Chirk and the Ceiriog Valley in Wrexham North Wales
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Chirk Today


Chirk today is a mixture of the new and the old. Much of the historic architecture of the village creates a strong and varied character which appeals to visitors and to local people alike. Strong architectural styles influenced the Edwardian Parish Hall, celebrating its Centenary and the old National Girls School, now a furniture warehouse, built by the famous architect Augustus Pugin, co-architect of the Houses of Parliament. Admire the elegant Georgian appearances of both the Hand Hotel (formerly a coaching inn) and Mount House with its motte and bailey near the Church, and the picturesque Neo Gothic Hand Terrace and the old Boys School now housing the British Legion Headquarters. Many other buildings along the main street are of interest.

St. Mary's Church, contains fine stained glass windows of long-standing, with a more recent addition commissioned by the Royal British Legion. The unusual 1929 wooden white and black Roman Catholic Church is located in Castle Road and the Methodist Church in Chapel Lane.

The small corner shops may now be missing but Chirk has a wide variety of shops and businesses which can supply the needs of anyone living in or visiting the area. In addition, Chirk has a Chemist, an HSBC bank, a Post Office a vet and, in Castle Road, a Doctors' surgery. There is also a small Saturday morning market on the main car park which is very popular.

A Leisure Centre which is attached to the Ceiriog Junior School provides a swimming pool and Keep Fit unit, together with a floodlit football pitch. The A.A.A. ground also has excellent cricket and football pitches and a bowling green and there are many children's recreation grounds in the area.

Chirk is served by two schools. The Infants School in Chapel Lane provides education for pupils from nursery to age seven when they transfer to the nearby Ceiriog Junior School in Lloyds Lane until aged eleven. There are also pre-school groups active in the area.

In the centre of Chirk, on the junction of Church Street and Station Avenue is the War Memorial, designed by Eric Gill, to the men of the town who gave their lives in two World Wars. Nearby is a seating area with wrought-iron gates leading to the Millennium Garden and a large open space which was gifted to the community by the late Lord Howard de Walden and now under the trusteeship of the Town Council.

Chirk Castle and its historic park and gardens, formerly owned by the Myddelton family and now a National Trust property, is a major attraction for several thousand visitors a year. Other important landscapes are at Whitehurst, once a 'Summer Garden' to Chirk Castle and to the southwest the Ceiriog Valley where the aqueduct and viaduct are of outstanding aesthetic value. Brynkinallt Estate, to the east of town, also has a historic park and garden, but there is no public access and a large section of the land has been scythed off by the Chirk By-pass. The Lady Margaret Caravan Park which is near to the Castle Gates caters for hundreds of visitors.

The Llangollen Canal, apart from providing pleasant walks along its towpath, is the popular venue for boating holidays and in recent years a marina has been constructed at Whitehurst to accommodate the many boats which are part of this thriving tourist industry.

Chirk Golf Club, also located at Whitehurst, is in very agreeable surroundings near to the canal and marina.

There are hotels, two public houses and a wide range of accommodation available in Chirk and the Ceiriog Valley area. Full details available from Wrexham Tourist Information Centre, Telephone: +44 1978 292015, Fax: +44 1978 292467. There are restaurants and cafes and The Royal British Legion and the A.A.A. also welcome visitors for refreshment.

A recent innovation has been the rebuilding of the Scout and Guide headquarters by means of local fund-raising and a Lottery grant. This is widely used, not only by the local youngsters, but by many groups throughout the country for weekend or holiday visits.

Apart from its own special attractions, Chirk is a very convenient centre for travel by road and rail, offering the inhabitants and visitors the opportunity to visit other nearby towns.

 

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