llanblogger samples new Chirk Castle attraction

* The sumptuous Bow Drawing Room.

Llanblogger went just a few miles up the road to Chirk Castle on Sunday to get a taste of a forgotten period in Welsh history.

The grand opening of the ancient fortress’s East Wing to the public for the first time the previous day marked the culmination of a two-year, £200,000 project to mark the impact Lord Howard de Walden had on Chirk Castle and Wales between the wars, and included a medieval pageant complete with displays of falconry, archery, men at arms fighting with swords, pike drill and a roving court jester.

Recognised as the Last Great Patron of the Welsh Arts for his formidable support of Welsh cultural institutions like the National Eisteddfod, and a number of leading Welsh artists and writers, Lord Howard de Walden’s life and work has not been fully celebrated until now.

To reflect his pivotal role in Welsh history, Chirk Castle’s the East Wing has been painstakingly redisplayed to give visitors a taste of the eighth Lord Howard de Walden’s life in the medieval castle, which he rented from 1911-46.

Carolyn Latham, house and visitor services manager at Chirk Castle, said: “The sumptuous Bow Room has been redisplayed to match the picture Sir John Lavery painted of the Howard de Walden family relaxing in the room in 1929.

“We have also been able to get hold of many of the treasures the family had on show here during their time in the castle, including a rare suit of armour, Welsh military dagger and a painting by renowned Welsh painter Augustus John. Much of this private collection has never been seen by the public before.”

Walking into the drawing room is like stepping right back into the 1930s.

An enormous log fires roars in the ornate grate around which there are comfortable chairs where visitors can sit as they thumb through the castle’s visitors’ book bearing a host of famous names of the day, such as Rudyard Kipling and George Bernard Shaw.

* Family portraits on the piano.

In the corner of the room a period wireless pumps out 1930s dance music, while photographs of the family adorn the top of the grand piano.

In an adjoining room an old-fashioned projector whirrs away to show flickering black and white Howard de Walden home movies shot at Chirk Castle during their time living there.  

"During Tommy Howard de Walden’s time here, he not only put Chirk Castle at the centre of Welsh culture, but his lavish parties and theatrical connections put Chirk at the heart of British arts and culture for decades," added Carolyn.

Tommy, The Eighth Lord Howard de Walden

§  Competed in the 1908 Olympics

§  Established the Welsh National Theatre

§  Housed Dylan Thomas

§  Learned to speak Welsh fluently

§  Supported and promoted Eisteddfodau

§  Edited Burke’s Peerage

§  Wrote libretti for operas

§  Took the name Elis o’r Waun on being received by the Gorsedd of Bards at the National Eisteddfod.