Statue of Hercules, Chirk, Wrexham

Coordinates

Latitude: 52.935 / 52°56'6"N

Longitude: -3.0856 / 3°5'8"W

OS Eastings: 327128

OS Northings: 338068

OS Grid: SJ271380

Mapcode National: GBR 72.M0ZC

Mapcode Global: WH78C.KHV8

Plus Code: 9C4RWWP7+2P

Entry Name: Statue of Hercules

Listing Date: 29 July 1998

Last Amended: 29 July 1998

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 20237

Building Class: Gardens, Parks and Urban Spaces

ID on this website: 300020237

Location: Hercules is now sited on the axis of the E axial view from the castle where it passes through woodland.

County: Wrexham

Town: Wrexham

Community: Chirk (Y Waun)

Community: Chirk

Locality: Chirk Castle

Traditional County: Denbighshire

Tagged with: Statue

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History

The figure, commissioned by Sir Robert Myddleton in June 1720, was one of two, the other being Mars, both being sited in the forecourt of the castle flanking the approach to the barbican, and within the iron gates. He is not present in Tilleman's painting of the front of the castle of c1720, but appears in the Badeslade print of 1742. At the re-landscaping of the park in 1770 undertaken by William Emes, a pupil of Launcelot Brown, Hercules was moved to the E arm of Deershed (Deerslidd) Wood and later lost. He was recovered in 1987 and restored, the armature replaced with stainless steel, and resited in the present position on an artificial eminence on the lime avenue on the eastern axis, a vista originally established by Sir Thomas Myddleton in the formal landscaping work of 1653. The sculptor, once believed to be Van Nost, is not recorded.

Exterior

A copy of the Farnese Hercules, naked, standing in an attitude of repose. The over-life sized figure is cast in lead, and leans on a tree-stump over which his lion skin is draped. His club leans on the stump. He is mounted on a base, inscribed SIGNUM HERCULIS DEFATIGATI IN AEDIBUS FARNESIIS ROMAE GLYCONIS ATHENIENSIS MANU ELABORATUM. In 1983 he was mounted on a new stone die, on the E face of which is inscribed the intriguing couplet HEROS MULTIVAGUS. / LIQUIDUM TRANS AET / HERA.VECTUS.AMPH / ITRYONIADES.EN RE/ NOVATUS ADEST. MC / MLXXXVII.

Reasons for Listing

Included as an impressive early C18 garden sculpture designed for Chirk Castle, despite being extensively restored and resited.

External Links

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

Other nearby listed buildings

II Medieval Font in the E Garden
The font is placed at the topmost point of the rock garden, behind the Hawk House, in the E gardens of Chirk Castle.
II Ha-ha at the E end of the E Garden
The ha-ha extends across the E end, of the E gardens, extending from the N side of Pleasure Ground Wood to the S junction with Garden Wood.
II Hawk House in the E Garden
The building stands on a slightly elevated platform overlooking the lower lawns of the E garden of Chirk Castle.
II Sundial in front of the Hawk House in the E Garden
The sundial stands on the lawn below, and on the axis of, the Hawk House.
II Gazebo
The gazebo stands at the far end of the E gardens, facing S along the ha-ha wall.
II Statue by the lily pond in the E Garden
The statue stands on the edge of the circular lily pond at the lower end of the gardens.
II Walls to the Privy Garden
The privy garden adjoins the castle on the SE side. The walls define the it on the E and S, and on the W to the lower service yard
II Statue in the E Garden
The two statues flank the opening in the hedge between the upper cross lawn, and the lower fruit tree lawn in the E gardens of the Castle.

British Listed Buildings

History in Structure

Statue of Hercules

A Grade II Listed Building in Chirk, Wrexham