Myddelton family home
Sir Thomas Myddelton I was born in 1550, son of the governor of Denbigh Castle. With little hope of inheriting his father's position he left to make his fortune in London, which he did with remarkable success. His sources of wealth were varied and included privateering, sugar trading and investment in Merchant Companies which sought to exploit opportunities of global trade. Myddelton was one of the first investors in the East India Company in 1599.
In 1595 Sir Thomas I had bought Chirk Castle for £5,000 with the intention of turning it into his family seat. In fact he spent more time at his home in Essex, but he spent vast sums of money on the castle including building the North Range and its State Rooms before passing it to his son in 1612.
Sir Thomas Myddelton II was a Civil War general, first on the side of Parliament, and then later, disillusioned by Cromwell's military dictatorship, as a Royalist in support of Charles II.
Over the next 400 years the Myddelton family ruled a vast estate from Chirk Castle. Subsequent generations were ambitious industrialists, entrepreneurs, and politicians.