Moss Valley, Wrexham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moss Valley
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 Fishing Lake |
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 Moss Valley
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| OS grid reference | SJ310523 |
| Community |
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| Principal area |
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| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WREXHAM |
| Postcode district | LL11 |
| Dialling code | 01978 |
| Police | North Wales |
| Fire | North Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament |
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| Welsh Assembly |
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The Moss Valley (known as Dyffryn Moss in Welsh) is a beautiful area and country park located in Wrexham County Borough, Wales. Local people often call it "The Moss" or The Aggey. This area has a long and interesting history, especially linked to coal mining.
Contents
Exploring Moss Valley's Past
Canal Plans and Thomas Telford
In 1796, a special lake was built in the Valley. It was meant to feed water into an extension of the Ellesmere Canal. This project was led by a famous engineer named Thomas Telford. The canal was planned to connect from Trevor Basin.
However, these plans were stopped in 1798. Even today, you can still see parts of the old canal in nearby Gwersyllt. A street there is even named Heol Camlas, which means Canal Way in Welsh. The lake you see in the valley today is not the original one built by Telford.
Coal Mining History
During the 1800s and early 1900s, the Moss Valley was a busy place for coal mining. There were two main coal mines: Westminster Colliery in the north and Gatewen Colliery in the south. Coal was a very important fuel, used by homes and industries across the country.
The coal from these mines was moved using special railway lines. These lines were built just for transporting the coal. They connected to bigger railway networks like the Great Western Railway. This allowed the coal to be sent far and wide.
Many local families depended on these coal mines for their jobs and for fuel to heat their homes. Westminster Colliery closed in February 1925. This was partly because of water leaking into the mine. Its closure marked the start of a decline for the coal mining industry in the area.
Moss Valley Today: A Country Park
In the early 1970s, the Moss Valley was transformed into a country park. The old mining areas were cleaned up and new features were added. Two lakes were created, along with a children's playground and places for people to relax. A golf club and fishing facilities were also built.
In the 1990s, the park faced some challenges. But in the early 2000s, it was greatly improved. Both lakes were cleaned, paths were redone, and new signs and benches were put in. A private fishing club was also started.
The northern lake, which used to be for boating, was turned into a nature reserve. This brought in many new plants, birds, and fish species. In 2006, the old playground was replaced with a modern one.
Today, the Moss Valley Country Park is a popular spot. People come to learn about its industrial past, enjoy the wildlife, or play golf at the Moss Valley Golf Club. Anglers also visit to fish at the Moss Valley Angling Club.
The park is managed jointly by the Community Councils of Gwersyllt and Broughton, as it sits on the border between these two communities.
Images for kids
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Playground area
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Fishing Lake
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Entrance sign to the Moss Valley
