Mar - Jun; Wed - Sun; 11am - 5pm 1st Jul - 30th Oct,;daily; 11am - 5pm, State rooms by guided tour only 11 to 12, free-flow 12 to closing. State rooms close at 4 in March and October. Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Admission Prices: Gift Aid Admission (Standard Admission prices in brackets) Full castle: adult £10 (£9), child £5 (£4.50), family £25 (£22.50). Garden and tower only: adult £7.20 (£6.48), child £3.60 (£3.24), family £18 (£16.20 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. 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 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