 Victorian Fair on Saturday June 23rd 2007
Wrexham County Borough Council is to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the granting of the Royal Charter which created the Municipal Borough of Wrexham by holding a Victorian Fair on Saturday June 23rd 2007.
The event will feature a wide range of activities that would have been popular in Victorian times: chat with a Victorian character, try your hand at traditional Victorian crafts like decoupage, or see a different view of Wrexham from a ‘camera obscura’.
The atmosphere of a Victorian country féte will be recreated on Llwyn Isaf, with performances from the bandstand throughout the day, a refreshment marquee and traditional Victorian games for children to play. Or see a re-constructed Montgolfier hot air balloon and find out about the rigours of flight in the Victorian era.
As well as the entertainment and demonstrations there will be a range of market stalls on Queens Square selling food and crafts.
The BBC Hysbys will also be in attendance to capture people’s experience of the event for posterity and you can find out more about the history of your area from one of the County Borough’s many local history groups.
Alan Watkin, Chief Leisure, Libraries and Culture Officer, said "We hope that lots of people will come into town on what is a very special day for Wrexham. We’ve booked all sorts interesting characters and acts so there will be plenty to see and do - you can watch a Punch and Judy Show, test your skill on the coconut shy, sit on a genuine penny-farthing bicycle to have your photo taken (if you’re agile enough to get up there), watch some Victorian craftsmen at work and lots, lots more."
The Victorian Fair will take place from 11am to 4pm on Saturday June 23rd and will be officially opened at 11am by the Worshipful Mayor of Wrexham, Councillor Mrs Joan Lowe.
For further information please contact Hazel Hawarden, Culture and Heritage Officer for the Leisure, Libraries and Culture Department on 01978 297440 or Kay Rickard, Events Team Co-ordinator for the Economic Development Department on 01978 2929536 or tourism@wrexham.gov.uk.
Other Events in the 150th Anniversary Programme
- Join the annual Civic Service at St Giles’ Parish Church, 3pm on Sunday 24 June.
- ‘Changing Times, Changing Places’, an exhibition by Wrexham County Borough Museum reveals how life has changed in the 150 years since Wrexham became a Municipal Borough. Open 23 April to July 7: 10.00am to 5.00pm. Monday to Friday, and 10.30am to 3.00pm Saturdays. Admission Free.
- ‘Golden Looking Chains’, a holiday activity for children aged 5-9 years making your own big gold chain. 31st May, 10.30am to 12noon at Wrexham County Borough Museum. Cost £2 per child.
Historical Background
The Royal Charter creating the Municipal Borough of Wrexham was granted on 13th May & took effect from 23rd September 1857. The new Borough included the whole of the townships of Wrexham Regis, and Wrexham Abbot as well as a small part of Esclusham Below. Elections were held on 5 November and at the first meeting of the new Council on 9 November, the 12 Councillors and four Aldermen elected Thomas Edgworth as Mayor.
The boundaries of the Borough were extended on 1 April 1935 to incorporate Acton, Stansty and parts of the parishes of Gwersyllt, Broughton and Bersham.
Wrexham Borough Council and Wrexham Rural District Council were amalgamated in 1974 to become Wrexham Maelor Borough Council, and in 1996 the present Wrexham County Borough Council was created.
 David Higgins, the Sergeant at Mace. Higgins was appointed as the Borough Council’s first mace bearer. He was also the Council’s first Inspector of Nuisances (the 19th c. Environmental Health Officer) and the first Inspector of Common Lodging Houses.
The Borough Council granted the first Freedom of the Borough in 1906. Traditionally, the Freedom of the Borough was granted to those who had served the Borough well. In 1923, the council granted the freedom to David Lloyd George, former Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer.
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