Chirk is a small town, situated in Wrexham County Borough, in North Wales. It is based around Chirk Castle, which is just over seven hundred years old, but the town was founded as far back as the 11th Century – that is when the construction of the Parish Church of St Mary’s (now a Grade I listed building) began.
These days, the town is a mixture of the old and the new. There is a lot of historic architecture still present and visible in the town centre, something which attracts a large majority of Chirk’s visitors.
The Architecture of the Town
The Edwardian Parish Hall recently celebrated its centenary, and the former National Girls’ School was built by Augustus Pugin, one of the famous architects who constructed the Houses of Parliament.
The Hand Hotel was once a coaching inn, and gets a lot of admiration for its elegant, Georgian design, as does the Mount House by the Church, replete with motte and bailey. Standing in stark contrast is the beautiful Hand Terrace, of Neo-Gothic trappings, just like the former Boys’ School, now the headquarters of the British Legion.
Even more interesting is St Mary’s Church, a Roman Catholic building with sumptuous stained glass windows, originally built in 1929.
What Chirk Has to Offer
Chirk has all of your usual amenities, meaning visitors won’t be struggling to get by – a branch of HSBC, a chemist’s shop, a Post Office, a vet’s office, and a doctors’ surgery, as well as a wide range of different shops and businesses.
Extremely popular with locals and visitors alike is the market, which is held in the main car park every Saturday morning.
There are two schools in Chirk – the Infants School on Chapel Lane, where children get their education up to the age of seven years old, after which they graduate to the Ceiriog Junior School on Lloyds Lane. This provides teaching until the age of eleven, at which point children will have to travel outside of the town for secondary education.
Attached to the latter school is the Leisure Centre, which offers a Keep Fit unit, a full swimming pool and a football pitch, complete with floodlights for evening matches.
The nearby Amateur Athletics Association ground provides both cricket greens and football pitches, as well as a popular bowling green. Children will enjoy the many recreational grounds.
Tourist Attractions
For a complete guide to the attractions in and around Chirk, click here.
Chirk Castle is the main attraction, having recently celebrated its seventh centenary. Formerly owned by the Myddleton family, it is now a National Trust site, and attracts thousands of visitors eager to explore the grounds each year.
Eric Gill designed the War Memorial, which stands right in the centre of the town. It is dedicated to the men of the town who gave their lives in service of Queen and country in both World Wars.
The Llangollen Canal is beloved both for long, peaceful walks and for boating holidays, while provided a beautiful backdrop for Chirk Golf Club.
Image Credit; Welshdan
