Rich in History

Wrexham - Rich in History

Approx 1600 BC

Prehistoric human activity in the area. This was revealed by the discovery of skeletal remains, known as ‘Brymbo Man’, in a Bronze Age burial at Brymbo in 1958.

48 AD - 450 AD

Roman activity in Wrexham. Holt and Plas Coch were large farm settlements. The earliest mention of the town name, Wrexham appears in ‘The Pipe Roles’, as ‘the castle Wristleham’.

1220

The first reference to Wrexham Parish Church.

1282, 1284, 1295

Edward I visits as part of his conquest of Wales.

1290

Chirk Castle, home to Marcher lordships, is built.

1391

The first reference to the establishment of a market and fair in Wrexham.

1411

Charter to the burgesses of Holt. This is later confirmed by Elizabeth I conferring town status.

1506

The Steeple of St Giles Parish Church was completed. It is now one of the seven wonders of Wales.

1584

Richard Gwyn, the Welsh Catholic School Master and the first Welsh Martyr to the Papal Cause is persecuted and executed.

1642

Charles I visits Royalist Wrexham.

1643

Wrexham suffers when one quarter of the town is destroyed by fire during the Civil War.

1645

The Royalists are defeated at Rowton Moor, near Chester and the Roundheads take over Wrexham.

1645

The Father of non-conformism in North Wales, Morgan Llwyd is installed as the vicar of Wrexham. 1648 The infamous George ‘Hanging Judge’ Jeffreys is born in Wrexham. Judge Jeffreys became famous for his tough penalties during the Monmouth rebellion in the reign of Charles II.

1720

Tanneries founded at Wrexham. The Cambrian Leather Works would later supply the leather for the binding of the 11th edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, which needed nearly a million skins!

1721

The benefactor of Yale University, USA, Elihu Yale, dies and is buried in Wrexham Parish Church.

1762

The Industrial Revolution begins in Wrexham. John ‘Iron Mad’ Wilkinson brought his father’s Bersham Iron Foundry into prominence, followed by smelting works at Brymbo in 1793.

1805

The famous Thomas Telford Aqueduct is opened.

1819

The Hymn ‘From Greenland’s Icy Mountains’ was sung for the first time in Wrexham Parish Church.

1820

A National Eisteddfod is held in Wrexham. This is to be the first of many.

1833

The first Wrexham Hospital, the Dispensary, is founded.

1857

Wrexham is constituted a Municipal Borough by Charter granted by Queen Victoria.
St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral is built.

1858

Town granted commission of the peace.

1870

A large network of railways is completed.

1872

Wrexham Association Football Club is founded.

1876

The Football Association of Wales is formed in the Wynnstay Arms, Wrexham.

1877

The Official Headquarters of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers is established.

1880

First lager brewery in Britain is built at Wrexham by a German immigrant – Ferdinand Graesser.

1889

Queen Victoria visits Wrexham for her Diamond Jubilee.

1900

First public swimming baths opens.

1910

The first purpose - built cinema in North Wales opens in Wrexham.

1934

Gresford Colliery explodes on September 22nd. 265 people lose their lives.

1945

National Eisteddfod held in Rhos, it was interrupted to announce the end of World War II.

1946

Freedom of the Borough is given to the Royal Welch Fusiliers.

1953

Queen Elizabeth II visits Wrexham as part of her Coronation. Coronation Walk is named in honour of this.

1970

The Town Twinning partnership with Kreis Iserlohm, Markisher Kreis, Germany, is inaugurated.

1972

Richard Gwyn, the Wrexham Catholic School Master and the first Welsh Martyr to the Papal Cause is declared a Saint.

1975

North East Wales Institute (NEWI) is founded including Denbighshire Technical College and Cartrefle.

1975

Wrexham Football Club win the Welsh Cup for the twentieth time.

1977

Queen Elizabeth II visits as part of her Silver Jubilee.

1985

The Duchess of Kent opens the first phase of the Maelor Hospital.

1991

Princess Diana opened the restored Visitor Centre of Kings Mills.

1992

Queen Elizabeth II visits Overton for the 700th anniversary of the Overton Charter.

1996

The Duchess of Gloucester opens Nightingale House Hospice.

1998

The Duke of Kent opens second phase of the Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

1998

Queen Elizabeth II accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh opens Waterworld Leisure Complex.

1999

Two new multi - million pound shopping complexes open, Henblas Square and Island Green.

2001

The Prince of Wales visits Wrexham to launch the Rural Community Helpline 2002.

2002

Celebration Town for the Commonwealth Games Jubilee Baton Relay

Related Links:

Visiting Wrexham | Wrexham County Borough Museum | Famous People