The castle underwent fortification soon after its original establishment; and must have been alternately in the hands of the Welsh and Saxons in these wars. It is well supplied with spring water, and the moats, and entrenchments surrounding the castle are still discernible. The keep was fortified with five round towers, each 40 feet in diameter and 100 in height, the walls being 12 feet in thickness.—All are now in ruins.
In 1809, a well was discovered in the Keep, at the bottom of which was found a pair of iron fetters for the legs, and a jug, stags’ heads, swords, a head curiously carved, and a number of richly gilt glass bottles. In the trenches there are growing some very fine tall wych trees. The castle is situated in the midst of fertile meadows; and a rapid stream, which a mile above takes a subterranean course, here breaks into light again, amidst fringing poplars, and entering the moat, encompasses the walls, which are richly festooned with ivy, and adorned with wild flowers and woodbines. It there enters the Perry, in the meadows below, which were formerly an extensive lake, and the ancient fosses and entrenchments may be traced to where the lake terminated, at a surprising distance westward, beyond the castle.
The church is a rectory, and was originally designed as a chapel to the castle. It is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The body of the church was rebuilt in 1806, and in the register are the following curious epitaphs:
March 13, 1766, died
Thomas Evans,
Parish Clerke, Aged 72.Old Stanhold’s lines or Vicar of Bray.
Which he tuned best, ’twas hard to say.Samuel Peate,
Of Wittington Castle, died
Aged 84.Here lies Governor Peate,
Whom no man did hate.
At the age of fourscore,
And four years more.
He pretended to wrestle
With Death for his castle,
But was soon out of breath,
And surrendered to Death,
Who away did him take
At the eve of our wake,
One morn about seven,
To keep wake in Heaven.Andrew Williams
was
Born A.D 1692, and died April 18, 1776.
Aged 84.
Of which time he lived under
The Aston family, as decoy man, 60 years.Here lies the decoy man, who lived like an otter,
Dividing his time betwixt land and water.
His hide he oft soaked in the waters of Perry,
Whilst Aston old beer his spirits kept cherry.
Amphibious his trim, death was puzzled they say
How to dust to reduce such well moistened clay,
So death turned decoy man, and decoyed him to land,
Where he fixed his abode till quite dried to the hand.
He then found him fitting for crumbling to dust,
So here he lies mouldering, as you and I must.
In this lovely village, we put up at a small inn, the Crown, to take luncheon, which was served with much civility—cold meat, a cream salad, and a capital Cheshire cheese, with the very best of Shropshire ale. The name of the host I have forgotten, but it is the first inn on the left on entering the village from Shrewsbury. It has a delightful garden attached to it, with grottos and arbours; roses and woodbines distribute their fragrance in prodigal gratuity, and the tout ensemble gives an admirable idea of fairy land.
CHAPTER III.
Chirk—The Aqueduct—The Deserted, a legend—Description of Chirk Castle—Sketch—The Park—Legend of the enchanted Stag—The Vale of Llangollen—Account of the Aqueduct called Pont-y-Cyssyltau—Stanzas for music—Llangollen—The Hand in Hand—A view of the village.
“In Cambria’s noon of story,
Ere bright she set in glory,
The brave and great in princely state
All hail’d Chirk Castle walls.
With splendid arms returning,
The flaring moonbeams burning,
Mid armour’s clang the clarions rang,
And searched the sounding halls.”SONG BY F. M. DOVASTON, A.M.
A pleasant walk of six miles brought us to Chirk; agreeably situated upon the northern bank of the river Ceriog, which divides England from Wales. The village church is dedicated to St. Mary, and is an impropriation belonging to Valle Crucis Abbey, and contains some monuments erected to the memory of the members of the Chirk families. The most interesting is that of the famous Sir Thomas Myddleton. The church-yard is planted with yew trees, and the Hand Inn is a very comfortable house of entertainment.
The aqueduct is the great lion of this place; consisting of ten arches, the piers of which are sixty-five feet high. The Ellesmere canal is continued across the valley by this beautiful specimen of art, then enters a tunnel 220 yards long; emerging from which it proceeds on its course through the parish, and then enters another tunnel, which having traversed, its waters are transported over the vale of the Dee by the stupendous aqueduct of Pont-y-Cysylltau. The village of Chirk is seven miles from Llangollen, and five from Oswestry, from Knaton six, and from London 171.