Wrexham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wrexham Welsh: Wrecsam
City
From top, left to right: Wrexham skyline, Hope Street, Erddig Hall and St Giles' Church.
Wrexham
Population	44,785 (built-up area)
OS grid reference	SJ335505
• Cardiff	108 mi (174 km) S
Principal area	Wrexham
Ceremonial county	Clwyd
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	WREXHAM
Postcode district	LL11—14
Dialling code	01978
Police	North Wales
Fire	North Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Wrexham
Welsh Assembly	Wrexham
List of places UK Wales Wrexham 53°2′48″N 2°59′37″W / 53.04667°N 2.99361°W / 53.04667; -2.99361

Wrexham (pronounced REK-səm) is a vibrant city in Wales. It's the main town of the Wrexham County Borough. You can find it between the Welsh mountains and the Dee Valley. It's also very close to the border with Cheshire in England.

Wrexham has always been an important place in Wales. In 2021, about 44,785 people lived in the city. If you include nearby villages, the population is even larger. The city was likely founded before the 11th century. It grew into a key center for trade and local government.

During the 17th century, Wrexham became the most populated place in Wales. It was a leader in the Industrial Revolution from the 18th century. The area was famous for coal and lead mining. It also produced iron, steel, and leather. Today, Wrexham is a hub for manufacturing, shopping, education, and administration. It's known for Wrexham A.F.C., one of the world's oldest football teams. Other famous spots include Erddig Hall and the beautiful St Giles' Church.

History of Wrexham

Wrexham has a long and interesting past. People have lived here for thousands of years.

Early Times to Roman Era

People were active in the Wrexham area as far back as 8000 to 4300 BC. By the Bronze Age, the area was known for its metalworking. The Romans also had a settlement here. They farmed and traded with other parts of the Roman world.

From Anglo-Saxons to Welsh Control

By the late 500s AD, the area was fought over by Celtic and English-speaking groups. The Anglo-Saxons controlled north-east Wales from the 700s to 900s. Wrexham was probably founded by people from Mercia around the 700s. The name "Wrexham" might come from this time.

Welsh and Viking attacks weakened Anglo-Saxon power. By the 11th century, the Welsh took back control. Wrexham then became part of the Welsh lordship of Maelor. In the 12th century, there was a castle near Erddig. By the early 1200s, Wrexham was firmly under Welsh rule. This stability helped Wrexham grow as a trading and administrative center. A church was first mentioned in Wrexham around 1220.

Medieval Market Town

After Wales lost its independence in 1282, Wrexham became part of a semi-independent area. By 1327, it was known as a market town. By 1391, Wrexham was wealthy. It had bards, jesters, and goldsmiths. Welsh traditions were strong here. English newcomers often adopted Welsh ways.

In the early 1400s, locals supported the rebellion led by Owain Glyndŵr. This caused economic problems for the town. The parish church was damaged by fire in the mid-1400s. The main part of the current church was built later.

16th and 17th Centuries

Laws passed in the 1500s made Wrexham part of the English legal system. It became part of the new county of Denbighshire in 1536. The economy was mostly farming. But there were also weavers, smiths, and dye houses. A grammar school opened in 1603.

During the English Civil War, Wrexham supported the Royalists. Most Welsh landowners backed the King. However, one local landowner, Sir Thomas Myddelton, supported Parliament. Records from 1620 show that most landowners in Wrexham had Welsh names.

Industrial Growth in the 18th and 19th Centuries

The Industrial Revolution started in Wrexham in 1762. John Wilkinson, known as "Iron Mad Wilkinson," opened Bersham Ironworks. His steam engines helped lead mines near Wrexham produce a lot of lead.

From the late 1700s, many large coal mines opened. Wrexham was also known for its leather industry. By the 18th century, there were many tanners in town. Famous visitors like Samuel Johnson and Daniel Defoe described Wrexham as a busy market town. The artist J. M. W. Turner painted a scene of Wrexham in 1792–93.

By 1851, Wrexham's population was 6,714. It grew to 10,978 in 30 years as industries expanded. Wrexham had good water supplies for brewing beer. By the mid-1800s, there were 19 breweries. Wrexham Lager brewery opened in 1882. It was the first in the UK to make lager beer. Wrexham gained borough status in the mid-1800s. A military base, Hightown Barracks, was built in 1877.

Modern Wrexham

By 1913, the coal fields produced millions of tonnes a year. Over ten thousand people worked in mining. The last mine in the area closed in 1986. A terrible mining disaster happened at Gresford Colliery in 1934. Explosions and fire killed 266 men.

Many industries closed in the late 1900s. Wrexham faced challenges like other industrial towns. In the 1980s and 1990s, new roads were built. New shopping areas like Eagles Meadow were created. The Wrexham Industrial Estate grew. It became home to many manufacturing businesses.

The former police station is now the Wrexham County Borough Museum. It tells the story of the town. It also holds records from the Royal Welch Fusiliers.

City Government

Wrexham County Borough Council manages the city. It has 56 Councillors. One is chosen to be the Mayor each year. The city is divided into areas called communities. These include Acton, Rhosddu, Offa, and Caia Park.

Wrexham also elects members to the UK Parliament and the Senedd (Welsh Parliament). The Wrexham area has been represented by Sarah Atherton MP (Conservative) since 2019. Lesley Griffiths MS (Welsh Labour) has represented Wrexham in the Senedd since 2007.

Public Services

Wrexham Maelor Hospital is the main hospital in the region. It has over 900 beds. It's the largest of three main hospitals in North Wales. Yale Hospital is a private hospital near the Maelor Hospital.

North Wales Police serves Wrexham. Their main office is in Llay. There is also a police station in the city center. The main fire station is on Croesnewydd Road. It shares a building with the Ambulance Service.

City Status for Wrexham

Wrexham has applied for city status several times. These applications were for special royal events. On 20 May 2022, it was announced that Wrexham would become a city. This was part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The status was made official on 1 September 2022. Wrexham is now Wales' seventh city.

Geography of Wrexham

Wrexham is built on a flat area. It's located between the Dee Valley and the mountains of North Wales. This spot helped it grow as a market town. It was a crossroads between England and Wales. Later, it became an industrial center. This was because of its rich iron ore and coal.

Three small rivers flow through parts of the town. These are the Clywedog, Gwenfro, and Alyn. Wrexham is also known for its good underground water. This helped it become a major brewing center.

Wrexham has grown to include many nearby villages. It is now North Wales' largest urban area. This includes places like Rhosllanerchrugog and Llay. The Wrexham Built-Up Area had about 65,592 people in 2011.

Wrexham is about 13 miles (21 km) south of Chester. It's also about 50 miles (80 km) southwest of Manchester.

Landmarks and Attractions

City Centre Highlights

The city center has many old buildings. They follow a medieval street plan. This plan spreads out from St Giles' Parish Church. The church area and narrow streets still feel medieval. Some medieval buildings survive on Town Hill and Church Street.

Hope Street, Regent Street, and Queen Street are the main shopping streets. They are wider in some places because of old street markets. Historic narrow alleyways connect the shopping streets. These include Bank Street and Central Arcade. They have small, independent shops. The Talbot Hotel building, built in 1904, is a famous landmark. The Horse and Jockey Public House might be from the 16th century. It still has its thatched roof.

High Street has grand 18th and 19th-century buildings. The Wynnstay Hotel is on Yorke Street. The Football Association of Wales was formed here in 1876. The Golden Lion Pub is from the 16th century. The Border Brewery chimney is a local landmark.

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  Wrexham High Street

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  Overton Arcade

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  General Market

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  Central Arcade

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  Butchers' Market

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  Wrexham High Street

Fun Places to Visit

Wrexham hosted the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 2011. This is a big Welsh cultural festival.

Here are some attractions you can find in the area:

• Focus Wales – An annual festival in the city center. It features new music talent and Welsh language arts.
• St. Giles Church – One of the Seven Wonders of Wales. Elihu Yale is buried here.
• Racecourse Ground – Home of Wrexham F.C.. It's the world's oldest international football stadium.
• Erddig Hall – A beautiful historic house owned by the National Trust.
• Xplore! – A science discovery center.
• Wrexham County Borough Museum – A museum showing local history.
• Indoor Markets – Wrexham has two historic Victorian indoor markets. These are the Butchers and General Markets.
• Wales Comic Con – A popular event for comic and pop culture fans.

Venues and Community Hubs

Wrexham has many historic buildings. Many are pubs, but some are now arts or community centers.

• The Horse & Jockey pub on Hope Street.
• The Golden Lion on High Street.
• The Old Swan on Abbott Street.
• The Wynnstay Arms Hotel on High Street. The Football Association of Wales was formed here.
• Tŷ Pawb – A cultural center with markets, arts, and food.
• Saith Seren ("Seven Stars") – The Wrexham Welsh Centre. It's a bilingual community center with a pub and live music.
• Wrexham Miners Rescue Station - A community, heritage, and cafe spot.

Economy and Jobs

Wrexham's economy has changed. It used to rely on heavy industry. Now, it focuses on high-tech manufacturing, biotech, and financial services. The city also has the largest retail (shopping) sector in North Wales. In 2007, Wrexham was ranked fifth in the UK for new business success.

Shopping in Wrexham

You'll find many shopping streets in Wrexham. Hope Street has big stores like New Look and WHSmith. Bank Street has independent shops. Plas Coch and Berse retail parks are on the city's edge. Central and Island Green retail parks are in the city center. Eagles Meadow is a large shopping and entertainment complex. It has major chain stores and an Odeon Cinema. Wrexham also has two traditional covered markets and an open-air market on Mondays.

Wrexham offers a free Shopmobility service. Much of the city center is for pedestrians only.

Financial and Professional Services

Wrexham is home to DTCC. This company collects and analyzes information for banks. Moneypenny, the UK's largest outsourced phone service, has its global headquarters here. It even has a treehouse meeting room!

The Development Bank of Wales has its new headquarters in Wrexham. Chetwood Financial, a financial technology company, also has a banking license here.

Key Industries

Wrexham Industrial Estate is one of Europe's largest industrial areas. It has over 340 businesses. They employ more than 10,000 people. These businesses are in sectors like automotive, aerospace, food, and pharmaceuticals.

Many biopharmaceutical companies are on the Industrial Estate. These include Wockhardt and Ipsen. The estate also has HM Prison Berwyn, a large prison.

Wrexham's location near aerospace (Airbus) and automotive companies (JCB) means many related businesses are here. Major food companies like Kelloggs, Cadbury, and Rowan Foods also have sites. Electronics companies Sharp and Brother have manufacturing plants.

Brewing is a traditional Wrexham industry. While some big breweries closed, Wrexham still has smaller breweries. These include Big Hand, Magic Dragon, and the revived Wrexham Lager Beer.

People and Population

In 2011, about 11% of people in Wrexham city spoke Welsh. This is lower than the Wales average of 19%.

Wrexham has a growing Portuguese community. Over 2,000 Portuguese migrants live and work here. They are mainly in the Hightown area. They hold an annual carnival. There's also a Polish community. You can find Polish supermarkets and restaurants in the city center.

Culture and Arts

Wrexham County Borough was a finalist for UK City of Culture in 2025.

Performing Arts

Wrexham has a history of performing arts. The town is even mentioned in an old play from 1647. Wrexham has hosted the National Eisteddfod many times. This is a major Welsh festival.

Wrexham has several theaters. These include the Grove Park Theatre and the Yale Studio theatre. There's also a multi-screen Odeon cinema at Eagles Meadow.

Visual Arts

Tŷ Pawb is Wrexham's largest visual arts center. It also has an indoor market and food court. Its name means "Everybody's House" in Welsh. Other galleries include Undegun Arts Space. The School of Creative Arts (part of Wrexham University) is also in Wrexham.

Music Scene

Wrexham has many live music venues. Local bands often play here. Big names have also performed. Central Station, now called The Rockin' Chair, has hosted international acts. William Aston Hall at Glyndŵr University is a 900-seat venue. It hosts concerts, comedy, and theater. The Wrexham Symphony Orchestra plays here.

The Racecourse Ground has also hosted major music concerts. Bands like Stereophonics and Kings of Leon have played there. FOCUS Wales is a festival that showcases musicians from Wales and beyond.

Local Media

Wrexham has local newspapers like the Daily Post and The Leader. Two commercial radio stations, Heart North and Mid Wales and Capital North West and Wales, broadcast from the area. BBC Cymru Wales has a studio at Glyndŵr University. Wrexham.com is an online news website for the area.

Parks and Green Spaces

Wrexham County Borough has 37 parks and green spaces. These are protected by the Fields in Trust charity. This means they can't be built on.

Wrexham has three main parks: Bellevue Park, Acton Park, and the parkland at Erddig. There's also a green area in the city center called Llwyn Isaf.

Bellevue Park was built to celebrate Wrexham's incorporation. It was restored and reopened in 2000. Acton Park was originally the grounds of Acton Hall. Llwyn Isaf is a popular green space next to Wrexham Guildhall. It's often used for events.

Erddig Park is two miles (3 km) south of the city center. It's owned by the National Trust. It has Erddig Hall and beautiful gardens.

Sports in Wrexham

Football

Wrexham has a professional football team, Wrexham A.F.C.. It's the oldest football club in Wales. Their home is the Racecourse Ground. This is the oldest international football ground in the world.

The Football Association of Wales was based in Wrexham until 1991. In 2020, actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took over the club.

Rugby League

The Racecourse Ground was home to the North Wales Crusaders rugby league team until 2016. They now play in Colwyn Bay.

Rugby Union

The Racecourse Ground has also hosted rugby union games. The Wales rugby union team has played there. Wrexham is home to the Wrexham RFC rugby union team. They helped form the North Wales Rugby Union in 1931.

Other Sports

• Athletics – Queensway International Athletics stadium hosts events. It's home to Wrexham Amateur Athletics Club.
• Hockey – Plas Coch has the North Wales Regional Hockey Stadium.
• Leisure Centres – Wrexham has 7 leisure centers. They offer swimming, aerobics, and climbing.
• Tennis – Wrexham has the North Wales Regional Tennis Centre. It hosts international competitions.
• Golf – Wrexham has 4 golf courses.

Religion in Wrexham

St. Giles Parish Church

St. Giles is Wrexham's main parish church. It's considered the greatest medieval church in Wales. It has a colorful ceiling with musical angels. It also has a window by artist Edward Burne-Jones. The tomb of Elihu Yale is in the graveyard. He was a major supporter of Yale University in the United States. A smaller version of the church tower, called Wrexham Tower, was built at Yale University. The church is one of the Seven Wonders of Wales. A very old copy of the King James Bible (from 1611) was found in the church.

St. Mary's Cathedral

The Roman Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Sorrows is on Regent Street. It's the main church for the Diocese of Wrexham, which covers all of North Wales. It was built in 1857. The cathedral is home to a relic of Saint Richard Gwyn. He is Wrexham's patron saint. He was executed in the 16th century for his beliefs. He was made a saint in 1970.

Other Churches and Faiths

Wrexham has many other churches and chapels. These include a Salvation Army corps and the main Methodist church. There is also a mosque on Grosvenor Road.

Education in Wrexham

Wrexham University

Wrexham University was given full university status in 2008. It has two campuses: Plas Coch and the North Wales School of Art and Design. The university started in 1887 as the Wrexham School of Science and Art. It offers both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. It has about 8,000 students.

Yale College (Coleg Cambria)

Yale College is now part of Coleg Cambria. It's the main place for adult education in Wrexham. It's one of the largest colleges in Wales. It offers many higher education courses. The college was named after Elihu Yale. It was founded in 1950. In 2013, Yale College merged with other colleges to form Coleg Cambria. A new building called Hafod opened in 2020-21. It's a "commercial village" in Wrexham.

Schools in Wrexham

Wrexham has many primary and secondary schools. Ysgol Morgan Llwyd is the only Welsh-speaking secondary school. In 2003, three large secondary schools merged to create two new ones: Rhosnesni High School and Ysgol Clywedog. St Joseph's is the first shared-faith school in Wales.

There are seven Welsh-medium primary schools in Wrexham County Borough. Two are in Wrexham city: Ysgol Bodhyfryd CP and Ysgol Plas Coch CP.

Twin Cities

Wrexham is twinned with two places:

• Märkischer Kreis in Germany.
• Racibórz in Poland.

The first twinning started in 1970 with Kreis Iserlohn in Germany. This partnership grew over the years. In 2001, Märkischer Kreis twinned with Racibórz in Poland. Wrexham then twinned with Racibórz in 2004. Wrexham has historical links with Poland. Many Polish service members stayed in the area after World War II.

Getting Around Wrexham

Train Travel

Wrexham has two railway stations: Wrexham General and Wrexham Central. Gwersyllt is in the western suburbs.

Wrexham General

Wrexham General opened in 1846. It has six platforms. It's on two lines: the Shrewsbury to Chester Line and the Borderlands Line. Both are run by Transport for Wales. A few direct services go to London Euston and Liverpool Lime Street.

Wrexham Central

Wrexham Central is a smaller station. It's the end point for the Borderlands Line to Bidston. It's located at the Island Green retail park.

Gwersyllt

Gwersyllt is an unmanned stop. It serves the Gwersyllt area of Wrexham. It's on the Borderlands line.

Bus Services

Wrexham has the largest bus terminal in North Wales. It serves local, regional, and long-distance buses. Companies like Arriva Buses Wales and Stagecoach operate here. You can take long-distance coaches to cities like Edinburgh and London. The Wrexham Shuttle connects the city to the industrial estate. Townlink buses connect shopping centers and train stations. Wrexham uses distinctive yellow American-style school buses.

Road Network

The city center has a ring road. The A483 is Wrexham's main road. It goes around the western edge of the city. It connects to major roads like the A55 and A5. The A5156 leads to the Wrexham Industrial Estate. The A541 is the main route into Wrexham from Mold.

Future Plans for Wrexham

The Welsh Government is investing in the Wrexham Gateway Project. This project will redevelop the Kop stand at the Racecourse Ground. It will also improve transport links.

Funding has been approved to redevelop the Wrexham Museum. It will include a Welsh Football Museum. This museum will cover themes like fan culture and diverse communities.

A new health and wellbeing complex is planned for Coleg Cambria. It's expected to be built by summer 2024. Work has also started to improve the historic General and Butchers markets.

Wrexham University is also getting new facilities at its Plas Coch campus. A new park, the Ryan Rodney Reynolds memorial park, was announced in 2023. It will have play areas, art, and a community cinema.

Famous People from Wrexham

• Saint Richard Gwyn (1537–1584), a Catholic martyr and Wrexham's Patron Saint.
• Elihu Yale (1649–1721), a businessman who supported Yale University.
• John "Iron-Mad" Wilkinson (1728–1808), known for Bersham Ironworks.
• Samuel Warren (1807–1877), a lawyer, novelist, and MP.
• Edwin Hughes (1830–1927), "Balaclava Ned," the last survivor of the Charge of the Light Brigade.
• Charles Harold Dodd (1884–1973), an important New Testament scholar.
• David Lord (1913–1944), a brave officer who received the Victoria Cross.
• Charlie Landsborough (born 1941), a British country and folk musician.
• Rosemarie Frankland (1943–2000), a model and beauty queen.
• Andy Scott (born 1949), guitarist for the band The Sweet.
• Tim Vincent (born 1972), a former Blue Peter TV presenter.
• Amy Guy (born 1983), a Welsh beauty queen and TV performer.
• Neck Deep (formed in 2012), a Welsh pop punk band.

Sports Stars

• James Trainer (1863–1915), a famous football goalkeeper for Wales.
• J. G. Parry-Thomas (1884–1927), a motor-racing driver and land speed record holder.
• Dennis Taylor (born 1949), a former snooker World Champion.
• Mark Hughes (born 1963), a former Wales international footballer and manager.
• Robbie Savage (born 1974), a former Wales international footballer.
• Chris Bartley (born 1984), an Olympic silver medalist in rowing.
• Tom James (born 1984), an Olympic Gold Medallist rower.
• Laura Deas (born 1988), a skeleton ski racer and Olympic bronze medalist.
• Harry Wilson (born 1997), a footballer for Fulham and Wales.

Freedom of the City

The Freedom of the City is a special honor. It has been given to:

Individuals

• Ryan Reynolds: 10 April 2023.
• Rob McElhenney: 10 April 2023.

Military Units

• Royal Welch Fusiliers: 5 June 1946.
• The Royal Welsh: 2008.
• 101 Force Support Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers: 5 April 2013.
• The Welsh Guards: 18 July 2014.

Images for kids

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  The King's Mill

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  Bersham Ironworks in 2007

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  2013 photograph of Wrexham town centre skyline with St Giles Church in the centre.

See also

In Spanish: Wrexham para niños