Wrexham Town Visit

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

Wrexham, situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley alongside the border with England, has been part of various counties and boroughs over recent years. Before that, it was occupied by conquering Romans, Vikings and Anglo-Saxons. And even before that, evidence shows that it was a chosen dwelling place before its population even had a name: human activity in the Wrexham area dates back to the Mesolithic period, 8000 to 4300 BC. By the early Middle Bronze Age (around 1500 BC) the area had developed into a centre for a nascent metalworking industry. Meanwhile, archaeologists have found a Roman civilian settlement in the Plas Coch area of Wrexham too.

Reliable records began after the Norman Conquest and they show that by 1391, Wrexham was wealthy enough for a bard, jester, juggler, dancer and goldsmith to earn their living there. Hardworking locals kept the area at the forefront of industry and a rich heritage of ironworks, brewery, mining, and a military barracks all developed in the town. Unfortunately Wrexham was hit by the decline British industry suffered in the 20th century with the loss of brickworks, steelworks and leather works. The local coal industry suffered one of the worst mining disasters in Britain’s history when underground explosions and a fire cost 266 men their

Historic Hope Street lives at Gresford

Colliery in 1934. The last of the original seven large collieries closed in 1986.

Forward thinking

More recently, the town has diversified and embraced new developments and is a centre for high-tech manufacturing, bio-technology, finance and professional services. Now home to around 65,000 residents, Wrexham also has the largest retail sector in north Wales and in 2007the town was ranked fifth in the UK for business start-up success. So itis no wonder that this thriving community also has plenty of attractions and places to visit for residents and incomers alike.

There are plenty of festivals and local celebrations, such as Focus Wales which celebrates emerging talent and the Welshlanguage. Wales Comic Con, the largest fan convention in Wales, brings actors, artists, writers and sports personalities to the town every year.

Sporting and other events are held at the Racecourse Ground, home of Wrexham FC and the world’s oldest international football stadium still in use, while glorious gardens can be enjoyed at the 17th-century stately home Erddig Hall. The town’s technical prowess is celebrated at Techniquest Glyndwr, while its proud past can be

The Royal Oak pub

Wales Comic Con

DID YOU KNOW? Wrexham Lager was the first brewery in the UK to produce lager beer

explored at Wrexham County Museum. Alongside this the town boasts athriving shopping centre, two regular indoor markets, several historic pubs, three parks and the recent addition of Ty Pawb – a cultural community resource that brings together markets, arts and a food court.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO

Erddig Hall Marchwiel LL13 0YT nationaltrust.org.uk/erddig

Wrexham County Museum County Buildings, Regent Street LL11 1RB

Ty Pawb Market Street LL13 8BB; typawb.wales

Minera Lead Mines & Alyn Waters Country Park groundworknorthwales.org.uk

Stunning Erddig Hall

Community arts and retail centre Ty Pawb

98 SHIRE MAGAZINE | September/October 2019