The county borough has an area of 193 square miles (500 km2) and a population of 136,055. The north of the county borough is relatively urbanised and centred on Wrexham, with a population of 44,785, its industrial estate and several outlying villages, such as Brynteg and Gwersyllt. To the north east is the border village of Holt, while to the south of Wrexham, Rhosllanerchrugog, Ruabon, Acrefair and Cefn Mawr are the main urban villages. Further south again is the town of Chirk, near the border with Shropshire, while the Ceiriog Valley to the south-east and English Maelor to the south-west of the county borough are rural. The county borough was historically split between Denbighshire and Flintshire, with it all later being part of the county of Clwyd.
The county borough is flat in the east and hilly in the west. The long salient to the south-west incorporates most of the Ceiriog Valley and includes part of the Berwyn range. The River Ceiriog forms part of the Shropshire border in its lower stages before meeting the Dee east of Chirk. The Dee itself enters the county borough near Cefn Mawr and flows east and then north-east toward Cheshire, creating a wide plain. It forms part of the border before fully entering England at the county borough's north-east corner. The north-west of the county borough, down to Chirk, is part of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB, and includes the Ruabon Moors uplands.
Wrexham includes the remains of two significant medieval castles: Chirk, which is now a country house, and Holt, of which only fragments remain. The county borough has a strong industrial history; a notable early business is Bersham Ironworks, in the Clywedog Valley, which operated between 1715 and 1812 and pioneered cannon manufacture. The area is part of the North Wales Coalfield and significant mining took place in the nineteenth century. Tanning and brewing were also significant industries. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct near Cefn Mawr is an important surviving piece of early industrial infrastructure and has been designated a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site. The contemporary economy of the county borough has diversified into industries such as engineering, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and food processing, with agriculture dominant in the south-east and south-west. The county borough also contains Wrexham University, one of Wales' three Roman Catholiccathedrals, Wrexham Industrial Estate and the UK's largest prison, HMP Berwyn.
Following formation in 1996, there were discussions over the boundary between the newly created principal areas of Denbighshire and Wrexham County Borough, in particular over the lower Dee Valley and Llangollen area. Llangollen, Llangollen Rural and Llantysillio were all considered to potentially all or partly become part of Wrexham County Borough. Referendums were held in the communities, with the community of Llangollen Rural, originally in Denbighshire in 1996, transferred to Wrexham County Borough in 1997 through the enacting of "The Denbighshire and Wrexham (Areas) Order 1996" on 1 April 1997.[15][16][17]
Referendums by Llangollen Town Council were held in 1993 and 2000, with the latter resulting in a narrow majority of nineteen votes for staying in Denbighshire, and the Welsh Assembly accepting the result by confirming the boundaries in 2002.[18]
On 1 September 2022, the county borough was awarded city status on behalf of Wrexham's application.[3]
The county borough is within the preserved county of Clwyd, and between 1974 and 1996 as part of the then administrative county of Clwyd, the present-day county borough was divided into the districts of Wrexham Maelor and Glyndŵr. Before Clwyd's establishment in 1974, the modern-day county borough was part of the historic counties of Denbighshire (spanning most of the modern-day county borough; including Wrexham), and Flintshire (the English Maelor exclave).[citation needed]
The county borough is largely urban and industrial surrounding Wrexham, but largely rural for the rest of the county borough, with areas of farmland and rural estates. Woodlands cover 9.4% of the county borough, lower than the national average of 14%.[28]
The River Dee is the main river in the county borough, flowing from Denbighshire in the west into the county borough passing Froncysyllte, under Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, and passing Chirk, until it flows north-east towards England, cutting off the county borough's south-east salient of Maelor Saesneg (meaning "English Maelor") and later forming part of the border between Wales and England. River Alyn, a tributary of the Dee, flows in the north of the county borough.[citation needed]
Nant Mill hosts a Visitor Centre on the Clywedog Trail and is surrounded by woodland,[46] whereas Stryt Las Park between Rhos and Johnstown hosts grassland, woodland and ponds.[47] Both are operated by the council.
87% of the population in the county borough is within two miles of the main parks in the county borough.[28][33] The remaining areas are already largely rural, in particular the Ceiriog valley and English Maelor.[33]
The most recent Wrexham County Borough election on 5 May 2022,[57] resulted in independent politicians maintaining their position as the largest group with 23 members but falling short of a majority, leaving the council in no overall control.[58] Since 2017,[59] the principal council has been operated by a coalition of local independents, the "Wrexham Independents" group and the Conservatives.[60] Following the 2022 election, on 11 May 2022, local independents and the separately organised "Wrexham Independents" merged into a 21-member[i] "Independent Group", and formed a coalition with the Conservatives again for another five-year term.[61] The next election for the council is due for 6 May 2027,[62] as part of the next Welsh local elections.
Wrexham County Borough Council's Guildhall, WrexhamGlyn Ceiriog in the county borough's south-west.
In the Senedd (Welsh Parliament), Wrexham County Borough is split into two Senedd constituencies, Clwyd South and Wrexham, each electing a Member of the Senedd (MS) each. The county borough is also part of the North Wales Senedd region which elects a further four regional members.[72]
Polling done by UnHerd in 2019, showed that of those polled 54% of the county borough supported the continued reign of the British Monarch, compared to 23% and 21% opposed, and 23% and 25% do not know, in the Wrexham and Clwyd South constituencies respectively.[73]
In the 2016 National Survey for Wales, only 45.9% of the population agreed or strongly agreed that Wrexham County Borough Council provides quality services, below the Welsh average of 59.3%.[28]
In 2021, the council submitted bids for UK City of Culture 2025 on behalf of the county borough although later lost to Bradford, and a separate bid, submitted in December 2021, to award the then town of Wrexham the status of a city for the civic honours awarded for the 2022 Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, which it later won.[83] It was the only city bid from Wales, and Wrexham has applied for city status three other times, in 2000, 2002 and 2012, with the 2012 bid lost to St Asaph, Denbighshire.[84] City status was awarded to the "County Borough of Wrexham" on behalf of Wrexham on 1 September 2022.[85] In November 2021, a local consulation survey conducted by Wrexham council, reported that 61% of respondents stated that Wrexham does not "deserve" to be a city.[86]
In February 2024, a report from Audit Wales, stated that the council's planning members had a poor relationship with professional officers over planning decisions and the council frequently undermine officers, looking for alternative opinions instead.[87] Audit Wales also criticised the council's failure to adopt its local development plan.[88] In March 2024, The Municipal Journal, stated that an investigation had begun into an allegation of malfeasance in office by Wrexham councillors, with both North Wales Police and the Welsh Government participating in the case.[89]
Westminster members
Wrexham County Borough is located in three constituencies, and their MPs are:[71]
The economy of the county borough has changed over the past few decades, from a largely coal-mining focused heavy industrial area, into a high-tech manufacturing, technological and service industry hub.[90]
The main industry is manufacturing with around 20% (18.3% in 2011 census) of employment in the county borough being in the manufacturing sector.[91] The other largest sectors from the 2011 census include: 15.2% in the Wholesale and retail sector (including vehicle repair), 14.6% health sector, 8.9% education, 6.9% construction, 6.0% government and military, 4.9% accommodation and food service, 4.4% administration and support services, 4.3% transport, 3.9% professional, scientific and technical, 2.8% finance and industry, 1.8% IT and 8% other.[92] When classed together the public sector counts for more than a third of jobs in the county borough.[91] 75% of the total land in the county borough is managed by farmers.[28]
Brewing
History
Original brewery of Wrexham Lager, now an office building inside Wrexham Central Retail Park. It is a Listed building.
In the 19th century, a brewing industry developed in Wrexham town, alongside the then town's existing leather and coal industry.[93][94] The town became a brewing centre due to the town's good underground water supplies near but not of the River Gwenfro.[95][96] The sands and gravels in the surrounding river plain filters groundwater which builds up on the impervious rocks beneath.[96] Wrexham also sits above a faultline, dividing the area into a mineral-rich hard water east suitable for brewing beer, and a soft water west for lager.[96] Many breweries were also set up in the medieval times in the township of Wrexham Abbot which would have had lower taxes than Wrexham Regis, the areas controlled by the Crown.[96] By the 1860s, there were 19 breweries in the town.[95] Many brewers became leading politicians in the town, with two brewers, Thomas Rowland and Peter Walker disagreeing who should be mayor of Wrexham.[95]
Wrexham Lager has been brewed in Wrexham since 1882.[95][97] The brewery produced the first German-brewed lager in the United Kingdom, and was located in Wrexham for the brewing quality of its underground spring water.[98] The lager was reputedly served on board the Titanic, other White Star Line ships and by soldiers during the Siege of Khartoum.[99][100][101] It is also claimed to be the first lager to been exported to countries such as India, South Africa, Australia and various countries in the Americas.[102] The brand started to decline during the World wars, following changing consumer tastes, rationalisation, and the internationalisation of the industry.[102][103] The brewery was bought by Ind Coope & Allsopp, eventually merged into Allied Breweries and later Carlsberg-Tetley.[102] The original brewery located on top of the Gwenfro was closed by Carlsberg in 2000, with all UK-wide production by Carlsberg of the brand ceasing in 2002. The modern brewery, constructed in the late-20th century, was demolished between 2002 and 2003,[103] and was replaced with Wrexham Central Retail Park. The original brewhouse building on Central Road within the now retail park remains as a Grade II listed building.
Another known brewery formerly operating in Wrexham was Soames's Brewery, and what later became Border Breweries. The brewery can be traced back to a minor brewing business operating out of the Nag's Head Public House on Tuttle Street.[104] It was not until 1874 following an acquisition, that "Wrexham Brewery" started to become a major producer. In his 1892 tour, Alfred Barnard described Soames's to have the best beer in Wrexham.[95][105] The Border Breweries company was formed from the merger of Soames Wrexham Brewery, Island Green Brewery and Dorsett Owen in 1931.[105][104] It was purchased by Marston's Brewery in 1984 and closed by Marston's six months later despite stating otherwise.[95][104] Other former breweries include Albion, Cambrian, Eagle, Island Green, and Willow.
In 2011, the Wrexham Lager brand was revived, launched in the Buck House Hotel in Bangor-on-Dee,[106] it later moved to a newly built high-tech microbrewery on St. George's Crescent to the east of Wrexham city centre from the original brewery.[102]
In recent years, the lager has experienced success, with the lager in 2022 announced it will be sold in Aldi stores across Wales and England.[107]
As of April 2022[update], the other microbreweries currently set up in the county borough include: Big Hand Microbrewery (Wrexham Ind. Est.),[108] Magic Dragon Brewery (Plassey),[109] McGivern Ales (Ruabon),[110] and Sandstone Brewery.[111][112]
Pen-y-bont, on the site of the former J C Edwards brickworks site, near Cefn Mawr. The building was a showpiece for the company's brickwork.
Ruabon to the west of the county borough has a deep history in brick and tile-making. This is owed to its vast amounts of high quality Etruria Marl clay. In the 19th century this clay was the centrepiece for Ruabon's tile and terracotta production on a vast scale, leading the village to be nicknamed "Terracottapolis".[113][114][115] Its former manufacturing speciality the "Ruabon Red Brick" were used in various buildings of the Victorian era, such as the Pierhead Building in Cardiff, Victoria Building of Liverpool University and in the restoration of the Taj Mahal.[99][113] Hafod Brickworks were established near Hafod Colliery in 1878, and a "Red Works" in 1893.[113][116] The bricks contributed to the term "redbrick" in the term "Red brick university". Brick production largely ceased in the 1970s, with production mainly focused on quarry tiles.[113]
In 1854, there were 26 coal mines operating in the western uplands of Wrexham.[117] The main mines were located at Ruabon, Rhos, Acrefair, Brymbo and Broughton (particularly around the Moss Valley). Mining operations were later concentrated, with larger colleries such as Westminster, Hafod (now Bonc-yr-Hafod park), Bersham, Wynnstay, Wrexham and Acton, Llay Hall and Gatewen commencing operations.[117] By the 20th century, two deep coal pits were dug, one at Gresford opening in 1911,[10] and another at Llay Main.[117] In 1934, a colliery disaster in Gresford killed 261 miners, with 3 rescuers also killed in the rescue operations. In the late 20th century, the traditional industries of Wrexham, in particular coal-mining, went into decline. Llay Main closed in 1966, Hafod closed in 1968, Gresford Colliery closed in 1973, and Bersham Colliery closed in 1986.[10][117]
The Racecourse Ground, home of Wrexham A.F.C., in 2007
The county borough is home to Wrexham A.F.C., formed in 1864; they are the oldest club in Wales and the third[141] oldest professional association football team in the world. The team competes in the EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system.[99][142] Wrexham A.F.C's home stadium, the Racecourse Ground, is the world's oldest international stadium that still continues to host international games, and its neighbouring Turf Hotel pub is the oldest pub to any sporting stadium in the world.[141] The team train at Colliers Park, Gresford,[143] and have an equivalent Women's team. The team's rivalry with Chester City F.C. (now Chester F.C.) is described as the "Cross-border derby". In 1869, another football team composed of footballers from Ruabon, was formed in Plas Madoc, later becoming the Cefn Druids following a merger.[139][140][144]
Wrexham RFC is a Welsh rugby union team based in Wrexham; it is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and was a founding club of the North Wales Rugby Union, itself founded in Wrexham in 1931.[151] The club is located to the east of Rhosnesni, Wrexham.
Aerial view of Bangor-on-Dee racecourse (dark green patch), surrounded by the meandering River Dee
Bangor-on-Dee racecourse is located in Bangor-on-Dee, and has held horse racing events since February 1859. It is the only racecourse in North and Mid Wales.[153][154] Prior to being a football stadium and home to Wrexham A.F.C., the Racecourse Ground once held horse racing events as part of the Wrexham Gold Cup and the Silver Cavalry Cup, with the first held on 29 September 1807.[155] Horse racing ended at the Racecourse Ground in 1857.[49][155]
In 1950, Wrexham (specifically Plas Coch) was a stop in the world's first scheduled helicopter passenger service between Liverpool and Cardiff by British European Airways.[157][158] The service ceased in March 1951 due to low demand.[157][158]
Railways
Wrexham General, the main railway station in the county borough
The county borough contains two railway lines:[159]
Wrexham and Ellesmere Railway opened in 1895,[157] which passed through Wrexham city centre, St. Giles' Church and Maelor Saesneg towards Ellesmere; it closed in 1962 for passengers and 1981 for freight.[169]
There was an electric tramway between 1903 and 1927, connecting Wrexham to Rhosllanerchrugog, operated by Wrexham and District Electric Tramways.[157] The route was 4.4 miles (7.1 km) long, connecting the mining villages with Wrexham city centre and General railway station.[157] It was later replaced with motor buses in 1937.[49][157][172]
Demography
Population pyramid of Wrexham borough in 2020
At the 2021 census,[iii] the county borough recorded a population of 135,100, and is the tenth most populous principal area in Wales, the same rank as 2011.[173][174] This population is a small increase of 0.2% from the 2011 census and lower than the national average of a 1.4% increase in population in 2021. The county borough is ranked thirteenth in population growth among principal areas, with both Denbighshire (2.2%) and Flintshire (1.6%) growing faster, although Powys also increased by 0.2%, and Conwy (also in ceremonial Clwyd) shrunk by 0.4%.[174]
The city of Wrexham had a population of 44,785, in the 2021 census,[29] accounting for 33% of the population of the county borough. This roughly covers the four communities of Acton, Caia Park, Offa and Rhosddu.[175] In the 2011 census, the Wrexham built-up area (BUA) was considered to also include western urban villages such as Gwersyllt, Brymbo and New Broughton, as well as Bradley and Rhostyllen, with a total population of 65,692 (2011 census), 48% of the county borough in 2011.[176] In the 2021 census, these new separate built-up areas are Bradley (1,315), Brynteg (9,225), Gwersyllt (7,110) and Rhostyllen (2,760).[29] There is also the BUAs of Coedpoeth (4,740), Gresford (4,945) and Llay (4,665) in the north to north-west of the county borough.[29] The other largest settlement is Rhosllanerchrugog with a community population of 9,694 in 2011[177] while its 2021 built-up area was 12,785 residents.[29] Other southern 2021 built-up areas include Acrefair and Cefn Mawr (6,905), Ruabon (3,410), and Trevor (1,395).[29]Holt's BUA had 1,085 residents in 2021, while the community of Chirk had a population of 4,468 in 2011,[178] and its 2021 built-up area population was 3,935.[29]
The county borough has 1,300 more females than males, with 68,200 females (50%) to 66,900 males (50%).[173] The county borough is twelfth in population density of the principal areas of Wales, with 268 people per square kilometre, more than the national average of 150. The most populous five-year age group are those aged 50–54 with 10,100 people (7%).[173] With a 19.5% growth in those aged 65 years and over, a decrease of 3.9% aged 15–64, and a decrease of 3.6% of children under 15 years old. In a 2020 population projection, Wrexham County Borough's population is expected to shrink slightly by 2028.[179]
The average age in the county borough is 42 years, with more than 25% of the population being in the 45 to 64 age cohort in 2011.[91]
At the 2011 census, 96.9% of the population was recorded to be White, made of 93.1% English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/ British, 0.4% Irish and 3.4% other White. The next largest eithnic group in 2011 was Asian/Asian British at 1.7%, with 0.6% identifying as Indian. 0.5% of the 2011 population were Black, and 0.2% other ethnic.[92]
93.7% of the population was born in the United Kingdom, 69.2% from Wales, 23.4% from England, 0.8% from Scotland, and 0.3% from Northern Ireland. 0.3% from the Republic of Ireland, 3.4 from the European Union (excluding Ireland), and 2.6% from other countries. 71.2% held a British passport, 24.3% no passport, 3.3% an EU member passport, and 1.2% other.[92]
95.8% of the population over 16 had English at their main household language. 65.1% of the population classed themselves as part of a religion, of which: 63.5% were Christian, 0.6% Muslim, 0.4% Hindu and 0.6% other. 27.4% had no religion, and 7.5% religion not stated.[92]
66% of waste is either recycled, reused or composted in the county borough between 2018 and 2019, 3% higher than the Welsh average.[180]
In 2011, 94.7% of the population identified with a UK nation identity consisting of either a Welsh/English/Scottish/Northern Irish or British identity, with 60.3% having part or full Welsh identity. 0.4% had a mixed identity between Welsh/English/Scottish/Northern Irish/British and another identity. 3.4% of the population had other non-UK identities.[28]
Some of the top 10% deprived areas in Wales are located in the county borough, these five Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) are; Queensway 1, Wynnstay, Plas Madoc, Queensway 2 and Cartrefle 2.[28]
Only 12.2% of Wrexham County Borough's population at the 2021 census could speak Welsh, lower than the national average of 17.8%, making the county borough largely anglophone.[181] At the previous census in 2011, the percentage in Wrexham County Borough was 12.9%.[182] The highest proportion of Welsh-language speakers in the county borough is in the rural Ceiriog Valley ward, where 31.2% can speak the Welsh language. The ward of Wynnstay in Wrexham has the lowest proportion of Welsh-language speakers with 7.7%. Therefore, Welsh is more likely to be spoken in more rural areas of the county borough.[28]
Wrexham council have a "poor performance" in providing services in the Welsh language, due to the prevalence of translation errors. There were 34 public complaints put to the council between April 2018 to March 2019,[183] to the Welsh Language Commissioner.[184]
Wrexham University, formerly the North East Wales Institute of Higher Education (NEWI).
The county borough houses one university, which is located in the city of Wrexham, Wrexham University, and was awarded university status in 2008 as Glyndŵr University.[192]Bangor University has a healthcare school near Wrexham Maelor Hospital.[193] The main further education provider in the county borough is Coleg Cambria,[194] formed in 2013 from the merger of Yale College, Wrexham and Deeside College in Flintshire. Coleg Cambria also provides some higher education, and has two main sites in Wrexham, at Yale Grove Park Road in the city centre, and Bersham Road to the south-west of the city centre in Offa.[194]
In 2019, secondary schools in Wrexham were criticised by Estyn, the Welsh education and training inspectorate, for having the poorest attendance of the principal areas in Wales.[197] In February 2022, just under 30% of primary school buildings in Wrexham County Borough are in "poor" condition.[198] Although by 2023, the council stated that no reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete have been identified in local school buildings.[199]
The first twinning was established on 17 March 1970 between the former Kreis Iserlohn and Wrexham Rural District.[201] Its early success ensured that, after local government reorganisation in both countries in the mid-seventies, the twinning was taken over by the new councils of Märkischer Kreis and Wrexham Maelor Borough Council and, in 1996, by Wrexham County Borough Council.
In 2001 Märkischer Kreis entered a twinning arrangement with Racibórz, a county in Poland, which was formerly part of Silesia, Germany. In September 2002, a delegation from Racibórz visited Wrexham and began discussions about cooperation which led to the signing of the Articles of Twinning between Wrexham and Racibórz in March 2004. The Wrexham area has strong historical links with Poland. Following World War II, many service personnel from the Free Polish armed forces who had been injured received treatment at Penley Polish Hospital. Many of their descendants remain in the area.
Focus Wales, an international new music festival is hosted in the city of Wrexham.[205]Tŷ Pawb, an art and cultural centre in the city plays host to many cultural events and exhibitions.[99][206]Wales Comic Con was founded in 2007 and its first event held in Wrexham in 2008, prior to the moving of its events to Telford in 2019 (as Wales Comic Con: Telford Takeover) due to the small venue at Wrexham's university.[207]
There are two public market halls in Wrexham city centre, the Butcher's Market and General Market.[131] A third, People's Market, was converted to the Tŷ Pawb cultural centre in 2018. A weekly Monday market is held in Queen's Square in Wrexham.[131]
Tourism accounts for £116 million and 1,600 jobs for the county borough, increasing 38% between 2012 and 2017.[208]
In 2020, a science discovery centre known as "Xplore!" opened in Wrexham city centre, succeeding the Techniquest centre at Glyndŵr University.[209]
In October 2021, the council's bid for UK City of Culture in 2025 made it onto the competition's shortlist of only 8 shortlisted places in the UK, outbidding 12 other places (20 applied in total) and being the only one of the five bids from Wales making it onto the shortlist. In March 2022, Wrexham County Borough's bid for City of Culture made onto the competition's shortlist of only four places, the only non-English bid.[211][212] On 31 May 2022, Wrexham lost to Bradford's bid.[213]
Public art and symbols
Acton Dog sculpture outside Wrexham County Borough Museum.
Notable buildings and structures such as St Giles' Church, Chirk Castle and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct also act as symbols for the county borough.
The "Acton Dog" has become a symbol of Wrexham city, inspired by the four greyhound fibre glass statues on top of Acton Gate at the entrance of the former Acton Estate, they were the symbol of the Cunliffe family.[49][214] Some settlements in the county borough host a colliery wheel as a welcome sign, highlighting the areas coal-mining industry heritage.[215]
Colliery wheel welcome signs in Rhiwabon (Ruabon; left) and Black Park near Chirk (right).
"Babs" was a modified Higham Specialsport racing car designed in the county borough.[216] Designed, built and driven by John Godfrey "J.G." Parry-Thomas from Wrexham, it set the land speed record of 171 miles per hour (275 km/h) in Pendine Sands, Carmarthenshire in April 1926.[217] Parry-Thomas was killed in the car on the beach,[218] aged 42, during his attempt on 3 March 1927 to regain his speed record from Malcolm Campbell.[217] The car was buried beneath the sand dunes on the beach until 1969, when it was later recovered, restored and remained on display at the Pendine Museum of Speed until 2018, when it was temporarily relocated to Beaulieu Motor Museum,[218] until the completion of the Pendine Sands of Speed Museum.
Waking the Dragon was a proposed bronze sculpture to be built near Chirk, it was first proposed in 2010,[219] and granted permission in 2011,[220] with progress stalling by 2016 due to a lack of funding.[221]
Holt Castle is located in the village of Holt, along the banks of the River Dee next to the English border.[223][224] It was built between 1283 and 1311 by Earls of Surrey, John de Warenne and his grandson, following Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the Prince of Wales' defeat.[223][224]
The most notable country estate is at Erddig Hall, a Grade-I listedNational Trust property, located to the south of Wrexham. Situated on an escarpment above the River Clywedog, the 18th century country house is surrounded by a 1,900-acre (7.7 km2) estate, including parkland and woodlands.[231]
Another historic estate is the Wynnstay estate near Ruabon. Notably the home of the Williams-Wynn family, the Wynnstay Hall stands above the River Dee overlooking the Vale of Llangollen and Y Berwyn.[232] The family vacated the building in 1948, with it first turned into a school, and now houses and apartments.[49][233]Trevalyn Hall, a Grade II listed manor house in Rossett, has also been converted to separate homes in the 1984.[234]
Marchwiel Hall, a 19th-century private Grade II listed hall is situated near Marchwiel. The estate is home to a cricket ground and pavilion, which serves as the home for the Marchwiel and Wrexham Cricket Club, on the only open part of the estate to the public. The hall has been on sale for £2.5 million.[235]
Iscoyd Park located near the border with Shropshire to the east in English Maelor, serves as a wedding venue.[236]
Pen-y-Lan Hall, another Grade II listed building, located near Ruabon, has become known for Ghost sightings, with Ghost hunting events held at the hall.[237]
Bersham Colliery was opened in 1864, as the Glan-yr-afon Colliery, located near Rhostyllen. It was operated by the Bersham Coal Company, and it was not until 10 years later in 1874 that coal was produced at the site. The colliery was closed and partially demolished in December 1986. Its No.2 shaft headgear with its colliery wheel and an engine house with an electric winding gear, as well as other buildings remain standing as part of a small industrial estate. The buildings for the No.2 shaft have been proposed to form a small mining museum for the former colliery.[238]
Bersham Heritage Centre, in the Bersham Ironworks, operated from 1983 until 2014, and was the home for the Wrexham County Borough Museum's Industrial History collection, and performed as the centre of Wrexham's Industrial Heritage.[10][240][243]
Brymbo
The Arc (Welsh: Y Bwa) sculpture on Lord Street, Wrexham city centre
Steel was a former industry for the county borough, with the Brymbo Steelworks reaching its peak in steel production in the 1960s and early 1970s. Over 2,000 workers were employed at the steelworks until its closure in 1990. There is a sculpted archway, "the arc", in Lord Street, Wrexham to commemorate the industry.[230] In 2020, the site of the former steelworks were proposed to be re-developed into a visitor attraction and community hub with funding from the National Lottery.[244]
Minera
Lead Mines in Minera, opened in 1845, mining lead until its closure in 1914. The site has since been converted into a country park, covering 53 acres (0.21 km2) of grassland, woodland and the former lead mines, it also hosts a tourist centre.[39][245]
The main canal is the Llangollen Canal from Llangollen which travels to Chirk before entering England.[252] Sections of the historically proposed and never completed Ellesmere Canal were proposed to pass right through the centre of the county borough, from Chester in the north to meet the River Ceiriog at Chirk until reaching Ellesmere.[253]
The Leader is the local newspaper in Wrexham.[268] There is also a local media website known as Wrexham.com.[269]
Music
Performance stage at Theatr Stiwt, Rhosllanerchrugog
Theatr Stiwt (Stiwt Theatre) in Rhosllanerchrugog, with 450 seats, opened in 1926, and hosts various drama and musical performances.[270][271] The Grove Park Theatre, described as Wrexham's "oldest amateur theatre", is located on Hill Street in Wrexham since 1954.[272] The 890-seat William Aston Hall in Wrexham University, and the 150-seat Studio Theatre in Coleg CambriaYale also acts as a venue for events.[270] The Wrexham Musical Theatre Society is based at the 120-seat Riverside Studio Theatre.[270]
The county borough is home to numerous choirs such as Brymbo, Y Rhos, Rhos Orpheus, Dyffryn Ceiriog and Fron Male Voice Choir.[270] The latter is regarded as the oldest boy-band in the world.[270]
^As of 28 June 2022[update], only the initial results of the census have been released, only covering local authorities and Wales as a whole. Settlement figures have yet to be released.
^ ab"Crown Office | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2022. THE QUEEN has been pleased by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 1 September 2022 to ordain that the County Borough of Wrexham shall have the status of a City.
^Natural Resources Wales 2014 data only showed seven areas under the Country Park designation within the boundaries of Wrexham County Borough. "Country Parks | DataMapWales". datamap.gov.wales. Natural Resources Wales. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
^David, Smith; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881–1981. University of Wales Press. p. 271. ISBN0-7083-0766-3.
^"The Stations". chester2shrewsburyrail.co.uk. Chester Shrewsbury Rail Partnership. Archived from the original on 14 October 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
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