Chirk Castle is a border fortress which was designed to subdue the Welsh. It was built between 1925 and 1310 by Roger Mortimer who was one of Edward I’s warlords.
In contrast to the unwelcoming exterior, the interior is a lot more homely. The castle has been almost continuously occupied for 700 years.
Among Chirk’s often immensely powerful possessors in the Middle Ages were the Earls of Arundel, Cardinal Beaufort and Sir William Stanley. At least five of its medieval owners were executed for treason, their estates being seized by the Crown. In the Wars of the Roses, Chirk was tossed about between the rival houses of York and Lancaster; after 1495 it was firmly in the hands of the Tudors. For the tenants who lived on the Chirk estate it meant years of turmoil and high taxes.
In 1595 the estate was sold to a prominent merchant adventurer, Thomas Myddelton, whose descendants have lived here ever since.
During the Civil War, the castle was captured in 1643 and again 1659, when it was partly demolished by order of Parliament. This was in the time of the second Sir Thomas Myddelton, a famous Parliamentary general who later declared for Charles II and whose son was rewarded with a baronetcy. In the 1670s the second Baronet repaired the castle, built the Long Gallery and brought many treasures to Chirk. *
*From the guidebook.
Ah, so now we’re up to speed on that – thanks.
Are we!
Ah I am unfamiliar with that castle. Despite some remodelling you can see that it was built for a military purpose
I think you would get some great photo opportunities there.
Fascinating. The Mortimers were one of the more heroic (not always advisedly so!) of the Marcher lords. What an embattled history the entire length of the border has had: no wonder there were distinct areas where our horses were decidedly spooked! Did you know that the Myddletons held land in the village (sic) of Islington, and one of ‘em devised a public clean water system in (I think: you’d better check!) the 17th century – in which case, could be the celebrated Roundhead or one of his close relations. Anyway, there’s a suitably imposing statue to him in situ.
I find all the castles along this border very interesting, they have a fascinating history. I used to enjoy visiting the ruined ones the most, but more recently I have come to enjoy the ones that are still in tact all the more. They seem to be more rich in history somehow.
The warning was given last fall when “Swiss Stairs” were mentioned.
The bullion banks beat them back.
At that time, time was short.
Today…
The Greek bailout on the table NOW is designed to keep Greece away from the debt markets for 2/2.5 years, providing they get their house in order.
The markets are saying they cannot get their house in order in that time. 4 or 5 years…maybe!
A more realistic solution is beyond Merkel ability….elections coming. After elections…maybe!…depends.
Existing bond holders of Greek and other PIIS debt are 40% to 70% underwater on $1.5T, give or take….mainly French and German banks… they will be determined to get this of their books. — they are probably NOT in a position to take the write downs.
The ECB “nuclear option” is to take this toxicity as collateral, and issue good product in return….essentially what the Fed has been doing….bailing out all and sundry.
Speads are increasing for the PIIGS, and gap from rising Libor is rising, soon they will be unable to access debt markets at affordable rates. The Greek solvency crisis has morphed into a liquidity crisis (interbank freeze ups)and is now morphing into a regional (EU plus) solvency crisis.
Weber and Trichet are VERY reluctant to QE, but may find a brain eventually…after more market mayhem perhaps…which will screw down more banks/nations, but eventually the ECB will go to QE…eventually $1.5 T, give or take.
All, IMHO.
Meanwhile…
Read this for understanding.. by a Prof of finance.
http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article19206.html
The fututre is QE to infinity…inflation, tending to hyperinflation. Sonus was correct all along.
Watch for ..May 11th..IMF meeting for elite. Discussing alternative to $…SDR and Gold. (Sonus again)
There is global financial warfare going on.
Now take a good swig of valium, and read this
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/cds-traders-verdict-uk-deep-shit-are-france-and-deutschland.
The scenes witnessed in Greece will be here soon.
Such a pity Merv King has to keep his mouth shut pre election.
I just hope the electorate blame the correct criminals.
Events moving too fast.
Markets collapsing.
Can’t keep pace.
The Euro experiment is failing..in its death throes. No financial credibility. Socialism always ends thus, but the speed is amazing…interlocking markets, powerful players.
Later…
Dead man walking
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/john-taylor-dead-man-walkingthe-euro-finished
Thanks, very interesting, I rely on others to explain the financial side to me. I have been watching the effects in Greece closely it reflects the feelings of the people here and it is only a matter of time before it all kicks off. I know from my experiences with campaigning that people are very angry at the moment.
Well of course the the di has been cast today and we have to do now is wait…
Good Morning.
Hung Parliament. Worst of all possible worlds.
Dithering for days, possibly weeks if legal challenges.
Klegg and the Git want EUSSR at the very time it is falling apart. Ironic.
Markets falling, £ falling, bonds falling, (interest rates work in the inverse to bonds, therefor market interest rates up….possible more QE to hold down long end of interest rates) expecting downgrade on debt….
time will tell.
Interesting days ahead…
With regards to Chirk, when the local tenants heard of the death of Mortimer they entered the castle violently and destroyed all the tax and rent records.
I remember in the late’70s, or very early ’80s, civil servants for VAT, or Income tax, (can’t remember which…age, you know
) went on strike for a long time…. the economy which was suffering at that point, rebounded.
Tells a story.
There was a lot of strike action going on over that period of time. I was very young and didn’t understand in the same way as I do now. It was also before the anti TU legislation. All the ballots were done by a show of hands at a local meeting after an impassioned rant about the problem.
But even back then I could see the way they were trying to solve the public service problems was wrong. They still haven’t learned…