Chirk

The town of Chirk in Wrexham, Wales lies near the border with the English county of Shropshire and like so many of the border towns, has a history fraught with battles for domination by both Wales and England. The medieval Chirk Castle in Chirk was built as part of a chain of fortresses across the north of Wales in 1295 by Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March. King Edward I had Chirk Castle built to guard the entrance to the strategically important Ceiriog Valley. Today it is owned and cared for by the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty and is open to the public. The history of the castle and the area can be explored through the exhibits and information in the state rooms, towers and dungeons of Chirk Castle; the gardens too offer wonderful 18^th century parkland, surrounding the yew hedges, rock gardens and terraces of this beautiful place of interest that brings historians, nature lovers and tourists alike.

Chirk offers ample amenities and is close-by to other towns and villages that offer additional choices for dining, leisure and shopping. Places of interest in and around Chirk include a section of Offa's Dyke, the Chirk Aqueduct on the Llangollen Canal that was built in 1801 by Thomas Telford and the grade I listed Parish Church of St. Mary's that was begun during the 11^th century by the Normans. The Ceiriog Memorial Institute, just west of Chirk, offers a fascinating collection of Welsh cultural memorabilia and is located in the scenic Ceiriog valley. Founded in the early 20^th century, the institute was built to support the Welsh language, culture and heritage for future generations.