An Introduction to Wrexham

The Borough of Wrexham was formed in 1857 but the famed beast market is referenced in a deed of 1463 and the town has grown from a bustling market town all the way since the Middle Ages. As testament to this fact, there are covered markets within Wrexham town centre (Butchers Market 1848 & Butter Market 1879) that traders built as permanent trading places to replace the outdoor squares they had previously used. As a result of the trade, Wrexham sprouted railway lines in the 1840's and became relatively well connected. Trade was good for the town and it developed some 19 breweries in the 1860's. Most famed of these was Wrexham Lager founded in 1882 and was Britain's first successful brewer of Lager beer.

During the industrial revolution, John Wilkinson developed the Bersham Iron Works (1762) with his brother William and patented the new cannon boring machine for boring cylinders. These were later used in James Watt's steam engines and shipped all over the world. In 1792 John Wilkinson acquired Brymbo Hall before moving his furnace to the mineral rich area and developed Brymbo Iron Works which became Brymbo Steel Works in June 1884. In 1939, a new electric melting shop was opened and Brymbo was chosen as the high quality steel supplier to the Air Ministry for the war. At a similar time approval was given for the Royal Ordnance Factory at Marchwiel. The site used over 1,700 acres at a cost of nearly £11m and was built for its distance from mainland Europe, good rail links and ease of building in the lowly populated area. The factory began production in 1941 but became the Wrexham Industrial Estate shortly after the war. These days, Wrexham has one of the largest Industrial Estate's in Europe.

Through the 1980's and 90's Wrexham lost most of its heavy industry as coal mines closed, the Brymbo plant was sold to China, manufacturing companies could no longer compete and Wrexham Lager closed in 2000. One thing that has stayed consistent throughout time though is Wrexham's ability to change and develop. As the century turned Wrexham saw a huge influx of chain pubs to the town centre and the nightlife scene attracted money back in to the area as people travelled from far and wide.

Continuing with the upward trend, NEWI college recently became a full member institute of the University of Wales and continues to attract more students to the town than ever before (as does Yale College). Wrexham town centre and surrounding areas have developments of housing and retail units as the face evolves again ready to embrace the 21st Century. Neighbouring Chester Business Park continues its development and MBNA now employs over 4,000 people and Airbus at Broughton supports local industry through the celebration of its A380 wing building programme. Even the old Brymbo site has seen work start on a mammoth house building scheme!

'Nearly' a city, Wrexham is north Wales' largest town. It has identified the benefits of the emerging tourism market and has recently opened the all new four-star Ramada Plaza hotel, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct celebrates its 200th anniversary, St. Giles Parish Church continues to attract American's who wish to visit Eliugh Yale's resting place and Erddig Hall opens its children's garden trail.