Book in to the PM’s des res
A stay at Gladstone’s Welsh castle offers a fascinating insight into the great statesman
He was a four-time prime minister and dominant figure of the Victorian era. Clashing regularly in Parliament with his arch-rival Disraeli, Queen Victoria branded him a ‘half-mad firebrand’.
But a weekend visit to his ancestral estate in North wales reveals his lesser-known passions for literature and collecting axes.
away from Parliament, william ewart Gladstone was a voracious reader and loved nothing more than chopping wood in the grounds of his stately pile. a new holiday let on his family estate in the village of Hawarden, located near the Cheshire border, draws back the curtain on the starched image of one of our greatest statesmen.
The west end, located within the western wing of 19th-century Hawarden Castle, has five stylish bedrooms and grand communal areas, blending the modernity of Yoko Ono and Damien Hirst artworks with Georgian- era furniture. The meticulous homefrom-home touches, such as Max Richter albums and coffee-table tomes about David Hockney and Johnny Marr’s guitars, have been curated by Charlie Gladstone, the great-great grandson of the Liverpool- born former PM, whose family still lives in the adjoining house.
Guests have exclusive access to the time-capsule Temple of Peace, Gladstone’s private library, plus bespoke experiences, such as dinner cooked by the estate’s head chef or a yoga session in the grounds. after settling into our rural retreat with a hamper of goodies from the nearby farm shop, we set out against a wintery landscape to explore the walking trails, leading through the estate grounds to the village.
at The Glynne arms, a pair of axes glimmer above the open hearth, a reminder that everything here nods to Gladstone’s legacy. The UK’s only prime ministerial library was founded in the late 19th century as a memorial to Gladstone’s vision, and you’ll find it at the top of the high street.
an elderly Gladstone is said to have delivered his books to the original building by wheelbarrow, aided only by a manservant.
Back at the west end, we settle down for an evening of vintage vinyl and book browsing before an open fire, breaking off occasionally to study the art, notably Chris Levine’s stoned, a stonehenge standing stone glinting with diamond dust. Morning reveals another attraction: the ruins of the 13th-century Marcher castle in the grounds.
Gladstone died in 1898 and was buried in westminster abbey, but his heart remained in North wales with his books and penchant for amateur forestry. stay here and you’ll understand why.
TRAVEL FACTS
THE West End sleeps up to ten, with three-night weekend stays from £3,300, or £5,600 for a week’s stay. It can also sleep four, from £1,320 for three nights or from £2,240 for a week, hawarden estateholidays.co.uk. For details about Gladstone’s Library, see
gladstoneslibrary.org.