Visiting the garden at Chirk Castle

Winter highlights in the garden at Chirk Castle

 

Winter is a spectacular time to visit the garden at Chirk Castle.

Admire the freshly trimmed topiary with its crisp edges – it can look like a Christmas pudding in the snow or heavy frost and makes for a wonderful sight.

The long border is beautiful at this time of year, look out for the coloured stems of the Dogwoods, the white stems of the birches and the beautiful rockery, where the textures of different plants really stand out against the silver of the rocks.

Two acres of snowdrops create a dazzling, white carpet in the Pleasure Ground Wood in February. It’s a sight that can’t be missed. Meanwhile evergreen trees and topiary sparkle with frost on the coldest days and colourful dogwood stems brighten up the winter landscape.

Look out for clusters of yellow Mahonia flowers and spidery, fragrant flowers of hamamelis (witch hazel) blooming in red, orange and yellow, adding colour to the estate and garden.

Garden history

The first formal garden was laid out by Sir Thomas Myddelton II in 1653, following contemporary French examples. The next major alterations were in 1764 when Richard Myddelton commissioned the landscape architect William Emes to remodel the gardens and parkland. Emes made substantial changes, moving fences, walls, pathways, and planting vast lawns and thousands of trees.

In the 19th century yew topiary, hedges and wrought iron gates were introduced, and then under the guidance of Lord Howard de Walden in the early twentieth century the celebrated gardener Norah Lindsay created a magnificent herbaceous border on the Upper Lawn.

The gardens were neglected during the Second World War until they were almost single-handedly revived by Lady Margaret Myddelton, creating the colourful planting scheme that our dedicated team of three full-time gardeners and garden volunteers maintain.

Things to see in the garden 

Long Border  

This curved border has three seasonal areas and is filled with shrubs and herbaceous plants. Lady Margaret Myddelton planted it after the Second World War as a low-maintenance way to ensure seasonal colour and scent. 

Hawk House  

Built in 1854 to an E.W. Pugin design and there used to be an 18th-century orangery on the same site. Originally a conservatory, Lord Howard de Walden added a thatched roof, to house birds of prey. 

Shrub garden  

Late spring rhododendrons smell wonderful after a spring shower and an early summer highlight is the handkerchief tree with its elegant white bracts. In the autumn you can see rich toasty colours throughout. 

Ha-ha  

During his 18th-century work on the parkland, William Emes added several 'ha-ha' to provide unobstructed views of the sweeping parkland and fields beyond, whilst keeping the parkland animals out. There are great views from the ha-ha at the bottom of the garden. 

Rose Garden 

Lady Margaret Myddelton was very fond of roses - especially scented ones. Many of her favourite varieties included Dearest (soft pink), Allgold (bright golden colour) and Elizabeth of Glamis (salmon pink).  

We have many roses around the garden from tall climbers like Rosa ‘Madame D’Arblay with soft pink carnation-like flowers, to Rosa ‘Blanc Double de Coubert’ - a white shrubby variety, as well as Rosa ’Golden Celebration’ and Rosa ‘Jubilee Celebration’.

Pleasure Ground Wood  

This formal area of woodland is right next to the main garden and is bisected by pathways arranged to provide easy and peaceful walking routes. In February there is an incredible display of snowdrops, followed in turn by bluebells and foxgloves.

Kitchen garden 

A small Kitchen garden is slowly being developed behind the Squash Court near Home Farm, here we have a small orchard and vegetable plots with a range of vegetables in season that are sold through the retail shop.