TOWN VISIT
Wrexham History and heritage in ancient town
The largest town in north Wales has been around for literally millennia. Considered to be the area’s capital, it’s a thriving and eclectic place to visit with a fascinating past
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rexham, situated between the Welsh Colliery in 1934. The last of the original mountains and the lower Dee seven large collieries closed in 1986. Valley alongside the border with England, has been part of various counties and Forward thinking boroughs over recent years. Before that, More recently, the town has diversified it was occupied by conquering Romans, and embraced new developments and is Vikings and Anglo-Saxons. And even a centre for high-tech manufacturing, before that, evidence shows that it was a bio-technology, finance and professional chosen dwelling place before its population services. Now home to around 65,000 even had a name: human activity in the Stunning Erddig Hall residents, Wrexham also has the largest Wrexham area dates back to the Mesolithic retail sector in north Wales and in 2007 period, 8000 to 4300 BC. By the early the town was ranked fifth in the UK explored at Wrexham County Museum. Middle Bronze Age (around 1500 BC) for business start-up success. So it Alongside this the town boasts a DID YOU KNOW? the area had developed into a centre for a is no wonder that this thriving thriving shopping centre, two regular Wrexham Lager nascent metalworking industry. Meanwhile, community also has plenty of indoor markets, several historic pubs, was the first archaeologists have found a Roman civilian attractions and places to visit three parks and the recent addition of brewery in the settlement in the Plas Coch for residents and Ty Pawb – a cultural community UK to produce area of Wrexham too. incomers alike. resource that brings together markets, lager beer Reliable records began There are plenty arts and a food court. after the Norman Conquest of festivals and local and they show that by 1391, celebrations, such as Focus Wrexham was wealthy Wales which celebrates enough for a bard, jester, emerging talent and the Welsh juggler, dancer and goldsmith Wales Comic Con language. Wales Comic Con, to earn their living there. the largest fan convention in Hardworking locals kept the area at the Wales, brings actors, artists, writers and forefront of industry and a rich heritage sports personalities to the town every year. of ironworks, brewery, mining, and a Sporting and other events are held at the military barracks all developed in the town. Racecourse Ground, home of Wrexham FC Community arts and retail centre Ty Pawb Unfortunately Wrexham was hit by the and the world’s decline British industry oldest international THINGS TO SEE AND DO suffered in the 20th football stadium still century with the loss of in use, while glorious Erddig Hall Marchwiel LL13 0YT brickworks, steelworks gardens can be nationaltrust.org.uk/erddig and leather works. enjoyed at the The local coal industry 17th-century Wrexham County Museum County Buildings, Regent Street LL11 1RB suffered one of the stately home Erddig worst mining disasters Hall. The town’s Ty Pawb in Britain’s history technical prowess Market Street LL13 8BB; typawb.wales when underground is celebrated at Minera Lead Mines & Alyn explosions and a fire Techniquest Waters Country Park cost 266 men their Glyndwr, while its groundworknorthwales.org.uk Historic Hope Street lives at Gresford proud past can be The Royal Oak pub 98 SHIRE MAGAZINE | September/October 2019
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