A TIMELINE OF WREXHAM HISTORY
By Tim Lambert
12th Century Wrexham is a small village
1391 Wrexham is given the right to hold weekly markets and annual fairs. Afterwards Wrexham becomes a busy little town.
1492 The Church of St Giles is built
1603 A grammar school is founded in Wrexham
1643 During the Civil War a parliamentary army captures Wrexham. In the little town there is an industry weaving wool.
1750 Wrexham is a small town with a population of about 2,000. It is known for its leather industry.
1762 'Iron Mad Wilkinson' opens Bersham Iron Foundry
1793 He opens a smelting plant at Brymbo
1801 The population of Wrexham is 2,575
1827 Wrexham gains gas light
1833 The first hospital in Wrexham opens
1848 Wrexham gets its first newspaper
1849 The railway reaches Wrexham
1864 Wrexham waterworks
1868 Overton Arcade is built
1876 The first cemetery in Wrexham opens
1878 The first public library opens in Wrexham
1880 An explosion in Bresham Colliery kills 9 men. The first lager is brewed in Wrexham.
1881 The population of Wrexham is 10,903
1891 Central Arcade is built
1900 Electricity is first generated in Wrexham
1907 Pariau becomes a public park. Electric trams run in Wrexham.
1910 The first cinema opens in Wrexham
1927 Buses replace trams
1931 The population of Wrexham raches 18,567
1934 An explosion and fire at Gresford Colliery kills 261 miners. Three rescuers are also killed.
1973 Gresford Colliery closes
1983 Bersham Heritage Centre opens
1986 Bersham Colliery closes
1999 Henblas Square and Island Square Shopping Centres open
2008 Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre opens