Footprints - A Place of Trade
Wrexham's markets and fairs made the town central to the economy of north Wales. Farmers' wives sold poultry, eggs, butter and vegetables on Hope Street, the butchers traded from Abbot Street, while High Street was for the craftsmen's stalls.
View of the parish church from Mount Street
© Wrexham Heritage Services
Traders came from Birmingham, Manchester and Yorkshire to sell their goods, especially during the important March fair. Purpose-built market halls were built in the late 18th century: Jones's Hall on Queen Street for linen and fancy goods and Yorkshire Square, below St Giles's Parish church, for the cloth dealers.
We present Thomas Baker for refusing to suffer the towne people or others to sell fish, lemons and other fruits for the comoditye of the towne and country, unless they pay extortion.
I, John Jones, doe assign over forty boards, 17 butcher's trestles and 12 shoemakers standings.
The Beast Market, at the end of Charles Street, attracted farmers from throughout the borders. Cattle drovers drank in pubs, such as The Horns Inn and the Jolly Drovers, on Bridge Street and Pen-y-Bryn.
The Horns Bridge, Wrexham
Acknowledgement: Alister Williams
One of the old inns on Pen-y-Bryn, Wrexham
© National Monuments Record of Wales
The homes of the wealthy such as Bryn y Ffynnon (Priory Lane), Plas Gwern (Tuttle Street) and The Mount (Mount Street) meant there was money in the town. This potential business attracted tradesmen and craftsmen. In the early 18th century there were over 100 different trades in Wrexham including clockmakers, wig, hat and bodice makers, tobacco cutters and spectacle makers – all signs that the inhabitants could afford their luxuries.
18th century print of Wrexham by Nathaniel and Samuel Buck: the east end of Wrexham. Click to view larger version.
© Wrexham Heritage Services
18th century print of Wrexham by Nathaniel and Samuel Buck: the west end of Wrexham. Click to view larger version.
© Wrexham Heritage Services
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Map of Wrexham 1833
A map showing Wrexham in 1833 is available to download in the following format:
Footprints - Wrexham Map 1833 - PDF format 638Kb
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