VISIT TO CHIRK. 
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wards became Lord Mayor of London, and was the brother 
of the celebrated Hugh Myddelton, the projector of the New 
River from Hertfordshire to London to supply the metropolis 
with water. The estates have continued in the same family 
to the present day, although the name of the owner has 
become changed from Myddelton to Biddulpli. In the time 
of Charles 1. Sir Thomas Myddelton declared himself 
against the Royal cause, and achieved several brilliant exploits, 
although he did not take the field till he was near sixty years 
of age. His estates were sequestered, but he afterwards 
obtained repossession of his patrimony at Chirk. A year 
before the Restoration, however, he had changed his views, 
and had precipitately declared in favour of the second Charles’s 
return. For this his Castle of Chirk was besieged and taken, 
the trees in the park were cut down, the timber sold, and 
damage was done to the extent of £80,000. 
Entering by the gateway tower, the visitor passes into a 
large quadrangle, which has evidently undergone much 
modern restoration. These alterations, with considerable 
internal embellishment, were the work of the elder Pugin. 
The great hall contains a vast number of ancient implements 
of war, and others for domestic use, including several fine 
black-jacks, tall hats of the Cromwellian period, &c. A 
curious bird's-eye view of the castle in the seventeenth 
century was shown ; it is made of mosaic, the several minute 
pieces of which it is composed being of ivory and bone inlaid 
into a black oak background. It was made about forty years 
ago from the handles of old tooth-brushes and other articles 
of bone or ivory. It is inscribed in the same material, 
“ Chirk Castle, Denbighshire, the seat of John Myddelton, 
Esq. ; done by the porter, Roberts.” The frame is of the same 
material, and altogether the work is ingenious and very 
effective. To describe all the beauties and rarities contained 
in this interesting building would much exceed the space at 
our disposal. The rooms are of grand size and proportions, 
and the ceilings and walls throughout are adorned with 
arabesques and gilding in profuse extent. The walls of the 
various rooms contain many paintings, chiefly portraits. 
There are portraits of the great Duke of Ormond ; Charles II.; 
Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland; the Duke of 
Monmouth ; Fair Rosamond ; Queen Mary ; Jane Shore ; 
Sir Thomas More, by Holbein; the Countess of Warwick, 
afterwards the wife of Addison; Sir Orlando Bridgeman, in 
his robes, and Lady Bridgeman; and many other historical 
portraits. Landscapes and other artistic works are not 
wanting to give variety and grace to the collection. Several 
