Chirk Castle Gates, Screen and Piers

Chirk Castle Gates, Screen and Piers are a Grade I listed structure featuring intricate cast and wrought ironwork, painted black with gold highlights. The design includes massive openwork piers topped with lead wolf finials, twin carriage gates with side panels, and a rich heraldic overthrow displaying the Myddelton arms. There are flanking pedestrian gates and screen railings set on dwarf ashlar walls with roll-moulded copings, along with outer stone piers that have acorn finials. The exceptional ironwork detailing features Corinthian capitals on the open piers, adorned with vine tendrils and coronets, and balustraded bases. The heraldic overthrow has scrolled supports decorated with bird, flower, and foliage ornaments, along with urn finials and a sunburst supporter on the top rail. The carriage gates display intricate scrolled foliage and masks, while the side gates and railings have spear finials and simpler scrollwork crestings. For much of their history, the gates have been painted white with gold highlights. The gates were removed for repair during an inspection in January 1998.