Holt, Wrexham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holt |
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 Holt village |
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 Holt
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| Population | 1,521 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | SJ409539 |
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| Principal area |
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| Ceremonial county |
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| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Wrexham |
| Postcode district | LL13 |
| Dialling code | 01829 |
| Police | North Wales |
| Fire | North Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament |
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| Welsh Assembly |
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Holt is a historic village in Wrexham County Borough, Wales. It is located right on the border with England. Holt is also part of the historic area known as Denbighshire.
Holt Castle was started by King Edward I of England around 1277. This was shortly after he took control of Wales. The English village of Farndon is just across the River Dee from Holt.
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What's in a Name?
The name Holt comes from an old English word. It means "wood" or "thicket." You can find this word in many place names across England.
In the Welsh language, people used to call the village Yr Holt. This means "The Holt."
Holt's Ancient Past
People have lived in the Holt area since at least the time of the Romans. The Romans had a special factory here, maybe called Bovium. This factory made clay tiles and pottery. These supplies went to the Roman fort of Deva Victrix, which is now the city of Chester. Chester is about eight miles away.
This Roman factory was located near the River Dee, just downstream from where Holt village is today. In the early 1900s, archaeologists found many things there. They found six kilns (ovens for firing clay), a bath house, sheds, and even barracks for workers.
Scientists have also found three Bronze Age burial urns in Holt. This shows that people lived here even thousands of years ago.
Exploring Holt Village
In the middle of Holt, you can see a medieval market cross. This cross is very old and was used in the village market.
The church of St Chad is another old building. Parts of this church were built in the 1400s and 1600s.
The Historic Farndon Bridge
A very old sandstone bridge connects Holt with Farndon in England. This bridge was built in the 1300s. It is a Grade I listed building, which means it's very important historically.
In 1368, records show that a man named John, Earl of Warenne, built the bridge. He also built a strong tower or gatehouse on the bridge. This tower was used for defense. People at the time complained that unfair tolls were being charged to cross the bridge. They also said that Holt was a hiding place for criminals.
A description from 1627 said the bridge had ten arches. It also mentioned the tower on the fifth arch from Holt. This tower had a chapel inside. The description also noted a lion carving on the Farndon side of the bridge. A similar lion was on the gates of Holt Castle.
During the English Civil War in 1643, William Brereton attacked the bridge. He was fighting for the Parliamentarians. Even though the bridge was strongly defended, his forces captured it. They used grenades to help them take control.
Today, if you look at the third arch from the Holt side, you can see where a drawbridge used to be. This part of the bridge was made stronger.
How Holt is Governed
Holt is also an electoral ward. This means it's an area used for local elections. This ward stretches west to a place called Abenbury. In 2011, the total population of this ward was 3,587 people.
Famous People from Holt
- Leigh Richmond Roose: He was a famous Welsh footballer. He played as a goalkeeper for the Welsh national team.
- H. G. Wells: This famous writer taught briefly at a local private school in Holt. It was called Holt Academy.
See also
In Spanish: Holt (Gales) para niños
