Wrexham
Encyclopedia
Wrexham is a town in Wales
. It is the administrative centre
of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales
, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley
close to the border with Cheshire
, England
. As the largest town in the north of Wales, it is a major centre of the region's commercial, retail and educational infrastructure.
At the time of the United Kingdom Census 2001
, Wrexham had a population of 42,576, and the wider Wrexham Urban Area, as defined by the Office for National Statistics
, had a population of 63,084. The wider Wrexham county borough, which covers 50,500 hectares, has a population of over 130,000. The town is ranked as the 4th largest urban area in Wales, after Cardiff
, Swansea
and Newport
.
Evidence of human activity in the Wrexham area have been found as far back as approximately 1600 BC. However the first known settlement was known as Wristleham Castle, a motte and bailey located in what is now known as Erddig
Park, established in 1161. King Edward I of England
is on record as having briefly stayed at Wrexham during his expedition to suppress the revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn
in 1294. The town became part of the county of Denbighshire
when it was created in 1536. Wrexham was divided into two distinct townships, Wrexham Regis (which was under the control of the King) and Wrexham Abbot (generally the older parts of the town, which originally belonged to Valle Crucis Abbey
at nearby Llangollen
).
To the east of Wrexham, there are the remains of Holt Castle
. The castle and the nearby late medieval bridge were the scene of constant skirmishes during the Civil War
in the 17th century. The River Dee in this area is deep and wide. The bridge at Holt was the first crossing point south of the city of Chester
and hence was of major strategic importance.
In the 18th century Wrexham was known for its leather industry. There were skinners and tanners in the town. The horns from cattle were used to make such items as combs and buttons. There was also a nail-making industry in Wrexham.
In the mid-18th century Wrexham was no more than a small market town with a population of perhaps 2,000. However, in the late 18th century Wrexham grew rapidly as it became one of the pioneers of the Industrial Revolution
.
The Industrial Revolution began in Wrexham in 1762 when the entrepreneur John Wilkinson
(1728–1808) known as 'Iron Mad Wilkinson' opened Bersham Heritage Centre and Ironworks
. In 1793 he opened a smelting plant at Brymbo
. At the top end of the Clywedog Valley, about ten minutes' drive from Wrexham, Minera Lead Mines
are the remains of the profitable lead industry that dates back to prehistoric times.
Wrexham gained its first newspaper in 1848. The Market Hall was built in 1848, and in 1863 a volunteer fire brigade was founded. Wrexham was also home to a large number of breweries, and tanning became one of Wrexham's main industries. In the mid 19th century Wrexham was granted borough
status.
Wrexham's mining heritage is nearly all gone. Most former mines have been converted into industrial and business parks - one such development at Bersham Colliery has the last surviving head gear in the north Wales coalfield. Just off the A483, on the edge of Wrexham, the Gresford Disaster
Memorial stands witness to the 266 miners who lost their lives after a series of explosions at Gresford colliery
in September 1934.
In the mid to late 19th century Wrexham had over 35 breweries, and grew a proud tradition of brewing both ale
and lager
. In 1882 German immigrants set up Britain's first lager brewery under the name of Wrexham Lager
. In 2000 the Wrexham Lager Brewery was the last one to close. A number of the original brewery buildings remain, most notably Wrexham Lager on Central Road (offices), Soames Brewery on Yorke Street (Nags Head) and Border Brewery
on Tuttle Street (converted apartments). Wrexham Lager
was revived in October 2011 to serve the pub trade and is now available in various pubs throughout the county.
Just 2 miles (3 km) south of Wrexham town centre, Erddig
, a National Trust property, was home to the Yorke family until 1973. Its last resident, Philip Yorke, handed over a house in need of restoration as years of subsidence caused by the workings of Bersham Colliery had caused a lot of damage. The house was voted one of the two most popular stately home
s in the UK by a National Trust/Channel 5 publication.
After World War II, the former munitions factory
ROF Wrexham was closed, leaving the many buildings derelict. In the 1950s British Celanese opened a large factory there followed by Firestone, Owen Corning, Kellogg's and BICC.
Wrexham did at one time had a large brewing industry. The leatherworks in Petrefelin and Tuttle Street, the many coal mines in the area, the brickworks in Abenbury, Brymbo Steelworks and the breweries all closed in the latter half of the 20th Century, along with some of the newer ones such as Courtalds, Firestone and Owens Corning. Wrexham was suffering from the same problems as much of industrialised Britain and saw little investment in the 1970s.
In the 1980s and 1990s funded in part by the Welsh Development Agency
(WDA), a major dual carriageway
, the A483
, extending the existing bypass and connecting it with nearby Chester
and Shrewsbury
, which in turn had connections with other big cities such as Manchester
and Liverpool
.
who serves for one year. Between 2001 and 2005 Wrexham Council's website was named the best local government portal in Wales on four occasions and in 2007 was listed as 19th in the UK's top 20 council websites based on usability. People who live under the jurisdiction of Wrexham County Borough Council
are able to pay taxes, debts and other fees through the website. They can also access many other services, such as reporting crimes, submitting planning applications and applying for permits.
The Wrexham constituency
elects members to the UK Parliament
and the National Assembly for Wales
. The constituency includes both the town and some of its outlying villages such as Gwersyllt
, Llay
, Marford
, Rossett
and Holt
.
The UK Parliament constituency of Wrexham
has long been a safe seat
for the Labour Party
. Wrexham is divided into the communities
of Acton
, Rhosddu
, Offa
and Caia Park
.
) is the region's major acute district hospital, with 700 beds, and is one of the three core hospitals in North Wales. It is situated in the south of the town, on Croesnewydd Road. In 1985 major expansion took place on the site, modernising many of the existing departments. It was also the headquarters of the North East Wales NHS Trust
, until the merger of the Local Health Boards and NHS Trusts in North Wales created the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board - which is the largest health organisation in Wales. Other NHS hospitals within the borough are Chirk Community and Penley Polish Hospital.
Yale Hospital (Ysbyty Iâl in Welsh
) situated close to the Maelor Hospital on Wrexham Technology Park is Wrexham's largest private hospital with over 25 beds. Formerly BUPA Yale Hospital, it is now owned and operated by Spire Healthcare.
Wrexham is served by North Wales Police
; their Eastern Division HQ is in the centre of the town.
The local fire station
is situated on Bradley Road close to the Island Green and central retail parks.
several times. In 2011, Wrexham County Borough Council
confirmed it will apply again for the 2012 Queen's Diamond Jubilee, where one town will be granted city status for the celebration. Mayor Trewhella said "there is a slim chance, but it is there. It is an opportunity to put Wrexham on the map".
and easternmost mountains of Wales. This situation enabled it to grow as a market town as a cross roads between England and Wales and later as an industrial hub - due to its rich natural reserves of iron ore and coal. It does however have three relatively minor rivers running through parts of the town. These are the rivers Clywedog
, Gwenfro
and Alyn
. Wrexham is also famed for the quality of its underground water reserves, which gave rise to its previous dominance as a major brewing centre.
Originally a market town with surrounding small villages, Wrexham is now coalesced with a number of urban villages and forms North Wales
' largest conurbation exceeding 100,000 residents including its north, western and south western suburban villages. The Office for National Statistics
defines a Wrexham Urban Area which consists of Wrexham Town and some coalesced suburbs (Pop. 63,084 in 2001) making it the 134th largest urban area in the UK, and the 4th largest in Wales.
includes Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, H&M, Next, River Island, TenPin and Odeon. The development is connected to Yorke Street and High Street by a bridge. There are three traditional covered markets (Butter, Butchers and Peoples Markets) plus north Wales' largest open-air market based in the town centre each Monday (including Bank Holidays). Wrexham boasts the most used Shopmobility service in north Wales, which is free. Much of the Wrexham town centre is pedestrianised and there are short stay car parks adjacent to the town centre. Long-stay parking is available at St. Marks (NCP) at the northern end of Regent Street or the larger surface park (WCBC).
in 2011.
A number of visitor attractions can be found in the town or within a short drive from the centre. Among the most popular are:
, technology
and services hub. Wrexham Industrial Estate
is the UK's second-largest industrial park
and among the largest in Europe. The remainder of the industrial parks are located around the A483 corridor to the west of the town. Companies such as Sharp, Brother
, Cytec Industries
, Calypso
, J. C. Bamford
, Cadbury and Kellogg's have major manufacturing, research or office bases in and around the town. International pharmaceutical and chemical companies are also well represented including Flexsys and Wockhardt
. Service and smaller high technology set-ups are generally found within the town centre or close to the centre at Wrexham Technology Park such as Grote, Moneypenny and UHY Hacker Young
.
Wrexham has held on to a substantial manufacturing base after facing stiff competition from growing eastern European and Asian economies. Approximately 25 percent of jobs in Wrexham are in the manufacturing sector, with a growing number in service, financial and technology industries.
The central area of Wrexham has also seen a number of purpose built residential developments as well as conversions of older buildings to residential use. Outside the town centre new estates are being developed in several areas, including over 500 homes at the former Brymbo Steelworks site, a ribbon of development on Mold Road leading out of the town (which includes four development companies) and Ruthin Road (Wrexham Western Gateway). There are further plans, one of which is the development of National Trust land at Erddig
for over 250 homes. The announcement to develop National Trust
land generated many protests, particularly from residents in nearby Rhostyllen. A motion at the NT's 2008 AGM to block the development gained enough support, but was eventually overturned by a proxy vote from the NT chairman.
identified Wrexham as having the largest influx of Eastern European economic migrants in Wales
. Between 2004 and 2007 a total of 3,430 people from these countries had registered for work in Wrexham.
Wrexham has a number of theatres, including the Grove Park Theatre on Vicarage Hill, the Riverside Studio Theatre at Wrexham Musical Theatre Society on Salop Road, and the Yale Studio theatre close to Llwyn Isaf. Local theatre group, Tip Top Productions http://www.TipTopProductions.co.uk also present the annual Christmas Pantomime at The Stiwt Theatre in nearby Rhosllanerchrugog. The main Arts centre is at Wrexham County Library called Oriel Wrexham holding exhibitions and events, with others at Glyndŵr University in Plas Coch and Yale College. There is a multi-screen Odeon
cinema in the Eagles Meadow development. The nearby town of Llangollen
holds the International Musical Eisteddfod every July.
A 210 feet (64 m) sculpture called Waking the Dragon
is to be built near Chirk
once funding is secured.
Wrexham is also home to a branch of Techniquest
, known as Techniquest Glyndŵr. The science discovery centre is situated within Glyndŵr University's Plas Coch campus.
The local music scene has its own dedicated website Wrexham Music which features news, forums and details of upcoming shows. The town's music scene appears regularly on national radio, in 2007 it featured on BBC Radio 1
's Steve Lamacq
show, and regularly features on the Welsh music portion of the station.
Most international artists perform in the larger venues of Central Station or the William Aston Hall. Central Station is also a club with a capacity of approximately 650, attracting touring bands from across the country. Since its opening in 2000 the venue has played host to hundreds of acts, including The Magic Numbers
, The Kooks
, Duffy
, The Charlatans, Scratch Perverts
, Ash
, Puddle of Mudd
, The Subways
, Mansun
, Shed Seven
, The Wonder Stuff
, The Damned, Skindred
, Supersuckers, Wheatus
, Bloc Party
, Hundred Reasons
, Grandmaster Flash
, Electric Six
, Trashlight Vision
, The Fall, Budgie
, The Blackout
, Kids in Glass Houses
, Rooster
, Elliot Minor
, Blaze Bayley
, Go:Audio
, Kill Hannah
and Robert Plant
.
The William Aston Hall at Glyndŵr University is a 900-seat venue which has recently undergone extensive refurbishment, and is now designed to accommodate a range of events from conferences and exhibitions to theatrical performances and pop/rock concerts. Acts who have performed there in the past include Super Furry Animals
, Feeder
Love
, Ray Davies
, Freddie Starr
and Sweet
.
, the weekly free Wrexham Chronicle, and the weekly broadsheet Wrexham Leader, often known as the "Big Leader". The Wrexham Music Magazine is published monthly, and concentrates on the town's large music scene.
Four radio stations are based in the town - commercial stations Heart North West and Wales
(serving most of North Wales, Cheshire and the Wirral) & Heart Cymru (serving Gwynedd and Anglesey) broadcast from studios on Mold Road in Gwersyllt
, community station Calon FM
is based within Glyndwr University on Mold Road near the town centre and Wrexham FM provides online programming. BBC Cymru Wales also has a studio and newsroom for their radio and television services.
Wrexham has three parks, Bellevue Park
, Acton Park, and Erddig Park with a green area within the town centre called Llwyn Isaf
.
Bellevue Park
was built alongside the old cemetery on Ruabon Road. The park was designed to commemorate the Jubilee year of the Incorporation of Wrexham. It became neglected during the 1970s and many of the amenities were in a poor state of repair. A major project was undertaken to refurbish the park back to its original splendour. This was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Urban Parks Project, Welsh Development Agency, and the European Regional Development Fund. The park reopened in June 2000. It now boasts children's play areas, a bowling green which is home to the Parciau Bowling Club, tennis and basketball courts, an original Edwardian bandstand set in an amphitheatre, and a route for walkers and joggers. The park itself has many walkways through mature tree-lined avenues as well as affording some magnificent views of the Parish Church. The park is well lit and has a number of CCTV cameras installed to deter antisocial behaviour. Bellevue Park has once again regained its popularity with the people of Wrexham. Throughout the summer months social events take place, such as music concerts for all tastes and fun days for children.
Acton Park was originally the landscaped grounds of Acton Hall. It was laid out in 1785 by James Wyatt
on the instructions of the owner Sir Foster Cunliffe. Over the years the estate passed through several owners and in 1947 Wrexham Council was given the hall and park by the then owner Alderman William Aston. A section of Acton Park was sold for housing development in the 1970s. The surviving area now covers approximately 17 hectares (42 acre). Acton Park features a bowling green, tennis courts, a children's play area, Japanese-style garden and a large lake which has attracted diverse wildlife. The general layout of the park has remained unchanged since it was laid out in the 18th century and now boasts many mature trees.
Llwyn Isaf
, situated alongside Wrexham Guildhall, is a popular green area within the town centre. The green was originally the landscaped grounds of a mansion house known as Llwyn Isaf. It now lies at the centre of Wrexham's civic centre just off Queens Square. The Welsh Children in Need
concert was held at this location in 2005.
Erddig Park is situated two miles (3 km) south of the town centre where the town meets the Clywedog Valley. The park is owned and managed by the National Trust
, and is home to Erddig Hall
and its formal gardens. The Park is also home to a number of notable historic features. These include a hydraulic ram
known as the 'Cup and Saucer' which is used to pump water from the park to Erddig Hall, and the remains of Wristleham motte and bailey which is thought to be the beginnings of Wrexham as a town in the 12th century.
The town has a professional football
team, Wrexham F.C., which compete in the English
Football Conference
despite being based in Wales
. Currently managed by Andy Morell, the club has a rich 130-year history and is perhaps most notable for an FA Cup
upset over Arsenal F.C.
in 1992. They lifted the Vans Trophy
at the Millennium Stadium
in Cardiff
in May 2005, but had entered administration
several months earlier and the 10-point penalty for this had caused their relegation to the basement division
of the Football League. There was an attempt to knock down the club's historic Racecourse Ground
and replace it with a shopping development in 2005-06
. The club's on-the-field fortunates did not improve at they were relegated to the Football Conference
in 2008.
Wrexham was the site of the headquarters of the Football Association of Wales
from its formation in 1876 until relocation to Cardiff
in 1991.
club Crusaders Rugby League from 2010-2011. After their departure from southern Wales. A consortium led by Wrexham FC chairman Geoff Moss to take over the franchise led to the relocation. In addition to some top class Australian players the club hope to develop local north Walian talent filling a void in opportunity to compete at top level in other sports in north Wales. They are coached by Iestyn Harris. In their first season, they made the high profile signing of Wales RU international, Gareth Thomas. In 2010, the Crusaders accomplished entering into the finals series of the engage Super League for the first time in their short history. North Wales Crusaders
has been awarded a place in the Co-operative Championship One next season, to be played at the Racecourse Ground
due to the support of 5000 fans and 300 businesses. In 2013, the Racecourse Stadium, will host a group match and a quarter-final in the Rugby League World Cup
, while Wrexham will also be a place for training and a team base camp.
, one of the four Welsh professional rugby union
sides that compete in the Magners-sponsored Celtic League
. The Wales rugby union team have also played there on occasion. Wrexham is also home to rugby union team Wrexham RFC
, a team affiliated to the Welsh Rugby Union
. In 1931 nine northern Welsh clubs met at Wrexham to form the North Wales Rugby Union, Wrexham RFC were one of the founders.
St. Giles is the Parish Church of Wrexham and is considered to be the greatest medieval church in Wales. It includes a colourful ceiling of flying musical angel
s, two early eagle lectern
s, a window by the artist Edward Burne-Jones
and the Royal Welch Fusiliers
chapel. In the graveyard is the tomb of Elihu Yale
who was the benefactor of Yale University
in New Haven
, Connecticut
, United States
and after whom Yale College Wrexham
is named. As a tribute to Yale and his resting place, a scaled down replica of the church tower, known as Wrexham Tower was constructed at Yale University. The tower appears in an 18th century rhyme, as one of the Seven Wonders of Wales
.
The Catholic
Cathedral of Our Lady of Sorrows (St. Mary's)
in Regent Street is the main Church of the Diocese of Wrexham
, which extends over all of North Wales. Built in 1857 at the height of the Gothic Revival, the cathedral was home to the Bishop of Menevia from 1898 until 1987, whose diocese covered all of Wales. However in 1987 the Catholic province of Wales was reconstructed, since which time the cathedral has been home to the Bishop of Wrexham
(now 2nd Bishop of Wrexham). The cathedral is also home to the relic of Saint Richard Gwyn
, Wrexham's patron saint. He was a Catholic martyr in the 16th century and was hanged, drawn and quartered
at Wrexham's Beast Market. He was canonized by Pope Paul VI
in 1970.
There is a mosque located on Grosvenor Road in the former Wrexham Miner's Institute.
In the past, Wrexham had a church with a spire much taller than the St. Gile's steeple. This church was dedicated and named after St Mark but was demolished as the building's foundations were in danger of collapse. A multi-storey car park
named St. Mark's was erected on the site.
, Owain Glyndŵr
, Glyndŵr University was formed when the North East Wales Institute (NEWI) was granted full university status in 2008. It consists of Plas Coch campus in the western part of the town and the North Wales School of Art and Design located on Regent Street. The institution was originally founded in 1887 as the Wrexham School of Science and Art.
Glyndŵr remains an accredited institution of the University of Wales and offers both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. The Vice Chancellor is Professor Michael Scott. Glyndŵr has approximately 8,000 full time students and over 350 from outside the UK.
It is named after Elihu Yale
, best known for being the prime benefactor of Yale University. It was founded in 1950 as a state school on a site at Crispin Lane. In 1973, as part of the conversion of local schools to the comprehensive system, it was renamed as Yale Sixth Form College and the pupils re-located to other schools. The Crispin Lane site was incorporated into NEWI (now Glyndŵr University) after the development of the Grove Park Campus.
and Ysgol Clywedog
. Wrexham has also become home to the first shared-faith school in Wales in the form of St Joseph's.
(Märkischer Kreis
), Germany
Racibórz
, Poland
The town of Wrexham is twinned with the German district of Märkischer Kreis
and the Polish town of Racibórz
.
The first twinning was established on 17 March 1970 between the former Kreis Iserlohn and Wrexham Rural District. 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 (Ratibor), a county in Poland, which was formerly part of Silesia, Germany. In September 2002, a delegation from Racibórz visited Wrexham and began initial discussions about possible co-operation which led, eventually, to the signing of 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 to this day.
Wrexham has five railway stations, Wrexham General, Wrexham Central, Gwersyllt, Ruabon and Chirk. Until the early 1980s what is now platform 4 of Wrexham General, serving the Wrexham Central - Bidston service, was a separate station, Wrexham Exchange. Rail use is currently expanding rapidly in Wrexham; General has seen a 12% rise in passenger numbers between 2004 and 2007, Central seeing an increase of 18%.
Wrexham General
was opened in 1846, rebuilt in 1912 and again in 1997. It has six platforms (four through, two terminal) and provides direct rail services to Wrexham Central, Bidston
, Manchester Piccadilly, Bangor
, Birmingham
, Crewe
, Milton Keynes
, Rugby
, Cardiff
, Chester
, Holyhead
, Shrewsbury
, Wolverhampton
, Walsall
, Leamington Spa
, Banbury
and London
.
Wrexham General is on two different lines, The Severn-Dee Main Line and The Borderlands Branch Line. It is also on an extension of the West coast main line towards London via Crewe, and also the Chiltern Mainline towards London via Shrewsbury, also the Welsh Marches Line towards Cardiff and Manchester travels via Wrexham for early morning and late night services. Wrexham General is the largest station in North Wales and frequency of services is steadily increasing.
Wrexham General was also the base for the train operating company
Wrexham & Shropshire (the operating name of the Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway Company). The company provided passenger train services from Wrexham via Shropshire
to London Marylebone
on an open-access basis. Services started in 2008 with an agreement for a seven year period. Wrexham & Shropshire began running services on 28 April 2008. However they became a victim of the economic downturn and services ended on 28 January 2011.
All local services that operate from Wrexham Central also run through General.
Wrexham Central
, which is located on the Island Green retail park, has one platform but splits into two tracks on the outskirts of the town. It provides direct rail services to Bidston
(where there are connections to Liverpool
and West Kirby
), Buckley
, Caergwrle
, Cefn-y-Bedd
, Gwersyllt
, Hawarden
, Hawarden Bridge
, Heswall
, Hope
, Neston
, Penyffordd
, Shotton
and Upton
(Wirral). Until the 1998 construction of the Island Green retail park, Wrexham Central station was located 50 metres further along the track.
Plans are afoot to electrify the Borderlands line which runs through General and Central to Deeside and the Wirral. This would increase capacity and accelerate speeds on the line.
Gwersyllt
serves the Gwersyllt suburb of Wrexham and is a stop on the borderlands line between Wrexham General and Bidston.
Local stations
There are a further two local stations in the Borough at Chirk
and Ruabon
, with plans to re-open at least another two over the next few years at Rossett and Johnstown. Plans also include a 'Park and Rail' service from one of these locations into Wrexham Central, to ease current traffic congestion and pressure on town centre car parks.
, the largest in north Wales, has been built in Wrexham, featuring indoor shops and ambient music, along with a staffed information booth. The bus station serves local, regional and long-distance bus services. It is served by various bus companies, including Arriva Buses Wales
, GHA Coaches
and Townlynx. Long-distance coaches are available to Edinburgh
via Manchester
, Bradford
and Leeds
and to London
via Telford
and Birmingham
. The Wrexham Shuttle provides a link between Wrexham and the nearby industrial estate. The townlink bus connects the main bus station with Eagles Meadow shopping centre and Border retail park to the east and Wrexham General and Central stations with Plas Coch, Wrexham Central and Island Green shopping centres to the south and west of the town. Wrexham is served by the National Express coach network, which picks up from the Wrexham bus station. Wrexham is one of the first areas in the United Kingdom
to adopt the use of the distinctive yellow American Bluebird
school buses. Ten currently operate in the Wrexham area, transporting pupils to and from the schools and colleges.
is the main route into Wrexham from Mold and the town's western urban area. It connects to the B5101 road
which eventually leads to the A5104 road to the east of Treuddyn
in Flintshire
.
Liverpool
donated £100,000 to a study of electrification of the Wrexham to Bidston
railway line, and a possible rail link to the North Wales coast line. This would open new rail links to the east, and the urban area of Liverpool
. The line was put on indefinite hold following a larger than expected cost projection by Network Rail.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It is the administrative centre
Administrative centre
An administrative centre is a term often used in several countries to refer to a county town, or other seat of regional or local government, or the place where the central administration of a commune is located....
of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley
River Dee, Wales
The River Dee is a long river in the United Kingdom. It travels through Wales and England and also forms part of the border between the two countries....
close to the border with Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. As the largest town in the north of Wales, it is a major centre of the region's commercial, retail and educational infrastructure.
At the time of the United Kingdom Census 2001
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, Wrexham had a population of 42,576, and the wider Wrexham Urban Area, as defined by the Office for National Statistics
Office for National Statistics
The Office for National Statistics is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-ministerial department which reports directly to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- Overview :...
, had a population of 63,084. The wider Wrexham county borough, which covers 50,500 hectares, has a population of over 130,000. The town is ranked as the 4th largest urban area in Wales, after Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
and Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
.
History
Wrexham's former police station on Regent Street, originally the barracks for the Royal Denbighshire Militia, is now home to Wrexham County Borough Museum. The museum has two galleries devoted to the history of the town and its surrounding communities.Evidence of human activity in the Wrexham area have been found as far back as approximately 1600 BC. However the first known settlement was known as Wristleham Castle, a motte and bailey located in what is now known as Erddig
Erddig
Erddig Hall is a National Trust property on the outskirts of Wrexham, Wales. Located south of Wrexham town centre, it was built in 1684–1687 for Joshua Edisbury, the high sheriff of Denbighshire and was designed by Thomas Webb....
Park, established in 1161. King Edward I of England
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
is on record as having briefly stayed at Wrexham during his expedition to suppress the revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn
Madog ap Llywelyn
Madog ap Llywelyn, or Prince Madoc, was from a junior branch of the House of Aberffraw and a distant relation of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last recognised native Prince of Wales.-Lineage:...
in 1294. The town became part of the county of Denbighshire
Denbighshire (historic)
Historic Denbighshire is one of thirteen traditional counties in Wales, a vice-county and a former administrative county, which covers an area in north east Wales...
when it was created in 1536. Wrexham was divided into two distinct townships, Wrexham Regis (which was under the control of the King) and Wrexham Abbot (generally the older parts of the town, which originally belonged to Valle Crucis Abbey
Valle Crucis Abbey
Valle Crucis Abbey is a Cistercian abbey located in Llantysilio in Denbighshire, Wales. More formally the Abbey Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Valle Crucis it is known in Welsh both as Abaty Glyn Egwestl and Abaty Glyn y Groes.The abbey was built in 1201 by Madog ap Gruffydd Maelor, Prince of...
at nearby Llangollen
Llangollen
Llangollen is a small town and community in Denbighshire, north-east Wales, situated on the River Dee and on the edge of the Berwyn mountains. It has a population of 3,412.-History:...
).
Holt, Wales
Holt is a medieval market town and local government community in the county borough of Wrexham, Wales. It is situated on the border with England. Holt Castle was begun by Edward I shortly after the English invasion of Wales in 1277.-Area:...
. The castle and the nearby late medieval bridge were the scene of constant skirmishes during the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
in the 17th century. The River Dee in this area is deep and wide. The bridge at Holt was the first crossing point south of the city of Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
and hence was of major strategic importance.
In the 18th century Wrexham was known for its leather industry. There were skinners and tanners in the town. The horns from cattle were used to make such items as combs and buttons. There was also a nail-making industry in Wrexham.
In the mid-18th century Wrexham was no more than a small market town with a population of perhaps 2,000. However, in the late 18th century Wrexham grew rapidly as it became one of the pioneers of the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
.
John Wilkinson (industrialist)
John "Iron-Mad" Wilkinson was an English industrialist who pioneered the use and manufacture of cast iron and cast-iron goods in the Industrial Revolution.-Early life:...
(1728–1808) known as 'Iron Mad Wilkinson' opened Bersham Heritage Centre and Ironworks
Bersham Ironworks
Bersham Ironworks were large ironworks at Bersham, near Wrexham, North Wales. They are most famous for being the original working site of John Wilkinson...
. In 1793 he opened a smelting plant at Brymbo
Brymbo
Brymbo is a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is a village situated in the hilly country to the west of Wrexham town, largely surrounded by farmland....
. At the top end of the Clywedog Valley, about ten minutes' drive from Wrexham, Minera Lead Mines
Minera Leadmines
The Minera Lead Mines were a mining operation and now a country park and tourist centre in the village of Minera near Wrexham, in Wrexham County Borough, Wales.-History:...
are the remains of the profitable lead industry that dates back to prehistoric times.
Wrexham gained its first newspaper in 1848. The Market Hall was built in 1848, and in 1863 a volunteer fire brigade was founded. Wrexham was also home to a large number of breweries, and tanning became one of Wrexham's main industries. In the mid 19th century Wrexham was granted borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
status.
Gresford Disaster
The Gresford Disaster was one of Britain's worst coal mining disasters and mining accidents. It occurred on September 22, 1934 at Gresford Colliery near Wrexham, in north-east Wales, when 266 men died. Only eleven bodies were ever recovered from the mine....
Memorial stands witness to the 266 miners who lost their lives after a series of explosions at Gresford colliery
Gresford Colliery
Gresford Colliery was a coal mine located a mile from the North Wales village of Gresford, near Wrexham, Wales.-Sinking:The Gresford coalfield runs from Point of Ayr, on the Flintshire coast, down to the Shropshire border. Although coal mining records date back to the 15th Century, it was not...
in September 1934.
In the mid to late 19th century Wrexham had over 35 breweries, and grew a proud tradition of brewing both ale
Ale
Ale is a type of beer brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation with a strain of brewers' yeast. The yeast will ferment the beer quickly, giving it a sweet, full bodied and fruity taste...
and lager
Lager
Lager is a type of beer made from malted barley that is brewed and stored at low temperatures. There are many types of lager; pale lager is the most widely-consumed and commercially available style of beer in the world; Pilsner, Bock, Dortmunder Export and Märzen are all styles of lager...
. In 1882 German immigrants set up Britain's first lager brewery under the name of Wrexham Lager
Wrexham Lager
Wrexham Lager was a brewery in Wrexham, north-east Wales, that produced alcoholic drink for more than 120 years. It closed in 2000 and was mostly demolished between 2002 and 2003. Only the historic building in which brewing started still remains, however there are currently plans to resume brewing...
. In 2000 the Wrexham Lager Brewery was the last one to close. A number of the original brewery buildings remain, most notably Wrexham Lager on Central Road (offices), Soames Brewery on Yorke Street (Nags Head) and Border Brewery
Border Breweries (Wrexham)
Border Breweries Ltd was a brewery firm formerly based in Wrexham in the United Kingdom which at its peak was a significant element of the Welsh brewing industry....
on Tuttle Street (converted apartments). Wrexham Lager
Wrexham Lager
Wrexham Lager was a brewery in Wrexham, north-east Wales, that produced alcoholic drink for more than 120 years. It closed in 2000 and was mostly demolished between 2002 and 2003. Only the historic building in which brewing started still remains, however there are currently plans to resume brewing...
was revived in October 2011 to serve the pub trade and is now available in various pubs throughout the county.
Just 2 miles (3 km) south of Wrexham town centre, Erddig
Erddig
Erddig Hall is a National Trust property on the outskirts of Wrexham, Wales. Located south of Wrexham town centre, it was built in 1684–1687 for Joshua Edisbury, the high sheriff of Denbighshire and was designed by Thomas Webb....
, a National Trust property, was home to the Yorke family until 1973. Its last resident, Philip Yorke, handed over a house in need of restoration as years of subsidence caused by the workings of Bersham Colliery had caused a lot of damage. The house was voted one of the two most popular stately home
Stately home
A stately home is a "great country house". It is thus a palatial great house or in some cases an updated castle, located in the British Isles, mostly built between the mid-16th century and the early part of the 20th century, as well as converted abbeys and other church property...
s in the UK by a National Trust/Channel 5 publication.
After World War II, the former munitions factory
Royal Ordnance Factory
Royal Ordnance Factories was the collective name of the UK government's munitions factories in and after World War II. Until privatisation in 1987 they were the responsibility of the Ministry of Supply and later the Ministry of Defence....
ROF Wrexham was closed, leaving the many buildings derelict. In the 1950s British Celanese opened a large factory there followed by Firestone, Owen Corning, Kellogg's and BICC.
Wrexham did at one time had a large brewing industry. The leatherworks in Petrefelin and Tuttle Street, the many coal mines in the area, the brickworks in Abenbury, Brymbo Steelworks and the breweries all closed in the latter half of the 20th Century, along with some of the newer ones such as Courtalds, Firestone and Owens Corning. Wrexham was suffering from the same problems as much of industrialised Britain and saw little investment in the 1970s.
In the 1980s and 1990s funded in part by the Welsh Development Agency
Welsh Development Agency
The Welsh Development Agency was a QUANGO and later an Assembly Sponsored Public Body established in 1976 to encourage business development and investment in Wales, to clear derelict land and to encourage growth of local businesses...
(WDA), a major dual carriageway
Dual carriageway
A dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
, the A483
A483 road
The A483 is a major road in the United Kingdom, running from Swansea in Wales to Chester in England, although the official title is the Swansea to Manchester Trunk Road.-Swansea:...
, extending the existing bypass and connecting it with nearby Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
and Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
, which in turn had connections with other big cities such as Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
.
Governance
Wrexham County Borough Council elects a mayorElected mayors in the United Kingdom
Directly elected mayors are council leaders elected by the general electorate of a council area for local government, instead of being appointed by members of a local authority, which is common in the United Kingdom. The Elected Mayor is elected from a number of candidates who put themselves up for...
who serves for one year. Between 2001 and 2005 Wrexham Council's website was named the best local government portal in Wales on four occasions and in 2007 was listed as 19th in the UK's top 20 council websites based on usability. People who live under the jurisdiction of Wrexham County Borough Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
are able to pay taxes, debts and other fees through the website. They can also access many other services, such as reporting crimes, submitting planning applications and applying for permits.
The Wrexham constituency
United Kingdom constituencies
In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...
elects members to the UK Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
and the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
. The constituency includes both the town and some of its outlying villages such as Gwersyllt
Gwersyllt
Gwersyllt is an urban village and a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales....
, Llay
Llay
Llay is a village and local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales....
, Marford
Marford
Marford, near Wrexham, is a village in the county borough of Wrexham in Wales. It has been described as "a delightful Gothick estate village" and several of its cottages have been listed by Cadw....
, Rossett
Rossett
Rossett is a village and a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales.At the time of the 2001 Census, Rossett community had a total population of 3,336 people.-Geography:Rossett is geographically located near to the Welsh and English...
and Holt
Holt, Wales
Holt is a medieval market town and local government community in the county borough of Wrexham, Wales. It is situated on the border with England. Holt Castle was begun by Edward I shortly after the English invasion of Wales in 1277.-Area:...
.
The UK Parliament constituency of Wrexham
Wrexham (UK Parliament constituency)
Wrexham is a parliamentary constituency in North Wales which is represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
has long been a safe seat
Safe seat
A safe seat is a seat in a legislative body which is regarded as fully secured, either by a certain political party, the incumbent representative personally or a combination of both...
for the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
. Wrexham is divided into the communities
Community (Wales)
A community is a division of land in Wales that forms the lowest-tier of local government in Wales. Welsh communities are analogous to civil parishes in England....
of Acton
Acton, Wrexham
Acton is a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of the Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It lies in the north-eastern part of the market town of Wrexham...
, Rhosddu
Rhosddu
Rhosddu is a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is situated in the north-western suburbs of the town of Wrexham.-Administrative history:...
, Offa
Offa
Offa may refer to:Two kings of the Angles, who are often confused:*Offa of Angel , on the continent*Offa of Mercia , in Great BritainA king of Essex:*Offa of Essex A town in Nigeria:* Offa, Nigeria...
and Caia Park
Caia Park
Caia Park is a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It was created in 1985 after a boundary commission review along with four other community areas within the town...
.
Public services
Wrexham Maelor Hospital (Ysbyty Maelor Wrecsam in WelshWelsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
) is the region's major acute district hospital, with 700 beds, and is one of the three core hospitals in North Wales. It is situated in the south of the town, on Croesnewydd Road. In 1985 major expansion took place on the site, modernising many of the existing departments. It was also the headquarters of the North East Wales NHS Trust
North East Wales NHS Trust
North East Wales NHS Trust is an NHS Trust in Wales. The headquarters of the Trust is in the Maelor Hospital, in Wrexham. It was founded on 1 April 1999, when the NHS Trusts in Wales were reconfigured...
, until the merger of the Local Health Boards and NHS Trusts in North Wales created the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board - which is the largest health organisation in Wales. Other NHS hospitals within the borough are Chirk Community and Penley Polish Hospital.
Yale Hospital (Ysbyty Iâl in Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
) situated close to the Maelor Hospital on Wrexham Technology Park is Wrexham's largest private hospital with over 25 beds. Formerly BUPA Yale Hospital, it is now owned and operated by Spire Healthcare.
Wrexham is served by North Wales Police
North Wales Police
North Wales Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing North Wales. The headquarters are in Colwyn Bay, with divisional headquarters in St Asaph, Caernarfon and Wrexham....
; their Eastern Division HQ is in the centre of the town.
The local fire station
Fire station
A fire station is a structure or other area set aside for storage of firefighting apparatus , personal protective equipment, fire hose, fire extinguishers, and other fire extinguishing equipment...
is situated on Bradley Road close to the Island Green and central retail parks.
City status
Wrexham has applied for city statusCity status in the United Kingdom
City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to a select group of communities. The holding of city status gives a settlement no special rights other than that of calling itself a "city". Nonetheless, this appellation carries its own prestige and, consequently, competitions...
several times. In 2011, Wrexham County Borough Council
Wrexham County Borough Council
Wrexham County Borough Council is the governing body for Wrexham , one of the administrative subdivisions of Wales.- Governance and political composition :...
confirmed it will apply again for the 2012 Queen's Diamond Jubilee, where one town will be granted city status for the celebration. Mayor Trewhella said "there is a slim chance, but it is there. It is an opportunity to put Wrexham on the map".
Geography
Unusually for a large town, Wrexham is not built up alongside a major river. Instead it is situated on a relatively flat plateau between the lower Dee ValleyRiver Dee, Wales
The River Dee is a long river in the United Kingdom. It travels through Wales and England and also forms part of the border between the two countries....
and easternmost mountains of Wales. This situation enabled it to grow as a market town as a cross roads between England and Wales and later as an industrial hub - due to its rich natural reserves of iron ore and coal. It does however have three relatively minor rivers running through parts of the town. These are the rivers Clywedog
River Clywedog
The River Clywedog in the county borough of Wrexham, Wales has always been the lifeblood of the area, watering crops and livestock since early times, powering corn mills and driving industrial machinery...
, Gwenfro
River Gwenfro
The River Gwenfro is a small river in Wrexham County Borough, north Wales. It is a tributary of the Clywedog. The name Gwenfro is possibly derived from the Welsh language words gwen , "white", and bro, "border", "boundary"....
and Alyn
River Alyn
The River Alyn is a tributary of the River Dee. The River Alyn rises at the southern end of the Clwydian hills and the Alyn Valley forms part of the Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
. Wrexham is also famed for the quality of its underground water reserves, which gave rise to its previous dominance as a major brewing centre.
Originally a market town with surrounding small villages, Wrexham is now coalesced with a number of urban villages and forms North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
' largest conurbation exceeding 100,000 residents including its north, western and south western suburban villages. The Office for National Statistics
Office for National Statistics
The Office for National Statistics is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-ministerial department which reports directly to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- Overview :...
defines a Wrexham Urban Area which consists of Wrexham Town and some coalesced suburbs (Pop. 63,084 in 2001) making it the 134th largest urban area in the UK, and the 4th largest in Wales.
Economy
In 2007, the town was ranked fifth in the UK for business start-up success, higher than most larger UK towns and cities. Wrexham county borough as a whole has an economic activity rate of 79.5 percent, which is above both the Wales and Great Britain averages.Shopping
The main shopping streets in Wrexham are Bank Street, Henblas Street, High Street, King Street, Regent Street, Overton Arcade, Hope Street and Queen Street. A cluster of retail parks are situated around the inner ring road at the Central and Border retail parks. Plas Coch and Berse retail parks are on the outskirts close to the A483. Central and Island Green retail parks are in the town centre close to Wrexham Central railway station. The newest development, at Eagle's MeadowEagles Meadow
Eagles Meadow is an area of Central Wrexham that has had a variety of uses over hundreds of years. Originally used as stables for local gentry it has now been developed into a major shopping centre. Eagles Meadow was originally lying on lower land than the surrounding area, this has changed with...
includes Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, H&M, Next, River Island, TenPin and Odeon. The development is connected to Yorke Street and High Street by a bridge. There are three traditional covered markets (Butter, Butchers and Peoples Markets) plus north Wales' largest open-air market based in the town centre each Monday (including Bank Holidays). Wrexham boasts the most used Shopmobility service in north Wales, which is free. Much of the Wrexham town centre is pedestrianised and there are short stay car parks adjacent to the town centre. Long-stay parking is available at St. Marks (NCP) at the northern end of Regent Street or the larger surface park (WCBC).
Tourism
Wrexham held the National Eisteddfod of WalesNational Eisteddfod of Wales
The National Eisteddfod of Wales is the most important of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales.- Organisation :...
in 2011.
A number of visitor attractions can be found in the town or within a short drive from the centre. Among the most popular are:
- St. Giles ChurchSt Giles' Church, WrexhamSt Giles' Church is the parish church of Wrexham, Wales. Its tower is traditionally one of the Seven Wonders of Wales, which are commemorated in an anonymously written rhyme:...
- One of the Seven Wonders of WalesSeven Wonders of WalesThe Seven Wonders of Wales is a traditional list of notable landmarks in North Wales, commemorated in an anonymously written rhyme:The seven wonders comprise:...
and burial place of Elihu YaleElihu YaleElihu Yale was a Welsh merchant and philanthropist, governor of the East India Company, and a benefactor of the Collegiate School of Connecticut, which in 1718 was named Yale College in his honour.- Life :... - Racecourse GroundRacecourse GroundThe Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium AKA The Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham F.C. and, since 2010, the Crusaders Rugby League team who play in the engage Super League...
- home of Wrexham F.C. is the world's oldest international stadium that still continues to host international games. - Erddig HallErddigErddig Hall is a National Trust property on the outskirts of Wrexham, Wales. Located south of Wrexham town centre, it was built in 1684–1687 for Joshua Edisbury, the high sheriff of Denbighshire and was designed by Thomas Webb....
- National Trust property and park (voted the UK's best historical house and 8th most popular historic site - 2007) - Clywedog Valley - The power behind the industrial revolution in Wrexham, a number of good heritage attractions: (Minera LeadminesMinera LeadminesThe Minera Lead Mines were a mining operation and now a country park and tourist centre in the village of Minera near Wrexham, in Wrexham County Borough, Wales.-History:...
, Nant Mill and Bersham IronworksBersham IronworksBersham Ironworks were large ironworks at Bersham, near Wrexham, North Wales. They are most famous for being the original working site of John Wilkinson...
) in a peaceful valley with good walks (BBC's 20 hidden gems in 2007) - Chirk CastleChirk CastleChirk Castle is a castle located at Chirk, Wrexham, Wales.The castle was built in 1295 by Roger Mortimer de Chirk, uncle of Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March as part of King Edward I's chain of fortresses across the north of Wales. It guards the entrance to the Ceiriog Valley...
- (National Trust property) The castle was built in 1295 and is located in the Wrexham county. - Pontcysyllte AqueductPontcysyllte AqueductThe Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a navigable aqueduct that carries the Llangollen Canal over the valley of the River Dee in Wrexham in north east Wales....
- is a navigable aqueduct that carries the Llangollen Canal over the valley of the River Dee in Wrexham in north east Wales. Completed in 1805, it is the longest and highest aqueduct in Britain, a Grade I Listed Building and a World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage SiteA UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
. - Historic town centre buildings (Horse & Jockey pub, thatched roof pub, Regent Street)
- Plaspower Adventure - Indoor Climbing Walls
- TechniquestTechniquestTechniquest is a Welsh science and discovery centre. It has locations in Cardiff Bay, Glyndŵr University in Wrexham, Llanberis in Gwynedd, and the Adventure Center in Narberth, Pembrokeshire....
Glyndŵr - Science discovery centre - Wrexham County Museum - Museum showcasing the local history.
Manufacturing and construction
Wrexham's economy has been transformed in the past twenty years from one dominated by heavy and traditional industry into a major high tech manufacturingManufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
, technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
and services hub. Wrexham Industrial Estate
Wrexham Industrial Estate
The Wrexham Industrial Estate is an industrial estate in the north of Wales, situated in the county of Wrexham on the eastern outskirts of the town. Originally the site of a Word War II munitions factory, the estate later became known as the Wrexham Trading Estate. It has now grown to cover...
is the UK's second-largest industrial park
Industrial park
An industrial park is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development...
and among the largest in Europe. The remainder of the industrial parks are located around the A483 corridor to the west of the town. Companies such as Sharp, Brother
Brother Industries
is a diversified Japanese company that produces or imports a wide variety of products including printers, sewing machines, large machine tools, label printers, and typewriters, fax machines, and other computer-related electronics. It markets its multifunction printers as Multi-Function Centers...
, Cytec Industries
Cytec Industries
Cytec Industries Incorporated, based in Woodland Park is a speciality chemicals and materials technology company with pro-forma sales in 2004, including the Surface Specialties acquisition, of approximately $3.0 billion. Cytec is a result of its spin-off from American Cyanamid Company...
, Calypso
Calypso
Calypso is the name of one of the Nereids in Greek mythology. The word may also refer to:- In fiction :*Calypso , songs from The Books of Bokonon from Kurt Vonnegut's novel Cat's Cradle...
, J. C. Bamford
J. C. Bamford
JCB is a global construction, demolition and agricultural equipment company headquartered in Rocester, United Kingdom. It is the world's third-largest construction equipment manufacturer. It produces over 300 types of machines, including diggers , excavators, tractors and diesel engines...
, Cadbury and Kellogg's have major manufacturing, research or office bases in and around the town. International pharmaceutical and chemical companies are also well represented including Flexsys and Wockhardt
Wockhardt
Wockhardt Ltd. is a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company headquartered in Mumbai, India. The company has manufacturing plants in India, UK, Ireland, France and US, and subsidiaries in US, UK, Ireland and France. It is a global company with a more than half of its revenue coming from Europe. The...
. Service and smaller high technology set-ups are generally found within the town centre or close to the centre at Wrexham Technology Park such as Grote, Moneypenny and UHY Hacker Young
UHY hacker young
The UHY Hacker Young Group is a Top 20 Group of UK chartered accountants, with 92 partners and over 600 staff operating from 19 offices across the UK...
.
Wrexham has held on to a substantial manufacturing base after facing stiff competition from growing eastern European and Asian economies. Approximately 25 percent of jobs in Wrexham are in the manufacturing sector, with a growing number in service, financial and technology industries.
The central area of Wrexham has also seen a number of purpose built residential developments as well as conversions of older buildings to residential use. Outside the town centre new estates are being developed in several areas, including over 500 homes at the former Brymbo Steelworks site, a ribbon of development on Mold Road leading out of the town (which includes four development companies) and Ruthin Road (Wrexham Western Gateway). There are further plans, one of which is the development of National Trust land at Erddig
Erddig
Erddig Hall is a National Trust property on the outskirts of Wrexham, Wales. Located south of Wrexham town centre, it was built in 1684–1687 for Joshua Edisbury, the high sheriff of Denbighshire and was designed by Thomas Webb....
for over 250 homes. The announcement to develop National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
land generated many protests, particularly from residents in nearby Rhostyllen. A motion at the NT's 2008 AGM to block the development gained enough support, but was eventually overturned by a proxy vote from the NT chairman.
Demography
In April 2008, the IPPRInstitute for Public Policy Research
The IPPR is the leading progressive think-tank in the UK. It produces research and policy ideas committed to upholding values of social justice, democratic reform and environmental sustainability. IPPR is based in London and IPPR North has branches in Newcastle and Manchester.It was founded in...
identified Wrexham as having the largest influx of Eastern European economic migrants in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. Between 2004 and 2007 a total of 3,430 people from these countries had registered for work in Wrexham.
Arts
Wrexham hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1888, 1912, 1933 and 1977, as well as an unofficial National Eisteddfod event in 1876. The National Eisteddfod returns to the area in 2011, when Wales' leading festival will be held on the land of Lower Berse Farm from 30 July - 6 August. Preparations are well underway and a number of local committees have been set up and meet regularly.Wrexham has a number of theatres, including the Grove Park Theatre on Vicarage Hill, the Riverside Studio Theatre at Wrexham Musical Theatre Society on Salop Road, and the Yale Studio theatre close to Llwyn Isaf. Local theatre group, Tip Top Productions http://www.TipTopProductions.co.uk also present the annual Christmas Pantomime at The Stiwt Theatre in nearby Rhosllanerchrugog. The main Arts centre is at Wrexham County Library called Oriel Wrexham holding exhibitions and events, with others at Glyndŵr University in Plas Coch and Yale College. There is a multi-screen Odeon
Odeon Cinemas
Odeon Cinemas is a British chain of cinemas, one of the largest in Europe. It is owned by Odeon & UCI Cinemas Group whose ultimate parent is Terra Firma Capital Partners.-History:Odeon Cinemas was created in 1928 by Oscar Deutsch...
cinema in the Eagles Meadow development. The nearby town of Llangollen
Llangollen
Llangollen is a small town and community in Denbighshire, north-east Wales, situated on the River Dee and on the edge of the Berwyn mountains. It has a population of 3,412.-History:...
holds the International Musical Eisteddfod every July.
A 210 feet (64 m) sculpture called Waking the Dragon
Waking the Dragon
Waking the Dragon is a proposed bronze sculpture which is to be built in Wrexham, North Wales.The sculpture will become the tallest public artwork in the UK, standing at 210 feet, symbolising the heritage and culture of the Welsh people and has been touted as the Welsh equivalent to the Statue of...
is to be built near Chirk
Chirk
Chirk is a small town and local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It has a population of over 4,000....
once funding is secured.
Science
Every March the town hosts the Wrexham Science Festival. Over 9000 visitors attended events in 2007, making the event one of the biggest of its kind.Wrexham is also home to a branch of Techniquest
Techniquest
Techniquest is a Welsh science and discovery centre. It has locations in Cardiff Bay, Glyndŵr University in Wrexham, Llanberis in Gwynedd, and the Adventure Center in Narberth, Pembrokeshire....
, known as Techniquest Glyndŵr. The science discovery centre is situated within Glyndŵr University's Plas Coch campus.
Music
Wrexham has built a vibrant music scene over the last few years. A raft of live music venues has developed around the core of the town including the largest venue Central Station, The Old Swan, Penny Black and The Commercial. Further out of the centre The Centenary Club, the William Aston Hall and The Student Guild at Glyndŵr University also provide regular live music shows. The scene is dominated by up-and-coming local bands and the town has become known as a hotbed of talent in the rock, indie and alternative genres.The local music scene has its own dedicated website Wrexham Music which features news, forums and details of upcoming shows. The town's music scene appears regularly on national radio, in 2007 it featured on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
's Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq , sometimes known by his nicknames Lammo or "The Cat" is an English disc jockey, currently working with the BBC radio stations BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2.-Early career:He was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire...
show, and regularly features on the Welsh music portion of the station.
Most international artists perform in the larger venues of Central Station or the William Aston Hall. Central Station is also a club with a capacity of approximately 650, attracting touring bands from across the country. Since its opening in 2000 the venue has played host to hundreds of acts, including The Magic Numbers
The Magic Numbers
The Magic Numbers are an English pop rock band comprising two pairs of brothers and sisters from Greenford. The group was formed in 2002, releasing their critically acclaimed debut album titled The Magic Numbers on 13 June 2005...
, The Kooks
The Kooks
The Kooks are an English indie rock band formed in Brighton, East Sussex, in 2001. Formed by Luke Pritchard , Hugh Harris , Paul Garred , and Max Rafferty , the lineup of the band remained constant until 2008 and the departure of Rafferty...
, Duffy
Duffy (singer)
Aimée Ann Duffy , known as Duffy, is a Welsh singer-songwriter. Her 2008 debut album Rockferry entered the UK Album Chart at number one. It was the best-selling album in the United Kingdom in 2008 with 1.68 million copies sold...
, The Charlatans, Scratch Perverts
Scratch Perverts
The Scratch Perverts are a collective of turntablist DJs from London, formed in 1996 by Tony Vegas, Prime Cuts and DJ Renegade.-Biography:The Scratch Perverts originally consisted of 4 members; Tony Vegas, Renegade, First Rate and Mr Thing. The Scratch Perverts later expanded to an 8-member...
, Ash
Ash (band)
Ash are an alternative rock band that formed in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 1992. The band has sold 8 million albums worldwide.-Band beginning, Trailer and 1977 :...
, Puddle of Mudd
Puddle of Mudd
Puddle Of Mudd is an American rock band from Kansas City, Missouri, USA. To date the band has sold over 7 million albums, and have had a string of #1 mainstream rock singles in the United States. Their major-label debut Come Clean has sold over 5 million copies...
, The Subways
The Subways
The Subways are an English alternative rock / indie rock band. Their debut album, Young For Eternity, was released on 4 July 2005 in the UK and February 14, 2006 in the U.S. Their second album, All or Nothing, was released on 30 June 2008 and their third album Money and Celebrity debuted on the...
, Mansun
Mansun
Mansun were an English alternative rock band formed in Chester in 1995. The band comprised vocalist/rhythm guitarist Paul Draper, bassist Stove King, lead guitarist/backing vocalist Dominic Chad, and drummer Andie Rathbone. The band broke up in May 2003....
, Shed Seven
Shed Seven
Shed Seven are an English indie rock band from York and were one of the groups which contributed to the Britpop music scene that evolved during the 1990s, yet never received the degree of mainstream success achieved by bands such as Oasis and Blur...
, The Wonder Stuff
The Wonder Stuff
The Wonder Stuff are a British alternative rock band, originally based in Stourbridge, West Midlands, in the Black Country, England.-Origins:...
, The Damned, Skindred
Skindred
Skindred is a Welsh rock band from Newport. The band was formed in 1998 following the disbandment of vocalist Benji Webbe's previous band, Dub War. Skindred's musical style mixes alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and reggae...
, Supersuckers, Wheatus
Wheatus
Wheatus are an American rock group from Northport, New York. They are known for their 2000 single "Teenage Dirtbag" which was featured in the movie Loser, as well as in the HBO miniseries Generation Kill.-1995-2002: Formation and Wheatus:...
, Bloc Party
Bloc Party
Bloc Party are a British Indie rock band, composed of Kele Okereke , Russell Lissack , Gordon Moakes , and Matt Tong...
, Hundred Reasons
Hundred Reasons
Hundred Reasons are an English rock band from Farnborough, Hampshire, composed of Colin Doran , Larry Hibbitt , Andy Gilmour , Andy Bews and Ben Doyle . Originally, the band was signed to Columbia Records in mid April 2001, after fourteen months of near-constant touring...
, Grandmaster Flash
Grandmaster Flash
Joseph Saddler better known as King Grandmaster Flash, is an American hip hop musician and DJ; one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing....
, Electric Six
Electric Six
Electric Six is a six-piece metro Detroit-based band that plays what has been described as a brand of rock music infused with elements of "garage, disco, punk, new wave, and metal." The band met recognition in 2003 with the singles "Danger! High Voltage" and "Gay Bar", and subsequently recorded...
, Trashlight Vision
Trashlight Vision
Trashlight Vision was a trash punk band from the United States. They featured the guitarist from Murderdolls, Acey Slade and Steve Haley from the Philadelphia based rock band HALEY....
, The Fall, Budgie
Budgie (band)
Budgie is a Welsh Hard Rock/Heavy Metal band from Cardiff. They are widely considered as one of the first heavy metal bands and a seminal influence to many acts of that scene, with fast, heavy rock being played as early as 1971. The band has been noted as "among the heaviest metal of its day"...
, The Blackout
The Blackout (band)
The Blackout is a post-hardcore band from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, formed in 2003. After some time backing Lostprophets on their Liberation Transmission Tour, along with Dopamine, Covergirl, Kids In Glass Houses, The Guns and Men, Women and Children, they released their first mini-album The Blackout!...
, Kids in Glass Houses
Kids in Glass Houses
Kids in Glass Houses are a Welsh rock band from Cardiff, and are considered a significant part of the Cardiff music scene. The band's name is inspired by the lyrics "not throwing stones at you anymore" from Glassjaw song "Tip Your Bartender". The band achieved success on the strength of the singles...
, Rooster
Rooster (band)
Rooster were an English indie rock band that formed in London in 2002. Comprising singer-songwriter Nick Atkinson, guitarist and songwriter Luke Potashnick, backing guitarist and vocalist Ben Smyth, bassist Nick Howell and drummer Dave Neale, the band released two studio albums and five UK top-40...
, Elliot Minor
Elliot Minor
Elliot Minor are a classically influenced rock band from York, England. The group consists of Alex Davies , Ed Minton , Dan Hetherton and Ed Hetherton .-History and formation: 2000-2006 :...
, Blaze Bayley
Blaze Bayley
Blaze Bayley is an English singer and songwriter. He has been the lead singer of Wolfsbane from 1984 to 1994, and nowadays since their recent reunion. Blaze is however world-known for having been the lead singer of British metal band Iron Maiden from 1994 to 1999...
, Go:Audio
Go:Audio
Go:Audio were an English pop rock band from London, England. The band's sound implemented influences from pop punk and electro pop, often using synthesizers and programming tools. Additionally, they were also noted for not using a bassist...
, Kill Hannah
Kill Hannah
Kill Hannah is a rock band formed in 1993 in Chicago. The band has released six studio albums, seven EPs, and two compilation albums as well as three DVDs.-History:...
and Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
.
The William Aston Hall at Glyndŵr University is a 900-seat venue which has recently undergone extensive refurbishment, and is now designed to accommodate a range of events from conferences and exhibitions to theatrical performances and pop/rock concerts. Acts who have performed there in the past include Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band that lean towards psychedelic rock and electronic experimentation. Since their formation in Cardiff, Wales in 1993, the band has consisted of Gruff Rhys , Huw Bunford , Guto Pryce , Cian Ciaran and Dafydd Ieuan Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band...
, Feeder
Feeder
-Technology:* Feeder , any of several devices used in apiculture to supplement or replace natural food sources* Feeder , another name for a riser, a reservoir built into a metal casting mold to prevent cavities due to shrinkage...
Love
Love (band)
Love was an American rock group of the late 1960s and early 1970s. They were led by singer/songwriter Arthur Lee and lead guitarist Johnny Echols...
, Ray Davies
Ray Davies
Ray Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...
, Freddie Starr
Freddie Starr
Freddie Starr is an English comedian who became famous in the early 1970s. He is also an impressionist and singer, with a chart album After the Laughter and UK Top 10 single, "It's You", in March 1974 to his credit.-Early career:Under his real name, he appeared as a teenager in the film Violent...
and Sweet
Sweet (band)
Sweet was a British rock band that rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s as one of the most prominent glam rock acts, with the classic line-up of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker.Sweet was formed in 1968 and achieved their first...
.
Media
Wrexham's daily newspapers include the North Wales Daily Post and Wrexham Evening LeaderWrexham Evening Leader
The Leader is a daily paper in the United Kingdom distributed on week mornings. It combines local and national news in order to create a morning newspaper....
, the weekly free Wrexham Chronicle, and the weekly broadsheet Wrexham Leader, often known as the "Big Leader". The Wrexham Music Magazine is published monthly, and concentrates on the town's large music scene.
Four radio stations are based in the town - commercial stations Heart North West and Wales
Heart North West and Wales
Heart North West and Wales is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Cheshire, the Wirral Peninsula and North Wales. The station began broadcasting on 2 July 2010 as a result of a merger between Heart Cheshire and North East Wales , Heart Wirral and Heart North Wales Coast...
(serving most of North Wales, Cheshire and the Wirral) & Heart Cymru (serving Gwynedd and Anglesey) broadcast from studios on Mold Road in Gwersyllt
Gwersyllt
Gwersyllt is an urban village and a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales....
, community station Calon FM
Calon FM
Calon FM is a community radio station broadcasting primarily to Wrexham and the surrounding urban areas, along with fair coverage through much of the central areas of Wrexham County Borough, and parts of southern Flintshire...
is based within Glyndwr University on Mold Road near the town centre and Wrexham FM provides online programming. BBC Cymru Wales also has a studio and newsroom for their radio and television services.
Parks and open spaces
Bellevue Park
Bellevue Park was the name of a stadium used for football games in Green Bay, Wisconsin. A minor league baseball park, it was the home of the Green Bay Packers of the NFL in 1923 and 1924....
, Acton Park, and Erddig Park with a green area within the town centre called Llwyn Isaf
Llwyn Isaf
Llwyn Isaf is a green in the centre of Wrexham. It is surrounded on two sides by the town's Guildhall and on another by the Library Arts Centre.The green is most popular with students from the nearby Yale College...
.
Bellevue Park
Bellevue Park
Bellevue Park was the name of a stadium used for football games in Green Bay, Wisconsin. A minor league baseball park, it was the home of the Green Bay Packers of the NFL in 1923 and 1924....
was built alongside the old cemetery on Ruabon Road. The park was designed to commemorate the Jubilee year of the Incorporation of Wrexham. It became neglected during the 1970s and many of the amenities were in a poor state of repair. A major project was undertaken to refurbish the park back to its original splendour. This was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Urban Parks Project, Welsh Development Agency, and the European Regional Development Fund. The park reopened in June 2000. It now boasts children's play areas, a bowling green which is home to the Parciau Bowling Club, tennis and basketball courts, an original Edwardian bandstand set in an amphitheatre, and a route for walkers and joggers. The park itself has many walkways through mature tree-lined avenues as well as affording some magnificent views of the Parish Church. The park is well lit and has a number of CCTV cameras installed to deter antisocial behaviour. Bellevue Park has once again regained its popularity with the people of Wrexham. Throughout the summer months social events take place, such as music concerts for all tastes and fun days for children.
Acton Park was originally the landscaped grounds of Acton Hall. It was laid out in 1785 by James Wyatt
James Wyatt
James Wyatt RA , was an English architect, a rival of Robert Adam in the neoclassical style, who far outdid Adam in his work in the neo-Gothic style.-Early classical career:...
on the instructions of the owner Sir Foster Cunliffe. Over the years the estate passed through several owners and in 1947 Wrexham Council was given the hall and park by the then owner Alderman William Aston. A section of Acton Park was sold for housing development in the 1970s. The surviving area now covers approximately 17 hectares (42 acre). Acton Park features a bowling green, tennis courts, a children's play area, Japanese-style garden and a large lake which has attracted diverse wildlife. The general layout of the park has remained unchanged since it was laid out in the 18th century and now boasts many mature trees.
Llwyn Isaf
Llwyn Isaf
Llwyn Isaf is a green in the centre of Wrexham. It is surrounded on two sides by the town's Guildhall and on another by the Library Arts Centre.The green is most popular with students from the nearby Yale College...
, situated alongside Wrexham Guildhall, is a popular green area within the town centre. The green was originally the landscaped grounds of a mansion house known as Llwyn Isaf. It now lies at the centre of Wrexham's civic centre just off Queens Square. The Welsh Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
concert was held at this location in 2005.
Erddig Park is situated two miles (3 km) south of the town centre where the town meets the Clywedog Valley. The park is owned and managed by the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
, and is home to Erddig Hall
Erddig
Erddig Hall is a National Trust property on the outskirts of Wrexham, Wales. Located south of Wrexham town centre, it was built in 1684–1687 for Joshua Edisbury, the high sheriff of Denbighshire and was designed by Thomas Webb....
and its formal gardens. The Park is also home to a number of notable historic features. These include a hydraulic ram
Hydraulic ram
A hydraulic ram, or hydram, is a cyclic water pump powered by hydropower. It functions as a hydraulic transformer that takes in water at one "hydraulic head" and flow-rate, and outputs water at a higher hydraulic-head and lower flow-rate...
known as the 'Cup and Saucer' which is used to pump water from the park to Erddig Hall, and the remains of Wristleham motte and bailey which is thought to be the beginnings of Wrexham as a town in the 12th century.
Football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team, Wrexham F.C., which compete in the English
Football in England
Association football is a national sport in England, where the first modern set of rules for the code were established in 1863, which were a major influence on the development of the modern Laws of the Game...
Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
despite being based in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. Currently managed by Andy Morell, the club has a rich 130-year history and is perhaps most notable for an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
upset over Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in 1992. They lifted the Vans Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
in May 2005, but had entered administration
Receivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
several months earlier and the 10-point penalty for this had caused their relegation to the basement division
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
of the Football League. There was an attempt to knock down the club's historic Racecourse Ground
Racecourse Ground
The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium AKA The Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham F.C. and, since 2010, the Crusaders Rugby League team who play in the engage Super League...
and replace it with a shopping development in 2005-06
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
. The club's on-the-field fortunates did not improve at they were relegated to the Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
in 2008.
Wrexham was the site of the headquarters of the Football Association of Wales
Football Association of Wales
The Football Association of Wales is the governing body of association football in Wales. It is a member of FIFA, UEFA and the IFAB.Established in 1876 , it is the third-oldest national association in the world, and is one of the four associations The Football Association of Wales (FAW) is the...
from its formation in 1876 until relocation to Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
in 1991.
Rugby League
The Racecourse stadium was home to European Super LeagueSuper League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
club Crusaders Rugby League from 2010-2011. After their departure from southern Wales. A consortium led by Wrexham FC chairman Geoff Moss to take over the franchise led to the relocation. In addition to some top class Australian players the club hope to develop local north Walian talent filling a void in opportunity to compete at top level in other sports in north Wales. They are coached by Iestyn Harris. In their first season, they made the high profile signing of Wales RU international, Gareth Thomas. In 2010, the Crusaders accomplished entering into the finals series of the engage Super League for the first time in their short history. North Wales Crusaders
North Wales Crusaders
-Coaches:...
has been awarded a place in the Co-operative Championship One next season, to be played at the Racecourse Ground
Racecourse Ground
The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium AKA The Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham F.C. and, since 2010, the Crusaders Rugby League team who play in the engage Super League...
due to the support of 5000 fans and 300 businesses. In 2013, the Racecourse Stadium, will host a group match and a quarter-final in the Rugby League World Cup
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
, while Wrexham will also be a place for training and a team base camp.
Rugby Union
The Racecourse ground has in the past also served as the secondary home of the Llanelli ScarletsLlanelli Scarlets
The Scarlets are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Llanelli, south-west Wales the team play at the Parc y Scarlets stadium. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, as well as competing in the LV= Cup and the Heineken Cup...
, one of the four Welsh professional rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
sides that compete in the Magners-sponsored Celtic League
Celtic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
. The Wales rugby union team have also played there on occasion. Wrexham is also home to rugby union team Wrexham RFC
Wrexham RFC
Wrexham Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team based in Wrexham, Wales. Wrexham RFC is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Llanelli Scarlets. The club fields a Seniors, Second, Youth and Juniors teams.Wrexham was one of the nine founder clubs of the North Wales...
, a team affiliated to the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
. In 1931 nine northern Welsh clubs met at Wrexham to form the North Wales Rugby Union, Wrexham RFC were one of the founders.
Other sports
- Athletics: Queensway International Athletics stadium in Caia ParkCaia ParkCaia Park is a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It was created in 1985 after a boundary commission review along with four other community areas within the town...
is Wrexham's second stadium after the Racecourse and has hosted the Welsh Open Athletics event in recent years. The stadium is also home to North Wales' largest athletics club, Wrexham Amateur Athletics Club. - BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
: The recently formed NEWI Nets are north Wales' highest-ranked basketball team and currently compete in English Division 2. They play at NEWI's Plas Coch sports arena. - HockeyHockeyHockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
: Plas Coch is home to the North Wales Regional Hockey Stadium, with seating for 200 spectators and floodlighting. The stadium was due to host the 2007 Celtic Cup in July that year. - Horse racingHorse racingHorse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
: Bangor-on-DeeBangor-on-DeeBangor-on-Dee is a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is a village in the ancient district of Maelor in Wales, situated on the banks of the River Dee...
racecourse is 10 minutes south of Wrexham - LeisureLeisureLeisure, or free time, is time spent away from business, work, and domestic chores. It is also the periods of time before or after necessary activities such as eating, sleeping and, where it is compulsory, education....
: Wrexham has 7 leisure centres: Chirk, Clywedog, Darland, Gwyn Evans(Gwersyllt), Plas Madoc, Queensway and Waterworld, which offer activities including swimming, aerobics, climbing walls and yoga. - TennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
: Wrexham is home to the North Wales Regional Tennis Centre, which plays host to a number of international competitions each year including the Challenger Series. The centre is a pay and play facility and is open 7 days a week to all members of the public. The centre is also home to the WLTA (Wrexham Lawn Tennis Association). - GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
Wrexham has 4 golf courses: Moss Valley Golf Club, Plassey Golf Club, Wrexham Golf Club and Clays Farm Golf Club.
The Parish Church of St.Giles
- Main article St Giles' Church, WrexhamSt Giles' Church, WrexhamSt Giles' Church is the parish church of Wrexham, Wales. Its tower is traditionally one of the Seven Wonders of Wales, which are commemorated in an anonymously written rhyme:...
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
s, two early eagle lectern
Lectern
A lectern is a reading desk with a slanted top, usually placed on a stand or affixed to some other form of support, on which documents or books are placed as support for reading aloud, as in a scripture reading, lecture, or sermon...
s, a window by the artist Edward Burne-Jones
Edward Burne-Jones
Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1st Baronet was a British artist and designer closely associated with the later phase of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, who worked closely with William Morris on a wide range of decorative arts as a founding partner in Morris, Marshall, Faulkner, and Company...
and the Royal Welch Fusiliers
Royal Welch Fusiliers
The Royal Welch Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. It was founded in 1689 to oppose James II and the imminent war with France...
chapel. In the graveyard is the tomb of Elihu Yale
Elihu Yale
Elihu Yale was a Welsh merchant and philanthropist, governor of the East India Company, and a benefactor of the Collegiate School of Connecticut, which in 1718 was named Yale College in his honour.- Life :...
who was the benefactor of Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in New Haven
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and after whom Yale College Wrexham
Yale College Wrexham
Yale College of Wrexham is a further education college in Wrexham, northeast Wales.-History:The history of Yale College can be summarised in three phases: Yale Grammar and Technical School, Yale Sixth Form, Yale College...
is named. As a tribute to Yale and his resting place, a scaled down replica of the church tower, known as Wrexham Tower was constructed at Yale University. The tower appears in an 18th century rhyme, as one of the Seven Wonders of Wales
Seven Wonders of Wales
The Seven Wonders of Wales is a traditional list of notable landmarks in North Wales, commemorated in an anonymously written rhyme:The seven wonders comprise:...
.
St. Mary's Cathedral
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Cathedral of Our Lady of Sorrows (St. Mary's)
Wrexham Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Sorrows also known as Wrexham Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the seat of the Bishop of Wrexham, and mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wrexham.-History:...
in Regent Street is the main Church of the Diocese of Wrexham
Bishop of Wrexham
The Bishop of Wrexham is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wrexham in the Province of Cardiff in Wales.The diocese covers an area of and consists of the Welsh historic counties of Anglesey, Caernarfonshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Merionethshire and Montgomeryshire The Bishop of...
, which extends over all of North Wales. Built in 1857 at the height of the Gothic Revival, the cathedral was home to the Bishop of Menevia from 1898 until 1987, whose diocese covered all of Wales. However in 1987 the Catholic province of Wales was reconstructed, since which time the cathedral has been home to the Bishop of Wrexham
Bishop of Wrexham
The Bishop of Wrexham is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wrexham in the Province of Cardiff in Wales.The diocese covers an area of and consists of the Welsh historic counties of Anglesey, Caernarfonshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Merionethshire and Montgomeryshire The Bishop of...
(now 2nd Bishop of Wrexham). The cathedral is also home to the relic of Saint Richard Gwyn
Saint Richard Gwyn
Saint Richard Gwyn , also known by his anglicised name, Richard White, was a Welsh school teacher. He was martyred by being hanged, drawn and quartered for high treason in 1584. He was canonised by Pope Paul VI in 1970 as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales...
, Wrexham's patron saint. He was a Catholic martyr in the 16th century and was hanged, drawn and quartered
Hanged, drawn and quartered
To be hanged, drawn and quartered was from 1351 a penalty in England for men convicted of high treason, although the ritual was first recorded during the reigns of King Henry III and his successor, Edward I...
at Wrexham's Beast Market. He was canonized by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
in 1970.
Other denominations
Wrexham also has a number of non-denominational chapels and churches around the town, including a corps of The Salvation Army. The main Methodist church is Wrexham Methodist church, built in 1971 on the site of the former Brynyfynnon Chapel on Regent Street. Up until the 1970s the town had several Welsh non-denominational chapels and the attendance of these was far in excess of that of the Anglican Church in the town.There is a mosque located on Grosvenor Road in the former Wrexham Miner's Institute.
In the past, Wrexham had a church with a spire much taller than the St. Gile's steeple. This church was dedicated and named after St Mark but was demolished as the building's foundations were in danger of collapse. A multi-storey car park
Multi-storey car park
A multi-storey car-park is a building designed specifically to be for car parking and where there are a number of floors or levels on which parking takes place...
named St. Mark's was erected on the site.
Glyndŵr University
Named after the 14th Century scholar and last Welsh Prince of WalesPrince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
, Owain Glyndŵr
Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
, Glyndŵr University was formed when the North East Wales Institute (NEWI) was granted full university status in 2008. It consists of Plas Coch campus in the western part of the town and the North Wales School of Art and Design located on Regent Street. The institution was originally founded in 1887 as the Wrexham School of Science and Art.
Glyndŵr remains an accredited institution of the University of Wales and offers both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. The Vice Chancellor is Professor Michael Scott. Glyndŵr has approximately 8,000 full time students and over 350 from outside the UK.
Yale College of Wrexham
Yale College / Coleg Iâl is the main provider of adult education in Wrexham and is one of the largest colleges in Wales. As a tertiary college it also provides a wide range of higher education courses at its two campuses at Grove Park in the town centre and Bersham Road in south west Wrexham.It is named after Elihu Yale
Elihu Yale
Elihu Yale was a Welsh merchant and philanthropist, governor of the East India Company, and a benefactor of the Collegiate School of Connecticut, which in 1718 was named Yale College in his honour.- Life :...
, best known for being the prime benefactor of Yale University. It was founded in 1950 as a state school on a site at Crispin Lane. In 1973, as part of the conversion of local schools to the comprehensive system, it was renamed as Yale Sixth Form College and the pupils re-located to other schools. The Crispin Lane site was incorporated into NEWI (now Glyndŵr University) after the development of the Grove Park Campus.
Schools
Wrexham has a number of primary and secondary schools. It has just one Welsh-speaking secondary school, Ysgol Morgan Llwyd. Recently, three of the largest secondary schools, St David's School, Ysgol Bryn Offa and The Groves High School were merged to create two larger "super schools", Rhosnesni High SchoolRhosnesni High School
Rhosnesni High School, also known as Ysgol Rhosnesni High School, is a high school created in 2003 by Wrexham County Borough council as a part of their controversial "super schools" plan.- History :...
and Ysgol Clywedog
Ysgol Clywedog
Ysgol Clywedog, is a comprehensive school which serves parts of the town of Wrexham in north-east Wales.Ysgol Clywedog is located in the south-west suburbs of Wrexham...
. Wrexham has also become home to the first shared-faith school in Wales in the form of St Joseph's.
Twin municipalities
IserlohnIserlohn
Iserlohn is a city in the Märkischer Kreis district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the largest city by population and area within the district and the Sauerland region.-Geography:...
(Märkischer Kreis
Märkischer Kreis
The Märkischer Kreis is a district in central North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighbouring districts are Unna, Soest, Hochsauerland, Olpe, Oberbergischer Kreis, Ennepe-Ruhr, and the city of Hagen.-History:...
), Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Racibórz
Racibórz
Racibórz is a town in southern Poland with 60,218 inhabitants situated in the Silesian Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
The town of Wrexham is twinned with the German district of Märkischer Kreis
Märkischer Kreis
The Märkischer Kreis is a district in central North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighbouring districts are Unna, Soest, Hochsauerland, Olpe, Oberbergischer Kreis, Ennepe-Ruhr, and the city of Hagen.-History:...
and the Polish town of Racibórz
Racibórz
Racibórz is a town in southern Poland with 60,218 inhabitants situated in the Silesian Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship...
.
The first twinning was established on 17 March 1970 between the former Kreis Iserlohn and Wrexham Rural District. 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 (Ratibor), a county in Poland, which was formerly part of Silesia, Germany. In September 2002, a delegation from Racibórz visited Wrexham and began initial discussions about possible co-operation which led, eventually, to the signing of Articles of Twinning between Wrexham and Racibórz in March 2004. The Wrexham area has strong historical links with Poland. Following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, many service personnel from the Free Polish armed forces who had been injured received treatment at Penley
Penley
Penley is a village in the County Borough of Wrexham, in Wales close to the border with Shropshire, EnglandThe village was, until 1974, in an exclave of the ancient county of Flintshire known as Maelor Saesneg. , sometimes called "Flintshire Detached", which was administered from Overton-on-Dee...
Polish Hospital. Many of their descendants remain in the area to this day.
Rail
Wrexham General
was opened in 1846, rebuilt in 1912 and again in 1997. It has six platforms (four through, two terminal) and provides direct rail services to Wrexham Central, Bidston
Bidston
Bidston is a suburb of Birkenhead, on the Wirral Peninsula, England. Administratively, it is also a ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. Before local government reorganisation on 1 April 1974, it was part of the County Borough of Birkenhead, within the geographical county of Cheshire...
, Manchester Piccadilly, Bangor
Bangor, Gwynedd
Bangor is a city in Gwynedd, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. It is a university city with a population of 13,725 at the 2001 census, not including around 10,000 students at Bangor University. Including nearby Menai Bridge on Anglesey, which does not however form part of...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, Crewe
Crewe
Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...
, Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
, Rugby
Rugby, Warwickshire
Rugby is a market town in Warwickshire, England, located on the River Avon. The town has a population of 61,988 making it the second largest town in the county...
, Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
, Holyhead
Holyhead
Holyhead is the largest town in the county of Anglesey in the North Wales. It is also a major port adjacent to the Irish Sea serving Ireland....
, Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
, Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
, Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa
Royal Leamington Spa, commonly known as Leamington Spa or Leamington or Leam to locals, is a spa town in central Warwickshire, England. Formerly known as Leamington Priors, its expansion began following the popularisation of the medicinal qualities of its water by Dr Kerr in 1784, and by Dr Lambe...
, Banbury
Banbury
Banbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Wrexham General is on two different lines, The Severn-Dee Main Line and The Borderlands Branch Line. It is also on an extension of the West coast main line towards London via Crewe, and also the Chiltern Mainline towards London via Shrewsbury, also the Welsh Marches Line towards Cardiff and Manchester travels via Wrexham for early morning and late night services. Wrexham General is the largest station in North Wales and frequency of services is steadily increasing.
Wrexham General was also the base for the train operating company
Train operating company
The term train operating company is used in the United Kingdom to describe the various businesses operating passenger trains on the railway system of Great Britain under the collective National Rail brand...
Wrexham & Shropshire (the operating name of the Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway Company). The company provided passenger train services from Wrexham via Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
to London Marylebone
Marylebone station
Marylebone station , also known as London Marylebone, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. It stands midway between the mainline stations at Euston and Paddington, about 1 mile from each...
on an open-access basis. Services started in 2008 with an agreement for a seven year period. Wrexham & Shropshire began running services on 28 April 2008. However they became a victim of the economic downturn and services ended on 28 January 2011.
All local services that operate from Wrexham Central also run through General.
Wrexham Central
, which is located on the Island Green retail park, has one platform but splits into two tracks on the outskirts of the town. It provides direct rail services to Bidston
Bidston railway station
Bidston railway station is a railway station in Bidston, Birkenhead, on the Wirral, England. It is situated at the junction of the West Kirby branch of the Wirral Line with the Borderlands Line from Wrexham Central .-History:The station was originally built by the Hoylake Railway in 1866 as an...
(where there are connections to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and West Kirby
West Kirby railway station
West Kirby railway station is situated in the town of West Kirby, Wirral, England. It is situated at the end of one of the branches of the Wirral Line, part of the Merseyrail network.The beach can be reached easily from the station....
), Buckley
Buckley railway station
Buckley railway station serves the town of Buckley in Flintshire, Wales.The station is 14 km north of Wrexham Central on the Borderlands Line.The station was known as Buckley Junction until 6 May 1974, when it became Buckley....
, Caergwrle
Caergwrle railway station
Caergwrle railway station serves the village of Caergwrle in Flintshire, Wales. The station is 7 km north of Wrexham Central on the Borderlands Line.The station was renamed from Caergwrle Castle & Wells to Caergwrle on 6 May 1974....
, Cefn-y-Bedd
Cefn-y-Bedd railway station
Cefn-y-bedd railway station serves the village of Cefn-y-bedd in Flintshire, Wales. The station is north of Wrexham General on the Borderlands Line.-Services:...
, Gwersyllt
Gwersyllt railway station
Gwersyllt railway station serves the area of Gwersyllt in the town of Wrexham in North Wales. It is one of five stations in in the Wrexham County Borough.The station is 3.5 km north of Wrexham Central on the Borderlands Line.-Services:...
, Hawarden
Hawarden railway station
Hawarden railway station serves the village of Hawarden in Flintshire. It is situated on the Borderlands Line 17 km north of Wrexham Central and all passenger services are operated by Arriva Trains Wales. The station is unmanned.-Services:...
, Hawarden Bridge
Hawarden Bridge railway station
Hawarden Bridge railway station is a railway station near Shotton, Flintshire, Wales. It is situated on the Borderlands Line north of Wrexham Central, on the north side of Hawarden Bridge over the River Dee...
, Heswall
Heswall railway station
Heswall railway station is a railway station located on the eastern edge of the town of Heswall on the Wirral Peninsula, England. It is situated on the Borderlands Line. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Arriva Trains Wales...
, Hope
Hope (Flintshire) railway station
Hope railway station serves the village of Hope in Flintshire. The station is 8 km north of Wrexham Central on the Borderlands Line...
, Neston
Neston railway station
Neston railway station serves the town of Neston, Cheshire, England. This is the last station on the English part of the Borderlands Line before it reaches Wales. The station is 14 km south of Bidston. There was once a substantial station building on the Bidston bound platform...
, Penyffordd
Penyffordd railway station
Penyffordd railway station serves the village of Penyffordd in Flintshire, Wales. The station is 12 km north of Wrexham Central on the Borderlands Line.The station was renamed from Penyffordd for Leeswood to Penyffordd on 6 May 1974....
, Shotton
Shotton railway station
Shotton railway station serves the town of Shotton, Flintshire, Wales. It is situated where the Borderlands Line crosses the North Wales Coast Line. All passenger services are operated by Arriva Trains Wales, which manages the station....
and Upton
Upton railway station
Upton railway station serves the village of Upton, Wirral and the Noctorum area of Birkenhead, on the Wirral Peninsula, England. The station is situated on the Borderlands Line. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Arriva Trains Wales....
(Wirral). Until the 1998 construction of the Island Green retail park, Wrexham Central station was located 50 metres further along the track.
Plans are afoot to electrify the Borderlands line which runs through General and Central to Deeside and the Wirral. This would increase capacity and accelerate speeds on the line.
Gwersyllt
serves the Gwersyllt suburb of Wrexham and is a stop on the borderlands line between Wrexham General and Bidston.
Local stations
There are a further two local stations in the Borough at Chirk
Chirk
Chirk is a small town and local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It has a population of over 4,000....
and Ruabon
Ruabon
Ruabon is a village and community in the county borough of Wrexham in Wales.More than 80% of the population of 2,400 were born in Wales with 13.6% speaking Welsh....
, with plans to re-open at least another two over the next few years at Rossett and Johnstown. Plans also include a 'Park and Rail' service from one of these locations into Wrexham Central, to ease current traffic congestion and pressure on town centre car parks.
Bus
A recent focus on road transport by the council has improved bus travel in the Wrexham area, with most buses being low-floor and with slightly elevated bus stops to allow easier access. A new bus terminalWrexham bus station
Wrexham bus station is an 8-stand indoor bus station situated on King Street in the centre of Wrexham, in north-east Wales. A new complex was opened in two halves in December 2003, on the site of the original bus station which was originally built in the late 1960s with the adjacent office...
, the largest in north Wales, has been built in Wrexham, featuring indoor shops and ambient music, along with a staffed information booth. The bus station serves local, regional and long-distance bus services. It is served by various bus companies, including Arriva Buses Wales
Arriva Buses Wales
Arriva Buses Wales is a division of Arriva that operates bus services in north Wales. It has its origins in the former Crosville Motor Services. Arriva Buses Wales has approximately 700 employees. The company's official name is Arriva Cymru Ltd.-History:...
, GHA Coaches
GHA Coaches
GHA Coaches is a bus and coach operator serving North East Wales and surrounding areas in the United Kingdom. Their current total of bus operations has increased dramatically in recent years after purchases of other local bus operators such as Bryn Melyn, Chaloner's, Hanmers Coaches and Vale of...
and Townlynx. Long-distance coaches are available to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
via Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
and Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
and to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
via Telford
Telford
Telford is a large new town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, approximately east of Shrewsbury, and west of Birmingham...
and Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. The Wrexham Shuttle provides a link between Wrexham and the nearby industrial estate. The townlink bus connects the main bus station with Eagles Meadow shopping centre and Border retail park to the east and Wrexham General and Central stations with Plas Coch, Wrexham Central and Island Green shopping centres to the south and west of the town. Wrexham is served by the National Express coach network, which picks up from the Wrexham bus station. Wrexham is one of the first areas in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to adopt the use of the distinctive yellow American Bluebird
Blue Bird Corp.
The Blue Bird Corporation, originally known as the Blue Bird Body Company, is an American manufacturer of school and activity buses. Established in 1932, the company has also manufactured transit buses, motorhomes, and specialty vehicles such as mobile libraries and mobile police command centers...
school buses. Ten currently operate in the Wrexham area, transporting pupils to and from the schools and colleges.
Roads
The town centre is orbited by a ring road. The northern and eastern parts of the road are dualled between Rhosddu Road roundabout and Eagles Meadow. The A483 is Wrexham's principal route. It skirts the western edge of the town, dividing it from the urban villages to the west. The road has connections with major roads (A55(M53), A5(M54)). The A5156 leads to the A534 and on to the Wrexham Industrial Estate. The A541 roadA541 road
The A541 is an A road in North Wales. The road starts on the A525 in Trefnant, between St Asaph and Denbigh, and ends in Wrexham. On the way it passes the town of Mold. It also passes through many villages. In northern-central Wrexham it joins the B5101 road....
is the main route into Wrexham from Mold and the town's western urban area. It connects to the B5101 road
B5101 road
The B5101 road is a B road, connecting the west of Wrexham, north Wales to the A5104 road to the east of Treuddyn in Flintshire. The road initially begins in northern central Wrexham off the B5425 road at...
which eventually leads to the A5104 road to the east of Treuddyn
Treuddyn
Treuddyn is a small village and community in Flintshire, Wales, located just off the A5104 road, around 4 miles south-east of Mold and 3 miles north-west of Caergwrle. The community includes the nearby village of Coed Talon, to the east, and Rhydtalog, to the south-west on the Denbighshire border...
in Flintshire
Flintshire
Flintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
.
Future development
A link road to the Wrexham industrial estate is currently being constructed and is due to be completed in 2012, it will replace the current road leading to the estate and cost £25 million. The road has suffered many delays due to funding problems and more recently due to local wildlife concerns.Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
donated £100,000 to a study of electrification of the Wrexham to Bidston
Bidston
Bidston is a suburb of Birkenhead, on the Wirral Peninsula, England. Administratively, it is also a ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. Before local government reorganisation on 1 April 1974, it was part of the County Borough of Birkenhead, within the geographical county of Cheshire...
railway line, and a possible rail link to the North Wales coast line. This would open new rail links to the east, and the urban area of Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. The line was put on indefinite hold following a larger than expected cost projection by Network Rail.
Notable people
- See :Category:People from Wrexham
- Jack Mary AnnJack Mary AnnJack Mary Ann is a folk hero whose legendary exploits in the Wrexham area of Wales in the 1920s and 1930s are celebrated in a series of jokes and tales transmitted in local oral tradition. Jack was a coal miner. Jack's nickname comes from the common practice of distinguishing local men by the use...
- a local folk hero who lived in the Top Boat House area of Broughton - Hannah BloreHannah BloreHannah Blore is a Welsh professional sailor. She was born in Wrexham, Wales.Blore started sailing on the "Flash" at Gresford Sailing club from the age of seven, under the instruction of Harry Bainbridge....
- Byte Class; Women's World Champion, 2005, 2008 - David BowerDavid BowerDavid Bower is a Welsh actor, best known for his role as David in the hit romantic comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral. Born in Wrexham, North Wales, he is deaf and took his degree in the Theatre of the Deaf. After university he joined what became the Signdance Collective working as sign dancer...
- a deaf actor who is best known for his role as David, the younger brother of Charles, in the comedy Four Weddings and a FuneralFour Weddings and a FuneralFour Weddings and a Funeral is a 1994 British comedy film directed by Mike Newell. It was the first of several films by screenwriter Richard Curtis to feature Hugh Grant...
. - Karen DaviesKaren DaviesKaren Davies is a professional golfer from Wales who formerly played on the LPGA Tour.- Amateur career :Davies was born in Wrexham, Wales...
- a professional golfer who has played on the LPGA Tour since 1990 - Charles Harold DoddC. H. DoddCharles Harold Dodd was a Welsh New Testament scholar and influential Protestant theologian.He is known for promoting "realized eschatology", the belief that Jesus' references to the kingdom of God meant a present reality rather than a future apocalypse.-Life:Dodd was born in Wrexham,...
(1884–1973) - eminent New TestamentNew TestamentThe New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
scholar and influential Protestant theologian - Percy William DoddPercy DoddPercy William Dodd was a British classicist who taught at the Universities of Leeds and Oxford.-Biography:Dodd was born in 1889. He was the third son of Charles Dodd, of Wrexham, and was educated at Grove Park School, Wrexham before matriculating at Jesus College, Oxford as an Open Classical...
(1889–1931) - classics lecturer at the University of LeedsUniversity of LeedsThe University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
and captain in the West Yorkshire Regiment during the Great War - Arthur Herbert DoddA. H. DoddProfessor Arthur Herbert Dodd , was an academic historian who taught and published widely, specialising in the politics of the Tudor and Stuart periods, Welsh history, and the history of the Industrial Revolution....
(1891–1975) - WelshWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
historianHistorianA historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and professor of history at University College, Bangor - Rosemarie FranklandRosemarie FranklandRosemarie Frankland was a Welsh beauty pageant contestant who won the 1961 Miss United Kingdom and Miss World titles before becoming an actress.-Biography:...
- beauty pageant contestant who won the 1961 Miss United Kingdom and Miss World. - Amy GuyAmy GuyAmy Guy is a Welsh beauty queen, television performer and athlete.She attended Yale College, Wrexham and secondary school at Ysgol Rhiwabon, Wrexham, Wales, and was the Welsh Schools National 100m and 300m Hurdling Champion...
current gladiator 'SIREN' on the TV show of the same name. Member of British Team in horse riding. Miss Wales 2004 Miss World Sport 2004. Miss United Kingdom 2005. - Saint Richard GwynSaint Richard GwynSaint Richard Gwyn , also known by his anglicised name, Richard White, was a Welsh school teacher. He was martyred by being hanged, drawn and quartered for high treason in 1584. He was canonised by Pope Paul VI in 1970 as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales...
- (1535–1584) - Catholic Martyr and Patron Saint of Wrexham - Edwin HughesEdwin HughesTroop Sergeant Major Edwin Hughes, known as 'Balaclava Ned', was the last survivor of the famous Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War of 1854–56. He was born in Wrexham, Wales on 12 December 1830, and died in Blackpool on 18 May 1927, aged 96...
- ("Balaclava Ned") (1830–1927), the last survivor of the Charge of the Light BrigadeCharge of the Light BrigadeThe Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge of British cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. The charge was the result of a miscommunication in such a way that the brigade attempted a much more difficult objective...
at BalaklavaBalaklavaBalaklava is a former city on the Crimean peninsula and part of the city of Sevastopol which carries a special administrative status in Ukraine. It was a city in its own right until 1957 when it was formally incorporated into the municipal borders of Sevastopol by the Soviet government...
in the CrimeaCrimeaCrimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name... - Mark HughesMark HughesLeslie Mark Hughes, OBE , is a former Welsh international footballer. As an international footballer, he made 72 appearances and scored 16 goals....
- former Welsh international footballer and subsequently manager of several clubs - Tom JamesTom JamesThomas James MBE is a Welsh rower, Olympic Champion, and victorious Cambridge Blue.-Education:James was educated at The King's School, Chester, where he took up the sport of rowing...
- Olympic Gold Medallist Rower. - George JeffreysGeorge Jeffreys, 1st Baron JeffreysGeorge Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys of Wem, PC , also known as "The Hanging Judge", was an English judge. He became notable during the reign of King James II, rising to the position of Lord Chancellor .- Early years and education :Jeffreys was born at the family estate of Acton Hall, near Wrexham,...
- (1645–1689) 'The Hanging Judge' of Acton Hall in ActonActon, WrexhamActon is a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of the Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It lies in the north-eastern part of the market town of Wrexham... - Darren JeffriesDarren JeffriesDarren Jeffries is a British actor best known for his portrayal of Sam "O.B." O'Brien in Channel 4 soap-opera Hollyoaks. In 2007, after ten years of playing O.B., Darren announced that he was leaving the soap...
- HollyoaksHollyoaksHollyoaks is a long-running British television soap opera, first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill...
actor - Joey JonesJoey JonesFor other persons named Joey Jones, see Joey Jones.For other similarly named people, see Joseph Jones or Joe Jones.Joseph Patrick "Joey" Jones is a former Wales international football full-back who played for Liverpool for three seasons, including the 1977 season, in which they chased "the...
- football player who played for LiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, Chelsea and Wrexham - Paul JonesPaul Jones (footballer)Paul Steven Jones is a retired Welsh international football goalkeeper. During his playing career, he played for several clubs, including Wolverhampton Wanderers, Stockport County and Southampton.-Career history:...
- retired Welsh international footballer. - Rob Jones - footballer who played for Liverpool FC
- K-KlassK-KlassK-Klass are a house music group from Wrexham, North Wales. The members are Andy Williams, Carl Thomas, Russ Morgan, and Paul Roberts. K-Klass signed with Deconstruction Records, and later to Parlophone.-Career:...
- dance music group - Jason KoumasJason KoumasJason Koumas is a Welsh professional footballer who is currently a free agent after being released by Wigan Athletic. Formerly of Tranmere Rovers, Cardiff City and West Bromwich Albion, he is a former Welsh international...
- footballer with Wigan Athletic - David LordDavid LordDavid Samuel Anthony Lord VC, DFC was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
- (1913–1944), Irish born holder of the Victoria CrossVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
and Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
. - Andy MooreAndrew Moore (rugby player)Not to be confused with Andy Moore, the scrum-half who also played for Wales.Andrew 'Andy' P Moore is a former Wales international rugby union player. A lock forward, he played his club rugby for Swansea RFC, Bridgend RFC and Cardiff Blues and was in the Wales squad for the 1995 Rugby World Cup...
- Neath/Swansea Rugby Club & Wales International. - Jonathon O'DoughertyJonathon O'DoughertyJonathon O’Dougherty , is a Welsh ice dancer who competed for Britain with partner and wife, Pamela O’Connor. Before teaming with O’Connor, he competed with Tessa McGarry...
- British National Ice Dance champion - John Godfrey Parry-ThomasJ.G. Parry-ThomasJohn Godfrey Parry-Thomas was a Welsh engineer and motor-racing driver who at one time held the Land Speed Record. He was the first driver to be killed in pursuit of the land speed record....
- (1884–1927), engineer and racing driver. - Leigh Richmond RooseLeigh Richmond RooseLeigh Richmond "Dick" Roose, MM, was a Welsh international footballer who kept goal for a number of professional clubs in the Football League between 1901 and 1912. A celebrated amateur at a time when the game was played largely by professionals, Roose was renowned as one of the best players in...
- WelshWelsh peopleThe Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
international footballer who played for Stoke City, Sunderland and Celtic amongst others. - Robbie SavageRobbie SavageRobert William "Robbie" Savage is a football pundit and former Welsh professional footballer who played predominantly as a midfielder. During his career he captained Derby County, and also played for the Welsh national team. He now presents 606 on BBC Radio Five Live on Sunday evenings alongside...
- current Derby CountyDerby County F.C.Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
footballer and Wales international. - Andrew Scott (guitarist) - guitarist with 70's glam rock band The Sweet
- Dennis TaylorDennis TaylorDennis Taylor is a retired snooker player, and current BBC snooker commentator. Winner of two ranking events, he is best known for winning the 1985 World Championship, beating World number one Steve Davis on the final black in one of the sport's most memorable finals...
- ex snooker World Champion, currently living in Llay - Ricky TomlinsonRicky TomlinsonEric Tomlinson , known by his stage name Ricky Tomlinson, is an English actor and comedian, best known for his roles as Bobby Grant in Brookside, DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker and James "Jim" Royle in The Royle Family....
- (born 1939), actor mainly known for his role in The Royle FamilyThe Royle FamilyThe Royle Family is a popular, BAFTA award-winning television comedy drama produced by Granada Television for the BBC, which ran for three series between 1998 and 2000, and specials from 2006 onwards...
. - Tim VincentTim VincentTim Vincent is a Welsh actor and television presenter who was a presenter on the popular children's programme Blue Peter between 1993 and 1997...
- former Blue PeterBlue PeterBlue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
presenter, now Access HollywoodAccess HollywoodAccess Hollywood is a weekday television entertainment news program covering events and celebrities in the entertainment industry. It was created by former Entertainment Tonight executive producer Jim Van Messel, and is currently directed by Robert Silverstein. In previous years, Doug Dougherty and...
reporter. - Robert WaithmanRobert WaithmanRobert Waithman , Lord Mayor of London, was born at Wrexham.After being employed for some time in a London linen draper's, he opened, about 1786, a draper's shop of his own, and made a considerable fortune. In 1818 he was returned to Parliament, as a liberal, for the City of London...
- (1764–1833), born in Wrexham, became Lord Mayor of London in 1823 - John 'Iron-Mad' WilkinsonJohn Wilkinson (industrialist)John "Iron-Mad" Wilkinson was an English industrialist who pioneered the use and manufacture of cast iron and cast-iron goods in the Industrial Revolution.-Early life:...
- (1728–1808) Son of Isaac, known for Bersham IronworksBersham IronworksBersham Ironworks were large ironworks at Bersham, near Wrexham, North Wales. They are most famous for being the original working site of John Wilkinson...
in the town and producing canons for the American civil war - Llŷr WilliamsLlyr WilliamsLlŷr Williams is a Welsh pianist.-Childhood:Llŷr Williams was born in 1976 in the village of Pentre Bychan in Wrexham, Wales....
- Welsh pianist, received the Outstanding Young Artist Award from MIDEM Classique and the International Artist Managers' Association. - Elihu YaleElihu YaleElihu Yale was a Welsh merchant and philanthropist, governor of the East India Company, and a benefactor of the Collegiate School of Connecticut, which in 1718 was named Yale College in his honour.- Life :...
- (1649–1721), businessman and benefactor of Yale UniversityYale UniversityYale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. - Charlie LandsboroughCharlie LandsboroughCharlie Landsborough, is a British country and folk musician and singer-songwriter. He started singing professionally in the 1970s, and is now one of the UK's top country acts. He is also popular in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.-Life:Born in Wrexham, Wales, Landsborough was the youngest...
- (born 1941), British country and folk musician and singer-songwriter.
External links
- Wrexham County Borough Council
- Wrexham.com
- Evening Leader
- Calon FM - Wrexham Community Radio
- Wrexham - WikiTravel
- Wrexham Tourism - Trip Advisor
- Local History — Wrexham (BBC)
- The Anglican Parish of Wrexham, including Wrexham Parish Church
- Wrexham Musical Theatre Trust
- Wrexham FC - Wrexham FC Official site
- Wrexhammusic.co.uk - Online hub for music in Wrexham
- Wrexham Arts - An online hub for arts, culture and entertainment in Wrexham
- 360 Degree Panoramic View of Queens Square (BBC) (Java required)
- Francis Frith Historic Photos of Wrexham (mainly from 1895)