Chirk Castle Gardens – North Wales

During the 18^th Century, the garden, along with the parkland, was landscaped by William Emes. Emes planted trees and shrubs in an informal style. The garden was separated from the parkland by a sunken wall or ‘ha – ha’. This kept livestock out of the garden without interrupting the view with fences or hedges.

In the late 19^th Century, the Castle’s owner, Richard Myddelton Biddulph, revived the tradition for formal gardening. He introduced clipped yew hedges, which were later increased in size, in scale with the Castle. Richard’s son, Algernon, is believed to have designed the formal Rose Garden.

Between 1911 and 1946, Lord and Lady Howard de Walden leased the Castle from the Myddelton family. Lady Howard de Walden was a very keen gardener, and created the 80 metre long herbaceous border. Lady Howard de Walden took advice from her friend, Norah Lindsay, a leading garden designer of the time.

The Howard de Waldens also introduced the four bronze statues of naked nymphs. These were modelled by Antonio Luchessi, a leading sculptor of the Victorian age.

After the Second World War, by which time the garden had fallen into a great state of disrepair, Lady Margaret Myddelton set about restoring the garden. The garden as we see it today is very much the creation of Lady Margaret.