Wrexham Bid For Iconic Poppy Sculpture to Come to Chirk Castle

An iconic installation commemorating British servicemen who died in the First World War could come to an iconic setting in Wrexham in 2018 if a bid to bring it to the area is successful.

Wrexham County Borough Council and The National Trust have submitted a joint bid to host the commemorative Weeping Window installation at Chirk Castle.

The Weeping Window, along with another sculpture known as The Wave, comprises of hundreds of Poppies commemorating the war dead of the First World War, and is currently touring locations across the United Kingdom as part of NOW14-18 commemorations – a campaign by the Royal British Legion to mark 100 years since the war.

If successful, the installation – which has already been displayed at Caernarfon Castle, St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, the Woodhorn Museum in Northumberland and St George’s Hall, Liverpool – will come to the medieval castle, which overlooks the border between England and Wales.

This is the third time that Wrexham Council has bid to for the Poppy Sculpture, with previous submissions for the Weeping Window at St Giles Church – home of the regimental chapel of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers – and for The Wave at Llwyn Isaf green, near the Guildhall, being unsuccessful.

Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities and Partnerships said he was hopeful that the panel will accept the joint bid to host the Weeping Window at Chirk Castle.

He added: “The castle would form an incredibly impressive and sombre backdrop to the Weeping Window, and it would pose a fitting location for the sculpture.

“I also want to thank our partners at Chirk Castle and the National Trust, who have been incredibly supportive in helping us to prepare this joint bid, and I’m sure they share our hope that this submission is a successful one.”

Cllr David A Griffiths, Armed Forces Champion, said: “I am very pleased to see that we will be bidding once more for the Poppy Sculpture to come to Wrexham. Chirk Castle would provide a suitable setting for the Weeping Window, which has proven to be a very evocative and fitting memorial for all British servicemen who lost their lives during the First World War.”