purposing to visit Wynnstay Park, the much-admired seat of Sir Watkin
Williams Wynne. On leaving March Wiel, a most delightful prospect spread
before us; in the retrospect, the tower of Wrexham church brought to our
recollection the views of Magdalen College tower, in the vicinity of
Oxford.
The park of Wynnstay is well stocked with red deer; excellent
plantations; and the house is an elegant modern structure; but has
nothing in the inside particularly deserving the attention of the
traveller. In the grounds, the chief object worthy of inspection, is a
very elegant obelisk, erected to the memory of the present Sir Watkin’s
father. The height is an hundred and one feet; the base of it sixteen,
and the top nine, built with free-stone, and fluted. Round the top is
formed a gallery, with a handsome urn in bronze, after an elegant design,
cast in London: round the base of the column are wreaths of oak leaves,
in the beaks of four eagles, cast in the same metal. On the south-west
side is a door, with a stair-case within the obelisk leading to the top.
We regretted that the key could not be procured, as the prospect from
that elevation must be extremely fine. On the other three sides, an
appropriate inscription, in English, Welsh, and Latin, is to be carved.
Through this park runs Offa’s Dyke, thrown up by the great king of
Mercia, from whence it derives its name, to check the irruptions of the
Welsh, mark the confines of each country, and give greater security to
his own. It begins at Basingwerk in Flintshire, and ends at Chepstow in
Monmouthshire; extending in a line of not less than one hundred and fifty
miles over rocks and mountains. This great undertaking still retains the
ancient name of Clawdh Offa, or Offa’s Dyke.
Passing through the little village of Ruabon, situated at the extremity
of Sir Watkin’s park, a very interesting and picturesque country,
composed of rich valleys and gently sloping hills, presented itself to
our view; and, at some distance, we soon caught a glimpse of Chirk
Castle, a noble seat of the family of the Middletons, standing on an
eminence. Four miles from Llangollen we inquired for the wonderful