Within the trenches are some very fine tall wych elm and ash trees, that add greatly to the beauty of the ruins. The ancient and present state of the castle, is beautifully contrasted by Mr. Dovaston, in the following manner:
“In ancient days of high renown
Not always did yon castle frown
With ivy-crested brow;
Nor were its’ walls with moss embrown’d,
Nor hung the lanky weeds around
That fringe its’ ruins now.
Other hangings deck’d the wall
Where now the nodding foxgloves tall
Their spotty hoods unfold;
Harebells there with bugloss vie,
And gilliflowers of yellow dye,
Seem now, to musing Fancy’s eye,
To mock the mimic tapestry
That flaunted there of old.”
It is situated amid fine and fertile meadows, through which a rapid stream having commenced a subterraneous course about a mile above, here emerging, playfully undulates, having its border shaded with poplars, till it enters the castle moat, where encompassing the walls, whose ruins are richly fringed with ivy, and hung with elegant traces of wild flowers and woodbine, it enters the Perry amid the meadows below, formerly the site of an extensive lake. The ancient fosses and intrenchments may yet very visibly be traced to a surprising distance beyond the castle, westward, from where the lake terminated, in some fields still called “The Runtings.”
The internal scenery, where the aged elms expand their immense arms among the now gloomy ruins, formerly the place of hilarity and carousing, is, perhaps, not surpassed by any on the border.
A court leet and court baron are annually holden by the Lord of the Manor in a room in the castle, to which the inhabitants are summoned to pay one penny each, and upon non-attendance are fined sixpence. Chief-rents are paid to the Lord.
In the township of Daywell in the parish of Whittington, Watt’s Dyke makes its appearance, extending from a place called Gobowen, adjoining the parish of Selattyn, into that of St. Martins. The extent between this Dyke and Offa’s (which crosses the hills above Selattyn) is about four miles. These Dykes point north and south, and the intervening space is said to have been a common mart, where the English and Welsh met to carry on a commercial intercourse, with each other; but, if either party transgressed these bounds, they were exposed to the severities of war. Upon Watt’s Dyke, at a place called Brynycastle, near to Gobowen, is the site of an old Watch-fort, and another a little further on towards St. Martins.
The Village of Whittington.
The village is on the great London and Holyhead road, and also, on the turnpike road leading from Oswestry to Ellesmere. It consists of a considerable collection of houses thinly scattered, a church, a school for each sex, and the remains of the castle before mentioned. In ancient records we find it called Chwytunton, Wititone, Whittentonne, and Vica Alba. It is situated in latitude 52° 55′ 30″ north, and longitude 2° 57′ 30″ west. The church is a rectory, valued in the king’s books at £25. 4s.; it was originally designed, as before stated, as a chapel to the castle, and was dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The body of the church was rebuilt in 1806, from a design of Mr. Harrison, of Chester; it is a large brick building of sixty feet by fifty, and cost £1500.: to lessen the expense, two briefs were procured that raised £703. 15s. 1d. but of this sum, only £42. 2s. 1d. was received for the intended purpose. It is much to be regretted that this evil is not amended, a grievance so universally complained of, and so frequently practised, should not be tolerated by such an enlightened legislature as that of the English, but still it remains a nuisance to the very interests of religion itself. In the body of the church are three aisles and six rows of seats, all faced with Dantzic oak; the ceiling is neatly executed, being made of wood, and consequently very pleasant to the officiating minister. In the gallery stands a barrel organ, placed there by subscription, in 1810; it was built by England, and is considered a good instrument.
In 1761, the church-yard contained several venerable yew trees, which Mr. Roberts, the then rector, had the bad taste to destroy and replace with lime trees. In the garden at the Rectory is an uncommonly fine yew tree; it is seventeen and a half feet in circumference at the distance of four feet from the ground, about forty feet in height, and the space of ground under the branches is one hundred and forty-two feet and a half in circumference: it is very healthy and in a growing state. Evelyn says, that the reason yew trees were so universally planted in church-yards was, doubtless, from its being thought a symbol of immortality, the tree being so lasting and always green.
In 1810, the church-yard wall being in bad repair, was rebuilt with stone, and the gates removed opposite to the entrance to the steeple.