Heritage

Wrexham has an astonishing range of historical attractions. Including an aqueduct that is officially one of the most remarkable places on the planet.

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site

It’s 126 feet tall and 1,007 feet long. But surprisingly narrow. Especially when you’ve got your hand on the tiller.

Eighteen great stone pillars hold up a cast-iron trough which transports the Llangollen Canal dizzyingly over the River Dee. A trough made watertight by Welsh flannel, lead and boiling sugar. Or treacle toffee to you and me.

See what you think. You can cross Pontcysyllte Aqueduct by boat or on foot. And to keep your mind off the drop, you can practise how to pronounce it: pont-kersulty.

Once you’ve crossed the ‘stream in the sky’, you’re ready to discover the rest of the World Heritage Site…all 11 miles of it. Stretching from the Horseshoe Falls near Llangollen to Chirk Aqueduct and Gledrid Bridge, the canal winds its way through the lush countryside of North Wales and into Shropshire.

And if you fancy being captain of your own ship, why not think about a boat holiday and explore the rest of the Llangollen Canal too? Dubbed by British Waterways as one of the busiest and most beautiful stretches of waterway in the UK, its 41 miles long and takes at least 3 days to cruise – each way.

You can hire your own boats from the popular marinas at Chirk and Trevor. Or you can book a pleasure cruise. That way you don’t have to worry about navigating locks or banging into other boats. The seriously laid-back can even take a horse-drawn canal boat trip from Llangollen Wharf.

Useful Links

National Trust properties

Not content with just one, we have 2 National Trust (external link) gems here in Wrexham.

Erddig…

Widely acclaimed as one of Britain’s finest historic houses, Erddig is a fascinating yet unpretentious early 18th-century country house reflecting the upstairs downstairs life of a gentry family over 250 years.

Erddig is one of the few National Trust (external link) properties that you enter through the back door. Because it is the ultimate “upstairs downstairs” country house. It has as much to say about its servants as its owners.

Chirk Castle…

The gardens at Chirk were once voted the best in the National Trust (external link). Where you can walk a stunning avenue of 17th century lime trees. And command views over 9 counties.

The castle itself is a Marcher fortress dating from 1310. But this is no ruin. In fact, it’s been lived in for the last 700 years. The grand 18th century state apartments are crammed with elaborate plasterwork. Adam-style furniture, tapestries and portraits.

Exploring Churches

St Giles Church…

One hundred and thirty five feet high and one of the Seven Wonders of Wales. The steeple of St Giles Church in Wrexham is clearly visible from many miles away.

But you have to get much closer to see all the 16th century church’s marvels. The rare Doom painting on the wall above the chancel arch. Gilded angels playing celestial music high in the nave. Or the grave of Elihu Yale with its inscription written by the man himself.

Born in Boston in 1649, Yale returned to the land of his fathers at the age of three and settled near Wrexham. He went back to America a rich man and made a generous donation to the Collegiate School of Connecticut.

They were so grateful they renamed the college after him. And you can still see a replica of the steeple of St Giles in the grounds of what became Yale University. Better still you can ascend the real thing for stunning views across the whole of Wrexham and beyond.

To book a tower tour call 01978 355808.

Open Church Network…

Wrexham’s churches are not only places of prayer and contemplation. They are also architectural treasures. And they bring the sometimes turbulent history of our towns and villages vividly to life.

At St Chad’s Church in Holt you can see the bullet holes left by a skirmish between Roundheads and Cavaliers. In St Mary’s Cathedral, Wrexham, is a chapel dedicated to the martyr Richard Gwynne. Hanged, drawn and quartered in 1584 – and sainted in 1972.

And at St Mary’s Church at Chirk, a power struggle between local bigwigs the Trevors and the Myddeltons is expressed through gloriously flamboyant memorial statuary.

Fifteen of our churches have come together to form the Open Church Network. All with their own compelling stories to tell. And all committed to welcoming visitors.

They’re linked by a Discovery Trail in six sections. Each section makes an enjoyable day out by car with detours for stately homes, aqueducts and nature reserves. Most sites can also be reached by bus, bike – or boots. For further information call 01978 292015.

Museums

Wrexham has its fair share of history and heritage. Just take a look!

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