Checking in to Chirk.

Well it is still warm! How are we going to react when it rains, run around naked thinking the sun God has been appeased or something?

After getting the jam to set after picking loads of cherries and getting all those stones out of them (is there an easier way?) we set off on a nice stretch of open and fairly straight canal. That get more of a rarity as you get closer to Llangollen. Just when you think that all those locks are finished with until you are on your way back down they chuck in a couple more, just to throw you as you meet the New Marton pair of locks.

A boat turned up at the top just as I was going to turn it round. They had got their boat the night before and hadn't done a lock yet so were pleased that we were handy to help them through. They also came back to watch us going up hill too. I hope they have a great week. The weather wont be a problem at least.

I can't remember where we met this chap but he had obviously been there for a while. He was in the shade though!

Once again the dappled shadow as we passed through wooded cuts gave relief from the sun and made very photogenic pictures.

The Portland Stone war memorial was designed by Eric Gill, one of several he produced. Gill was the 'Wild Child' artist of his day and would have been front page news regularly these days, but it was only after his death that his sexual appetites came out. He gave up a career as an architect to sculpt and create typefaces. I find it curious that the phrase 'habitants and indwellers' is used. Does this differentiate between native Chirk/Welsh people and newly arrived English people? Strange phrase.

Near the War Memorial is the Millennium Park and these lovely gates. On the body of the gates is a depiction of the Chirk Aqueducts and mines as well as the castel. Above are the obligatory dragons and the Red Hand. This is from a legend of the Myddleton family of Chirk Hall about 500 years ago. The dying father, not knowing which of his twin sons was born first, so who to leave everything to, set them a challenge of racing round the castle. The first one back to touch him was the winner. It was neck and neck until one tripped on the stairs near the bed chamber. Knowing he would lose he chopped off his hand and threw it to land on his father to win the race!? It could also be that there was always a warm welcome for visitors to Chirk Castle. Which ever, there are several Hand pubs in the area

By the above gates is also this plaque, which is self explanatory really, and shows how it used to be in sport before all this money got in the way of it all.

Before 1595 the Trevor and Edwards familys were the big noises in the area and they are represented with memorials around the St. Mary's church. That year the Myddleton family bought the castle and muscled in. They also worshiped at the church and are represented with some lavish tombs. This one dates from 1677.

Adorning the roof beams of the oldest part of the church are these roof bosses from the late 15th Century. The bestiaries were a common feature of the time. They were repainted in the 1970's. This one may represent some animals from the old testament

It appears to say David on this one, who of course is the patron saint of Wales.

Of course the mythical Welsh dragon had to put in appearance somewhere.

As we walked back via the road I got this photo of the lower canal aqueduct, started in 1796, designed by Thomas Telford, and completed 1801 and 70' high, as well as the railway viaduct that was built between 1846 and 1848, designed by Henry Robertson, and rebuilt min 1858, and is 100' high. We will get a different view tomorrow.