Sir John Glynne in 1739. Its banks and glades, richly timbered, and
overgrown with bracken, afford from various points beautiful views over
the plain of Chester, with the bold projections of the Frodsham and
Peckforton hills. Along the bottom of the hollow flows Broughton brook.
Two Waterfalls occur in its course through the Park: the lower is called
the Ladies' Fall: near the upper one stood a Mill, now removed, the
erection of which is commemorated by a large stone, bearing the following
inscription:
"Trust in God for Bread, and to the King for Justice, Protection and
Peace.
This Mill was built A.D. 1767
By Sir John Glynne, Bart.,
Lord of this Manor:
Charles Howard Millwright.
Wheat was at this year 9s. and Barley at 5s. 6d. a Bushel. Luxury was
at a great height, and Charity extensive, but the pool were starving,
riotous, and hanged."
Between this spot and the "Old Lane," a sandy gully, lined with old
beeches, and once the road to Wrexham--now tenanted by rabbits--are two
large oaks, 17 and 18 feet in circumference respectively. Another tree,
a beautiful specimen of the _fagus pendula_, or feathering beech, a great
favourite with Mr. Gladstone, deserves attention. It stands a few yards
from the iron railing near the moat of the old Castle, and measures 17ft.
11 in. round. The sycamores at Hawarden are particularly fine. Nor
should the visitor omit seeing the noble grove of beeches at the Ladies'
Fall.
The road which descends the steep hill under the Old Castle and crosses
the brook, leads up through the Park to the Bilberry Wood. Twenty
minutes' walk through the wood brings one to the "Top Lodge" (1.75 miles
from the Castle). From this point either the walk may be continued
through the further plantations to the pretty Church of St. John's at
Penymynydd, {32a} or, if necessary Broughton Hall Station, 2.5 miles
distant, may be gained direct. The inclosures and the plantations on
this portion of the estate, called the Warren, were made in 1798, and
command some very fine views. The high road through Pentrobin and
Tinkersdale offers a pleasant return route to Hawarden.
Everyone has heard of Mr. Gladstone's prowess as a woodcutter, and to
some it may even have been matter of surprise to see no scantiness of
trees in the Park at Hawarden. It is true that he attacks trees with the
same vigour as he attacks abuses in the body politic, {32b} but he
attacks them on the same p
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