Local Area - Wrexham

On the edge of the borderlands, occupying a convenient location in North Wales, the vibrant town of Wrexham is nestled in the lower Dee Valley between the lush Cheshire plains and the Welsh hills and is surrounded by stunning panoramas, glorious countryside and picturesque villages; the ancient city of Chester being just 12 miles away.

Heritage
The medieval market town of Wrexham, first referred to in 1161 as ‘the castle Wristesham’ was home to ‘Brymbo Man’, Wrexham’s celebrity prehistoric skeleton from around 1600 BC. So rich is Wrexham’s heritage, it is one of the few places in the world to have its own specialised encyclopaedia.

Romans left their mark by establishing farming communities in Plas Coch and Chirk; they produced tiles and pottery at Holt and mined lead at Ffrith for the Legion based at nearby Chester.

Bersham Ironworks were at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution from where it is said cannons were supplied to both sides in the American War of Independence and cylinders for James Watts' revolutionary steam engine were made.

Two blast furnaces were built nearby; this was the beginning of what was to become Brymbo Steelworks. 

Heritage
Award winning beaches, miles of picturesque coastline rich in wildlife and maritime history; the beautiful unspoilt countryside of Snowdonia National Park is all within easy reach of the town.

 Wrexham’s central position puts it within a one hour drive of Liverpool and Manchester.

Heritage
There was an extensive lead mining industry at Minera and the deposits of clay led to the famous brick, tile and terracotta industry at Ruabon. Extensive coal deposits led to the mining of coal from Llay, Hafod and Gresford.

Heritage
Llangollen was the site of the first stone bridge over the River Dee; the bridge was built in 1345 before being rebuilt during the Elizabethan period. It's said that the structure remains the same today. It is also host to many different international events each year, the most famous being the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Heritage
The first lager brewery in Britain was built at Wrexham in 1880; leather was supplied from tanneries in the town to bind the eleventh edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, which needed a million skins!

Heritage
The sixteenth century tower of St. Giles Parish Church may look familiar to many American visitors, an exact replica of one of Wales’ Seven Wonders can be found on the grounds of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Elihu Yale, taking his name from nearby Plas yn Ial, is buried in the grounds of the church.

Heritage
One of the very earliest monasteries in Britain was founded in the fifth century at Bangor on Dee, later destroyed as the result of a battle. The village is home to an excellent National Hunt Racecourse, one of only two in Wales.

Some of the famous yew trees at St Mary's Church in Overton date to the twelfth century, when the first stone church is said to have been erected.

Situated in beautiful parklands, Chirk Castle is a magnificent example of a Marcher Fortress; the stately home is entered through the famous Davies Gates.

Built in the late seventeenth century, Erddig Hall has been beautifully restored by the National Trust; the atmospheric house and estate stimulates memories from the past, a fascinating insight into the daily life of its former family and servants.

The earliest record of the six bells of All Saints, the parish church of Gresford goes back to 1775 when the parish register noted that the two bells had been returned after being recast. The church itself is much older, having being mentioned in the Domesday Book.

Heritage
The Llangollen branch of the Shropshire union canal is one of the most spectacular stretches of water in Britain. Thomas Telford left his mark on Pontcysyllte when he built the Aqueduct towering 126 feet above the River Dee.

industrial & commercial

Recent years have witnessed a significant change in the industrial character of the area, as the traditional industries of coal extraction, brick making and steel production disappeared.

Today Wrexham is a centre of industrial growth, it has seen millions of pounds of public and private investment in schools, roads, colleges, healthcare and retail developments; it has been transformed into a premier administrative, educational, commercial, shopping, cultural and industrial centre.

The town provides a business environment in which small firms to world class companies thrive; many organisations have demonstrated their commitment to Wrexham by making substantial investments in the area. Accommodating nearly three hundred companies, Wrexham Industrial Estate is the third largest in the United Kingdom.

shopping centre

Wrexham has retained its market town atmosphere; its pedestrianised shopping centre offers a combination of chain stores and local shops. It is home to three covered markets: the Butchers, General and Peoples Market offer a variety of goods. An assortment or wares can be found every Monday at the outdoor Beast Market. Offering fresh farm produce and traditional fare, the Farmer’s Market on Queens Square opens for business on the third Friday in the month.

On special occasions, the Continental Market will visit the town offering fresh produce from Austria, Belgium, France and Germany.

On the fringe of the town centre, three major developments are in progress. Central Retail Park, the four-star Ramada Plaza hotel has recently opened on the Technology Park and the largest development under construction is at Eagles Meadow where Debenhams and Marks & Spencer will be at the centre of trading.

education

The majority of Schools within the County Borough are located within the heart of communities where there is strong parental and family involvement in the education process.

The North East Wales Institute (NEWI) is Wrexham’s University of Wales Associate College offering an extensive range of qualifications across a range of subjects.

The North Wales School of Art and Design incorporates purpose built workshops and studios.

Yale College is a tertiary college; it has two campuses, one where the Engineering and Construction courses take place. The College also has some 13 outreach centres, many based in local schools, which have programmes of day-time and evening courses.