Chirk Castle

The History of Chirk Castle
The History of Chirk Castle dates back to 1295 and built by by Roger Mortimer who was the Justice of Wales for Edward I. Roger Mortimer (1287-1330) was infamous for becoming the lover of Queen Isabella, the wife of King Edward II of England. He hanged as a traitor at Tyburn in London on November 29th 1330. The castle changed hands over the years and was eventually purchased by Sir Thomas Myddelton in 1595. His descendents still continue to live in part of the castle.

Chirk Castle

• The History of Chirk Castle
• Information about Chirk Castle
• When was this Welsh Medieval Castle built?
• The Design, Layout and Architecture of Chirk Castle in Wales
• Who built Chirk Castle and when?

Chirk Castle

The Building of Chirk Castle
The history of the building of Chirk Castle is fascinating. In just a relatively short period of time a significant number of new Welsh Medieval Castles were built or modernised under the instructions of King Edward I (1272-1307) including Chirk Castle.  King Edward employed the services of an architect and master builder called Master James of St George to carry out many of these ambitious plans for a chain of Medieval castles to be built in Wales. Chirk Castle was built in North Wales on the estuary the River Ceiriog, which runs into the River Dee. An important feature of Chirk Castle is its access to the sea. During the construction of Chirk Castle men, equipment and building materials were easily transported by boats to the site of the castle. Once Chirk Castle was built fresh supplies, provisions and reinforcements prevented the castle occupants from being starved into submission during siege warfare. The advantages of swift and easy accessibility via the sea ensured that the new fortified town, which was built at the same time as the castle, became a successful and prosperous stronghold for its English inhabitants.

Key facts and Information about Chirk Castle

• The location of Chirk Castle - Chirk, Wrexham, North East Wales
• The building of Chirk Castle started in 1295
• The building of Chirk Castle was completed in early 1300's
• The Architecture / Style - Gothic Architecture aka Edwardian
• The original cost of building Chirk Castle is estimated at  £2,100

The Chirk Castle
Chirk Castle was one of the ten key Welsh Medieval Castles which were commissioned by King Edward I. The Welsh Medieval Castles built by the English under the direction of King Edward I provided a power base for the Medieval Plantagenet King and ensured that the Welsh were subservient to the new English rule.

Chirk Castle

Edward crushed the Welsh rebellion under Llewellyn ap Gruffudd and conquered his kingdom of Gwynedd in Northern Wales.

Wales was conquered by Edward I and became incorporated into England under the Statute of Rhuddlan ( also called the Statute of Wales ) in 1284 - the building of Chirk Castle helped King Edward I to achieve his ambitions.