61-596: The River Clywedog is a river in Wrexham County Borough , Wales . Its uses have been watering crops, powering industrial machinery but is now used as walking trails or geography trips. The river originates to the west of Wrexham , and joins the River Dee some four miles south east of the city. The river Clywedog rises in the hills west of the village of Minera . After flowing through Minera it turns south-east, past Coedpoeth , Bersham and Rhostyllen and through
122-489: A UNESCO World Heritage Site . The contemporary economy of the county borough has diversified into industries such as engineering, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and food processing, with agriculture dominant in the south-east and south-west. The county borough also contains Wrexham University , one of Wales' three Roman Catholic cathedrals , Wrexham Industrial Estate and the UK's largest prison, HMP Berwyn . In 1848, concerns over
183-702: A Welsh local authority principal council . Most offices of the council are situated within Wrexham city centre , around Llwyn Isaf and Chester Street . The headquarters of the council's Chief Executive is at the Guildhall ( Welsh : Neuadd y Dref ; lit. ' Town hall ' ) in Wrexham. From May 2022, there are forty-nine electoral wards for the council, with seven having two councillors. The most recent Wrexham County Borough election on 5 May 2022 , resulted in independent politicians maintaining their position as
244-616: A coalition with the Conservatives again for another five-year term. The next election for the council is due for 6 May 2027, as part of the next Welsh local elections. The county borough was formed on 1 April 1996 following the enactment of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 , containing the district of Wrexham Maelor and some communities of Glyndŵr , namely Chirk , Glyntraian , Llansantffraid Glyn Ceiriog , and Ceiriog Ucha , and later Llangollen Rural in 1997. Borough status
305-524: A further four regional members. Polling done by UnHerd in 2019, showed that of those polled 54% of the county borough supported the continued reign of the British Monarch , compared to 23% and 21% opposed, and 23% and 25% do not know, in the Wrexham and Clwyd South constituencies respectively. In the 2016 National Survey for Wales, only 45.9% of the population agreed or strongly agreed that Wrexham County Borough Council provides quality services, below
366-428: A local consulation survey conducted by Wrexham council, reported that 61% of respondents stated that Wrexham does not "deserve" to be a city. In February 2024, a report from Audit Wales , stated that the council's planning members had a poor relationship with professional officers over planning decisions and the council frequently undermine officers, looking for alternative opinions instead. Audit Wales also criticised
427-613: A local government reorganisation in 1996. The border with the English county of Shropshire is immediately south of the town, on the other side of the River Ceiriog . The town is served by Chirk railway station and the A5 / A483 roads. The name of the town in English, Chirk, derives from the name of the River Ceiriog , which itself may mean "the favoured one". The Welsh place name, Y Waun ,
488-574: A plaque in honour of the great Billy Meredith, born in the town, and with whom Meredith started his career between 1890-92. Meredith returned briefly in 1894 before signing for Manchester City. A second plaque in Meredith's honour is situated in Chirk's Millennium Gardens at the Station Avenue entrance to the park and cricket club. It was unveiled on 26 July 2002 by Meredith's daughter Winifrede. Chirk Golf Club
549-597: A strong industrial history; a notable early business is Bersham Ironworks , in the Clywedog Valley , which operated between 1715 and 1812 and pioneered cannon manufacture. The area is part of the North Wales Coalfield and significant mining took place in the nineteenth century. Tanning and brewing were also significant industries. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct near Cefn Mawr is an important surviving piece of early industrial infrastructure and has been designated
610-547: A wide plain. It forms part of the border before fully entering England at the county borough's north-east corner. The north-west of the county borough, down to Chirk, is part of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB , and includes the Ruabon Moors uplands. Wrexham includes the remains of two significant medieval castles: Chirk , which is now a country house , and Holt , of which only fragments remain. The county borough has
671-427: Is Chirk . The main villages of the county borough are Rhosllanerchrugog , Ruabon , Cefn Mawr , Coedpoeth , Gresford , Llay , Holt , Llansantffraid Glyn Ceiriog , Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog , Bangor-on-Dee and Marchwiel . Rhosllanerchrugog's built-up area extends to Ruabon, Cefn Mawr and Acrefair, with a total population of 25,362 in 2011. There are 69 sq mi (180 km ) of principal rivers in
SECTION 10
#1732851271420732-485: Is a place for wildlife, relaxation and walking. Several of the old buildings and surrounding land are now museums, visitor centres and riverside country parks: Minera Lead Mines , Nant Mill Visitor Centre and Picnic Area, Bersham Heritage Centre and Ironworks and Erddig . There is now a 7-mile (11 km) trail along the river through a number of the old industrial sites. Known as the Clywedog Trail , its starts at
793-544: Is above the Local Authority average but below the Wales average. Pentre School is a nursery, infant and junior school of mixed gender. There are approximately 86 pupils on roll who are all taught through the medium of English. Welsh is taught as a compulsory part of the school curriculum as a second language. The school is in a relatively affluent area, with only 15.9% of the school population eligible for free school meals, which
854-525: Is believed that an older llan , dedicated to St Tysilio , had existed on the site and the current church was dedicated to St Tysilio until the late 15th or early 16th century, after which it was re-dedicated to St Mary. Today, the church is a member of the Open Church Network and participates in the Sacred Space Project. Chirk was formerly a coal mining community with coal being worked from
915-517: Is literarally "The Moor". Chirk Castle , a National Trust property, is a medieval castle. Two families are associated with the town and its castle: the Trevor family of Brynkinallt and the Myddelton family. The Hughes of Gwerclas , a family descended from the ancient kings of Powys Fadog , also lived in the area for many years. Other attractions in the town include a section of Offa's Dyke and
976-544: Is served by independent schools, such as Moreton Hall and Ellesmere College in neighbouring Shropshire. Although Chirk is a predominantly English-speaking area, some parents choose to educate their children through the medium of Welsh. The nearest Welsh-medium primary schools are in Glyn Ceiriog and Cefn Mawr. Pupils can then transfer to either Ysgol Dinas Brân, Llangollen or Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Wrexham for Welsh-medium secondary education. The Ceiriog Memorial Institute, in
1037-421: Is substantially below the Local Authority and Wales averages. Most pupils in the community attend Ysgol Dinas Brân, Llangollen, for their secondary education. Ysgol Dinas Brân is a relatively large, bilingual secondary school catering for pupils from ages 11 – 19 (including Sixth Form). Other secondary schools in the area include Ysgol Rhiwabon, St Martin's School (Shropshire) and St Joseph's in Wrexham. The area
1098-632: Is within the preserved county of Clwyd , and between 1974 and 1996 as part of the then administrative county of Clwyd, the present-day county borough was divided into the districts of Wrexham Maelor and Glyndŵr . Before Clwyd's establishment in 1974, the modern-day county borough was part of the historic counties of Denbighshire (spanning most of the modern-day county borough; including Wrexham), and Flintshire (the English Maelor exclave). Offa's and Wat's Dyke , and their respective pathways ( Offa's Dyke Path , and Wat's Dyke Way ) pass through
1159-549: The 2024 United Kingdom general election , Wrexham County Borough is split between three UK Parliament constituencies, Clwyd East , Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr , and Wrexham . In the Senedd (Welsh Parliament), Wrexham County Borough is split into two Senedd constituencies, Clwyd South and Wrexham , each electing a Member of the Senedd (MS) each. The county borough is also part of the North Wales Senedd region which elects
1220-518: The Brynkinalt Park ; also known as Chirk Green being council-operated), and at Erddig ( National Trust -operated; south of Wrexham). Iscoyd Park in Maelor Saesneg also boasts some parkland. Nant Mill hosts a Visitor Centre on the Clywedog Trail and is surrounded by woodland, whereas Stryt Las Park between Rhos and Johnstown hosts grassland, woodland and ponds. Both are operated by
1281-618: The Ceiriog valley , just west of Chirk, is home to a collection of Welsh cultural memorabilia and was founded in the early 1900s to support the Welsh language , culture and heritage for future generations. In the 2011 census, a total of 3,652 residents (81.7%) have no skills in the Welsh language . Chirk is home to Chirk AAA F.C. , a football team founded in 1876. Currently playing in the Cymru North (the second tier of Welsh football). Chirk AAA FC have
SECTION 20
#17328512714201342-564: The Chirk Aqueduct , part of a larger World Heritage Site including Pontcysyllte aqueduct, on the Llangollen Canal , built in 1801 by Thomas Telford . The Glyn Valley Tramway terminated on the canal near the mainline railway station. The parish church of St Mary's is a Grade I listed building . The current church building was begun during the 11th century by the Normans, although it
1403-630: The Erddig Country Park, then east, passing slightly to the south of Wrexham . There is a path along the entire river bank from Minera to Wrexham. After passing the Wrexham industrial estate , the river joins the River Dee near the English/Welsh border . During the 18th and early 19th centuries there were 17 watermills along the river: fulling mills for preparing cloth, mills for grinding corn and malt, and paper mills . Large waterwheels powered
1464-564: The June 2017 election , as well as previous elections. In the 2021 Senedd election , Welsh Labour incumbents for the Senedd constituencies of Wrexham and Clwyd South covering the county borough were re-elected. In 2021, the council submitted bids for UK City of Culture 2025 on behalf of the county borough although later lost to Bradford , and a separate bid, submitted in December 2021, to award
1525-536: The Minera Lead Mines and finishes at Kings Mills. Wrexham County Borough Wrexham County Borough ( Welsh : Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam ) is a county borough , with city status , in the north-east of Wales . It borders the English ceremonial counties of Cheshire and Shropshire to the east and south-east respectively along the England–Wales border , Powys to the south-west, Denbighshire to
1586-671: The border between Wales and England . River Alyn, a tributary of the Dee, flows in the north of the county borough. There are various small lakes in the county borough. While there are 3000 ponds, mainly concentrated in Hanmer , Maelor and Overton . There is a veteran tree , said to be over 1,000 years old, near Chirk, known as the Oak at the Gate of the Dead . There are also some caves under Esclusham Mountain to
1647-556: The communities of Chirk , Glyntraian , Llansantffraid Glyn Ceiriog and Ceiriog Ucha from the Glyndŵr district. Following formation in 1996, there were discussions over the boundary between the newly created principal areas of Denbighshire and Wrexham County Borough, in particular over the lower Dee Valley and Llangollen area. Llangollen , Llangollen Rural and Llantysillio were all considered to potentially all or partly become part of Wrexham County Borough. Referendums were held in
1708-456: The 17th to the 20th century. The two largest collieries were Black Park (one of the oldest in the north of Wales) and Brynkinallt ( Welsh : Bryncunallt ). These coal mines have now closed. Chirk was a coaching stop on the old mail coach route along the A5 from London to Holyhead . The Chester to Ruabon railway had been extended south to Shrewsbury by 1848, with stations at Llangollen Road (Whitehurst Halt, near Pentre) and Chirk;
1769-705: The Castle owners insisted that the railway not be visible to them and that the station be well outside the town lest it encourage the populace to travel. South of the town a railway viaduct was constructed by Henry Robertson to take the line over the Ceiriog Valley . The Llangollen branch of the Shropshire Union Canal runs through Chirk. The canal crosses the Ceiriog Valley (from England into Wales) along Thomas Telford's aqueduct. Telford's aqueduct runs alongside
1830-673: The Ceiriog Valley were from 1894 part of either the Chirk Rural District or Llansillin Rural District , until they were merged into the Ceiriog Rural District in 1935, and abolished in 1974 to become part of Clwyd 's Glyndŵr district . The Local Government Act 1958 formed the Local Government Commission for Wales tasked to review the potential reform of local government in Wales . In their 1963 report,
1891-662: The Ceiriog valley and English Maelor. Clywedog Trail spans for 5.5 miles (8.9 km) along the River Clywedog , from the Minera Lead Mines to King's Mills. Offa's Dyke Path passes through the county borough. Bonc-yr-Hafod and Stryt Las are both part of the Stryt Las a'r Hafod Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The principal area (styled as a "county borough") is governed by Wrexham County Borough Council ,
River Clywedog - Misplaced Pages Continue
1952-640: The Community Church. Chirk is served by two local primary schools: Ysgol Y Waun and Pentre Church in Wales Controlled School. Ysgol Y Waun is the main primary school for children in Chirk. It was formed in 2012, by the merger of Chirk Infants School and Ceiriog Junior School. Ysgol Y Waun is a nursery, infant and junior school of mixed gender and lessons are taught through the medium of English. The school has about 335 pupils, with an increasing number of pupils on free school meals: 19.7% in 2014, which
2013-530: The Senedd Chirk 52°55′48″N 3°03′00″W / 52.930°N 3.050°W / 52.930; -3.050 Chirk ( Welsh : Y Waun ) is a town and community in Wrexham County Borough , Wales , 10 miles (16 kilometres) south of Wrexham , between it and Oswestry . At the 2011 census, it had a population of 4,468. Historically in the traditional county of Denbighshire , and later Clwyd , it has been part of Wrexham County Borough since
2074-480: The UK's Office for National Statistics (and until 2020 Eurostat ). It is regarded to be in the North East Wales and North Wales non-administrative regions (and the associated regional bodies, such as North Wales Economic Ambition Board , North Wales Police , North Wales Fire and Rescue Service , Tourism Partnership North Wales , and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board ). In Westminster, from
2135-514: The Welsh Assembly accepting the result by confirming the boundaries in 2002. On 1 September 2022, the county borough was awarded city status on behalf of Wrexham's application . Wrexham County Borough is a landlocked principal area in Wales. It is a "border county" in the Welsh Marches border region . It is bordered by the English counties of Cheshire to the east and Shropshire to
2196-467: The Welsh average of 59.3%. On 23 June 2016 in the 2016 EU referendum , the county borough voted 59% in favour of Leave . In the 2019 United Kingdom general election , Conservative candidates won the constituencies of Wrexham and Clwyd South for the first time in their existence. The constituencies were generally considered to be Labour heartlands part of its " red wall ", and were won by Labour in
2257-484: The bellows blasting air into the iron furnaces at Bersham , and drove winding and pumping machinery in the lead mines. The population grew dramatically as the Industrial Revolution drew workers to the Wrexham area, serving the rapidly developing coal mines, lead mines, limestone quarries, ironworks and lead smelting works. The fertile Clywedog flood plain had always provided rich pasture and corn; but, to meet
2318-533: The commission rejected proposals for the establishment of Wrexham as a county borough . The borough of Wrexham, Wrexham Rural District (except Llangollen Rural and Llantysilio ), Marford and Hoseley (from Hawarden Rural District , Flintshire ) and the neighbouring Flintshire exclave of the Maelor Rural District , were abolished in 1974, all being absorbed into the Wrexham Maelor district of
2379-458: The communities, with the community of Llangollen Rural , originally in Denbighshire in 1996, transferred to Wrexham County Borough in 1997 through the enacting of "The Denbighshire and Wrexham (Areas) Order 1996" on 1 April 1997. Referendums by Llangollen Town Council were held in 1993 and 2000, with the latter resulting in a narrow majority of nineteen votes for staying in Denbighshire, and
2440-478: The council's failure to adopt its local development plan . In March 2024, The Municipal Journal , stated that an investigation had begun into an allegation of malfeasance in office by Wrexham councillors, with both North Wales Police and the Welsh Government participating in the case. Wrexham County Borough is located in three constituencies, and their MPs are: electoral region Regional members of
2501-419: The council. Wrexham city has two main city parks, Bellevue Park , and Acton Park , there is also a city centre green in-front of the council's Guildhall . Rhosllanerchrugog and Ponciau have Ponciau Banks Park as their urban park. 87% of the population in the county borough is within two miles of the main parks in the county borough. The remaining areas are already largely rural, in particular
River Clywedog - Misplaced Pages Continue
2562-773: The county borough to the west of Chirk, along the River Ceiriog and the surrounding Ceiriog Valley meets the Berwyn range and the Powys border. The highest point in the county borough is Craig Berwyn , rising 790 metres on the Wrexham-Powys border in the Berwyn range. There are two upland areas in the county borough, both located on its western edge. The Berwyn mountains , and the Ruabon and Esclusham Mountains . The Berwyns and Ruabon Mountain are designated SSSIs and SACs . The county borough
2623-472: The county borough, including the River Dee , Ceiriog , Alyn and Clywedog , as well as important streams. The River Dee is the main river in the county borough, flowing from Denbighshire in the west into the county borough passing Froncysyllte , under Pontcysyllte Aqueduct , and passing Chirk, until it flows north-east towards England, cutting off the county borough's south-east salient of Maelor Saesneg (meaning "English Maelor") and later forming part of
2684-410: The county borough, lower than the national average of 14%. The main settlement of the county borough is the city of Wrexham with 44,785 inhabitants in 2021. Its neighbouring villages include Gwersyllt , Rhostyllen , Brymbo , Bradley and New Broughton . These, along with Wrexham, formed Wales' fourth largest urban area with 65,692 inhabitants in 2011. The sole other town in the county borough
2745-549: The county borough. Other pathways include the Dee Way Walk, and Maelor Way . The Fenn's, Whixall and Bettisfield Mosses National Nature Reserve is located in the south-east of the county borough along the Wrexham-Shropshire border. The county borough is largely urban and industrial surrounding Wrexham, but largely rural for the rest of the county borough, with areas of farmland and rural estates. Woodlands cover 9.4% of
2806-533: The county of Clwyd. The county borough is flat in the east and hilly in the west. The long salient to the south-west incorporates most of the Ceiriog Valley and includes part of the Berwyn range . The River Ceiriog forms part of the Shropshire border in its lower stages before meeting the Dee east of Chirk. The Dee itself enters the county borough near Cefn Mawr and flows east and then north-east toward Cheshire, creating
2867-463: The increased demand for food for the expanding work force, new corn mills were built and additional areas of woodland were cleared for growing crops. When steam power took over in the late 19th and 20th centuries, new industries no longer needed to be sited close to the river. New technology and cheap imports led to a gradual industrial decline in the area. Today the Clywedog has returned to nature and
2928-457: The largely contiguous borders surrounding the city of Wrexham, sometimes defined as Maelor Gymraeg (meaning "Welsh Maelor "). To the south-east of the city, across the River Dee, the English Maelor ( Welsh : Maelor Saesneg ; a former part of Historic Flintshire ) extends to almost meet the English town of Whitchurch, Shropshire and Fenn's Moss . To the south-west, a large salient of
2989-492: The largest group with 23 members but falling short of a majority, leaving the council in no overall control . Since 2017, the principal council has been operated by a coalition of local independents , the "Wrexham Independents" group and the Conservatives . Following the 2022 election, on 11 May 2022, local independents and the separately organised "Wrexham Independents" merged into a 21-member "Independent Group", and formed
3050-479: The north east is the border village of Holt , while to the south of Wrexham, Rhosllanerchrugog , Ruabon , Acrefair and Cefn Mawr are the main urban villages. Further south again is the town of Chirk , near the border with Shropshire , while the Ceiriog Valley to the south-east and English Maelor to the south-west of the county borough are rural. The county borough was historically split between Denbighshire and Flintshire , with it all later being part of
3111-652: The railway viaduct before the canal enters the Chirk Tunnel. Agriculture continues to be of some importance, as does tourism. The National Trust 's Chirk Castle is an attraction, as are the World Heritage Site of the Llangollen Canal, and the local scenery of the Ceiriog Valley and Berwyn Mountains . Manufacturing now plays a prominent position within the local industries, with major international firms such as Kronospan and Mondelez UK maintaining sites in
SECTION 50
#17328512714203172-501: The sanitary conditions, in particular the threat of cholera , in the growing town of Wrexham, led to locals launching a petition in February 1857 for the town to be incorporated . In September 1857, the town was granted a charter , spanning the two townships of the town, Wrexham Abbot and Wrexham Regis, as well as part of Esclusham Below, and forming the borough of Wrexham , with a borough council (a corporation ) and mayor under
3233-552: The south and south-east, and the Welsh counties of Flintshire to the north, Denbighshire to the west, and Powys to the south-west. Parts of the Berwyn range and Maesyrchen Mountains , some part of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty since 2011 , border the county borough to its west. To the east across the River Dee, the county borough meets the Cheshire Plain . The county borough's boundaries can be characterised by two protrusions from
3294-680: The terms of the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 . During incorporation the town was also given a coat of arms . Between 1894 and 1974, as part of Denbighshire ; the remaining civil parishes surrounding but excluding the town were part of the Wrexham Rural District , civil parishes in the Maelor region were part of the Overton Rural District , renamed Maelor Rural District in 1953. Whereas civil parishes in Chirk and
3355-475: The then administrative county of Clwyd . Chirk and the Ceiriog Valley were part of the Glyndŵr district. Clwyd itself was abolished in 1996 as an administrative county, becoming a preserved county for ceremonial lieutenancy purposes. Wrexham was established as a county borough (a principal area ; same powers as counties in Wales) in 1996, containing all of the former Clwyd district of Wrexham Maelor, and
3416-456: The then town of Wrexham the status of a city for the civic honours awarded for the 2022 Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II , which it later won. It was the only city bid from Wales , and Wrexham has applied for city status three other times, in 2000 , 2002 and 2012 , with the 2012 bid lost to St Asaph , Denbighshire. City status was awarded to the "County Borough of Wrexham" on behalf of Wrexham on 1 September 2022. In November 2021,
3477-405: The town. There are small business which support the local communities and its visitors, as well as service industries such as hotels, leisure facilities and restaurants. There are a wide range of employment opportunities and professions. Religion no longer has a prominent position, but there are four churches: St Mary's ( Church in Wales ), Chirk Methodist Church, Sacred Heart (Roman Catholic) and
3538-461: The west and Flintshire to the north-west. The city of Wrexham is the administrative centre. The county borough is part of the preserved county of Clwyd . The county borough has an area of 193 square miles (500 km ) and a population of 136,055. The north of the county borough is relatively urbanised and centred on Wrexham, with a population of 44,785, its industrial estate and several outlying villages, such as Brynteg and Gwersyllt . To
3599-713: The west of the county borough, with caves such as: Ogof Dydd Byraf and Ogof Llyn Parc . There are eleven urban and country parks in the county borough operated by Wrexham council . These include all the country parks, three urban parks in Wrexham and Ponciau, as well as the Nant Mill Visitor Centre and Brynkinalt Park . The seven country parks in the county borough are: Alyn Waters , Bonc-yr-Hafod , Erddig Park , Minera Leadmines , Moss Valley , Stryt Las Park , and Tŷ Mawr . There are two country house estates with significant areas of parkland and woodland, those being at Brynkinalt (near Chirk; with
3660-416: Was founded in 1991. The club closed in September 2012. The town receive better television signals from the Wrekin TV transmitter which broadcast BBC West Midlands and ITV Central . However, BBC Cymru Wales and ITV Cymru Wales is also received from the local relay transmitter which is transmitted via the Moel-y-Parc transmitter, it is situated near Cefn Mawr . Radio stations that broadcast to
3721-440: Was inherited from the town of Wrexham, which was granted to the then town in September 1857. The area includes a portion of the eastern half of the historic county of Denbighshire and two exclaves of historic Flintshire : English Maelor and the parish of Marford and Hoseley . The county borough is in the East Wales ITL 2 (formerly NUTS 2 ) and "Flintshire and Wrexham" ITL 3 (formerly NUTS 3 ) statistical regions by
SECTION 60
#1732851271420#419580