On Wednesday Brother-who-blogs took Partner-who-loves-tea and I to Chirk Castle for the day. Highlight of the day for me was not directly to do with the castle or gardens – it was a new moth species – the Hummingbird Hawkmoth.
The magnificent wrought iron gates made in the 1710s.
The one part of the castle that GB and I recalled from earlier visits (before many of my readers were born) was the dungeon.
I must have been about seven when I went round with Mum and Dad on a guided tour. The Guide was telling us about the ghost when I piped up (in that sort of volume and pitch only a seven year old can achieve) “There aren't really ghosts are there, Mum?” Embarrassment all round and if GB was with us (as I imagine he would have been) he probably disowned me completely and stood as far away as possible for the rest of the tour!
We didn't avail ourselves of a guide this time.
There are big towers.
And little turrets.
Stairs up.
And stairs down.
Doorways in.
And doorways out.
Primitive rooms.
And servants' rooms
And magnificent rooms.
I shall probably do separate postings about the gardens and ceilings at some stage.
Yes, please, do! That ceiling on the "magnificent room" alone would probably provide enough material for its own post, and the gardens are certainly worth a more thorough look.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a great place to visit; I would have opted for going without the guided tour, too, although a good guide can really enhance one's visit to such a place quite a lot.
Wow, your series of pictures led up to quite a surprise with that "magnificent room" at the end just as I was beginning to get cold shivers from all those dungeouns and stone walls and stairs (and ghost stories) ;)
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a castle but hope to some day. thanks for the look around! love the fencing and gates around the garden.
ReplyDeleteThis is so wonderful. What an amazing thing to go on a little trip and see a castle! It is in such good shape. I loved the rooms. Boy, I bet they were cold in the olden days.
ReplyDeleteWell that's saved me a job CJ! Me, disown my brother? Never!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great tour! You really make us feel as if we were there too. The iron gates painted white look like lace. So beautiful for something which was essentially a utilitarian object.
ReplyDeleteBTW - what did your mother say about the existence of ghosts? There aren't any, are there? Or are there? There've been a few times when I've had my doubts!
Take care and God bless,
Canadian Chickadee
Amazing! I love to look at all all these things from so long ago. I find it incredible that all these years later, we can see and touch these ancient structures. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what Mum said about ghosts, Canadian Chickladee. She certainly believed in them but I think the silence created by my outburst was such that no one spoke for a while!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you could do a posting showing some entirely different views, GB. Even when we are together we so often seem to find a different slant on things.
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