Читать книгу The Pedestrian's Guide through North Wales - G. J. Bennett - Страница 12

Table of Contents

Chirk—The Aqueduct—The Deserted, a legend—Description of Chirk Castle—Sketch—The Park—Legend of the enchanted Stag—The Vale of Llangollen—Account of the Aqueduct called Pont-y-Cyssyltau—Stanzas for music—Llangollen—The Hand in Hand—A view of the village.

“In Cambria’s noon of story,

Ere bright she set in glory,

The brave and great in princely state

All hail’d Chirk Castle walls.

With splendid arms returning,

The flaring moonbeams burning,

Mid armour’s clang the clarions rang,

And searched the sounding halls.”

SONG BY F. M. DOVASTON, A.M.

A pleasant walk of six miles brought us to Chirk; agreeably situated upon the northern bank of the river Ceriog, which divides England from Wales. The village church is dedicated to St. Mary, and is an impropriation belonging to Valle Crucis Abbey, and contains some monuments erected to the memory of the members of the Chirk families. The most interesting is that of the famous Sir Thomas Myddleton. The church-yard is planted with yew trees, and the Hand Inn is a very comfortable house of entertainment.

The aqueduct is the great lion of this place; consisting of ten arches, the piers of which are sixty-five feet high. The Ellesmere canal is continued across the valley by this beautiful specimen of art, then enters a tunnel 220 yards long; emerging from which it proceeds on its course through the parish, and then enters another tunnel, which having traversed, its waters are transported over the vale of the Dee by the stupendous aqueduct of Pont-y-Cysylltau. The village of Chirk is seven miles from Llangollen, and five from Oswestry, from Knaton six, and from London 171.

“Upon this spot,” said my amusing companion, “a legend was repeated to me, which I thought rather amusing; and, as you say you are a collector of strange stories, I will relate it to you as we pass along, with as much accuracy as my memory will permit.”