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121-510: Those from North Wales are sometimes referred to as "Gogs" (from "Gogledd" – the Welsh word for "north"); in comparison, those from South Wales are sometimes called "Hwntws" by those from North Wales. The region includes the localities of Wrexham , Deeside , Rhyl , Colwyn Bay , Flint , Bangor , Llandudno , and Holyhead . The largest localities in North Wales are the city of Wrexham and

242-522: A "very recognisable region in our own right". For local administration, the region is most commonly made up of the following six principal areas , consisting of counties, and county boroughs, they are: the Isle of Anglesey, Conwy County Borough, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, and Wrexham County Borough. These principal areas are commonly divided into two groups, used for local news (e.g. BBC ), regional tourism boards, town and country planning , and were

363-619: A Wrexham General— London Marylebone service until 2011. The Borderlands Line, intersects the Shrewsbury—Chester line at Wrexham General, branching south to Wrexham Central (where it terminates ), and north to Bidston (Birkenhead) , and the North Wales Coast Line at Shotton. Bidston connects to the Wirral line , providing Merseyrail services, west to West Kirby , and east to Liverpool Central . The Cambrian Line forms

484-482: A celebrated centre for Welsh craftsmen. The town was particularly well known in the 14th and 15th centuries for the manufacture of Welsh bucklers , as illustrated by the mention in the 1547 Inventory of King Henry VIII of 'wreckesham Buckelers'. In 1391 Wrexham was wealthy enough for a bard, jester, juggler, dancer and goldsmith to earn their living there. The traditional pattern of Welsh life – law , administration, customs and language – remained undisturbed through

605-591: A large HQ building in Llay and a police station in the city centre. The police were formerly based at the Wrexham Police Station from 1973 to 2019, with the building being demolished in 2020. The region's main fire station is situated on Croesnewydd Road and is part of the newly combined Ambulance Service station. Other local fire stations are located in the nearby towns of Chirk and Llangollen . Wrexham has applied for city status three times since

726-677: A local Recusant , schoolteacher, and poet in the Welsh-language, was convicted of high treason based on his Catholic beliefs by a panel of judges headed by the Chief Justice of Chester , Sir George Bromley . On 15 October 1584, Gwyn was taken to the Beast Market and hung, drawn and quartered for his faith. He was canonised by Pope Paul VI in 1970 as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales . His Feast Day

847-525: A market town, as a crossroads between England and Wales, and later as an industrial hub – due to its rich natural reserves of iron ore and coal. But three small rivers flow through parts of the city: the Clywedog , Gwenfro and Alyn . Wrexham is also famed for the quality of its underground water reserves, which gave rise to its previous dominance as a major brewing centre. Originally a market town with surrounding urban villages, Wrexham has now coalesced with

968-612: A number of medieval castles (e.g. Criccieth , Dolbadarn , Dolwyddelan , Harlech, Caernarfon Castle, Beaumaris, Conwy) The area of North Wales is about 6,172 square kilometres, making it slightly larger than the country of Brunei, or the island of Bali. The highest mountain in Wales is Snowdon ( Yr Wyddfa) , in northwest Wales. North Wales does not have any motorways , with the only motorways in Wales being present in South Wales, and nearest motorways ( M53 and M56 ) being on

1089-508: A number of urban villages and forms North Wales' largest city. Including adjacent urban areas to Wrexham, such as that of the Gwersyllt , Rhosllanerchrugog , Coedpoeth and Llay totals to a population of over 100,000 residents. In 2021, the urban population was 44,785. In the previous census in 2011, Wrexham's built-up area also included settlements to the west, which increased the population to between 61,603 and 65,692 in 2011. Wrexham

1210-507: A peak of 48,000 passengers in 2003, before being discontinued in 2004. The public rail network of the region is largely split into two sections. These sections are centred around the two main west-east railway lines transversing the region, as there are currently no north-south railway lines wholly in the region. This is largely due to the mountainous regions of Snowdonia resting between the two lines, and low passenger numbers of north-south lines leading to their closure. The public rail network

1331-623: A peak of production at Minera Lead Mines on the outskirts of Wrexham. From the late 18th century numerous large-scale industrialised collieries operated in the southern section of the North East Wales coalfield , alongside hundreds of more traditional small-scale pits belonging to a mining tradition dating back to the Middle Ages. 18th century literary visitors included Samuel Johnson , who described Wrexham as "a busy, extensive and well-built town", and Daniel Defoe who noted

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1452-516: A population of 61,603, while also including nearby Bradley and Rhostyllen for a population of 65,692 in 2011. Wrexham was likely founded prior to the 11th century and developed in the Middle Ages as a regional centre for trade and administration. The city became the most populous settlement in Wales in the 17th century and was at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution from the 18th century. Prior to de-industrialisation in

1573-593: A settlement of a population higher than 100,000 people. Wrexham Wrexham ( / ˈ r ɛ k s əm / REK -səm ; Welsh : Wrecsam [ˈrɛksam] ) is a city and the administrative centre of Wrexham County Borough in Wales . It is located between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley , near the border with Cheshire in England. Historically in the county of Denbighshire , and later

1694-734: A subsequent fire cost the lives of 266 men. However the industry went into decline after the First World War , and of the seven large-scale collieries operating in the Wrexham area in 1946, only two functional collieries remained by 1968. The last pit to close in the Borough was Bersham Colliery in 1986.The leatherworks in Pentrefelin and Tuttle Street, the many coal mines in the area, the brickworks in Abenbury, Brymbo Steelworks and

1815-493: A trading town and administrative centre of one of the two commotes making up the Lordship. In 1202, Madoc ap Gruffydd Maelor , Lord of Dinas Brân , granted some of his demesne lands in 'Wrechcessham' to the abbey of Valle Crucis and in 1220 the earliest reference to a church in Wrexham is made. Following the loss of Welsh independence and the death in battle of Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffudd in 1282, Wrexham became part of

1936-446: Is 17 October. The main body of the church of St Giles was rebuilt in the late 15th and early 16th centuries to become one of the finest examples of ecclesiastical architecture in Wales. The economic character remained predominantly as an agricultural market town into the 17th century but there were workshops of weavers, smiths, nailers as well as dye houses. The 1620 Norden's jury of survey of Wrexham Regis stated that four-fifths of

2057-498: Is also home to several medieval castles, including Castell Dinas Brân , Denbigh , and Rhuddlan , as well as St Asaph Cathedral . Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod takes place in the town each July. The main area was formed on 1 April 1996 under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 , from various parts of the county of Clwyd . It includes the district of Rhuddlan (formed in 1974 entirely from Flintshire),

2178-465: Is evidence that the area had developed into a centre for an innovative metalworking industry by the early Middle Bronze Age. A series of Iron Age hill-forts is located to the west of present-day Wrexham along the upland-lowland line suggesting the presence of an ancient tribal boundary. At the time of the Roman conquest of Britain , the area which Wrexham formed part of was held by a Celtic tribe called

2299-800: Is home to three of the four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Wales. These are Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal , the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales and, collectively, the Edwardian castles and town walls of the region which comprise those at Caernarfon , Beaumaris , Conwy and Harlech . It also shares with Powys and Ceredigion the distinction of hosting the only UNESCO Biosphere (from Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme to promote sustainable development) reserve in Wales, namely, Biosffer Dyfi Biosphere. London has only one more site than North Wales. The boundaries and status of North Wales are undefined (compared to regions of England ), definitions, and

2420-573: Is managed and maintained by Network Rail . Historically, the region had a more extensive rail network with more interconnectivity of the current lines and more connections to the south. However, due to falling passenger numbers, the emergence of automobiles and other factors, the region's railways came under review, resulting in the Beeching cuts to the network. Many former rail corridors of the once more extensive network were superseded by road infrastructure. The numerous heritage railways scattered across

2541-625: Is part of the E-road network as E22 (until Ewloe , where it goes along the A494 into England), and is a dual carriageway , grade-separated, for its entire 88-mile length. A historically important road in the region is the A5 , a major road that was the primary link between the region and London (as the " London-Holyhead Trunk Road" ). The road crosses the Menai Suspension Bridge and

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2662-884: Is regarded as a more scenic route, with its historical importance as a connection between London and the Port of Holyhead, superseded by the A55. Other roads transiting North Wales, from east to west include the A458 from Halesowen to Mallwyd , and the A494 from Dolgellau to Saughall (originally to Birkenhead ). The busiest north-south road travelling through the region is the A483 from Chester (originally from Manchester) through Wrexham and into England near Oswestry , before re-entering Montgomeryshire and passing Welshpool and Newtown, before continuing onto Swansea . Other major north-south roads include

2783-552: Is served by Transport for Wales and Avanti West Coast services. Trains leaving Crewe to pass through Chester, cross the River Dee into Wales, and continue through Flint , Shotton , Holywell Junction (closed in 1966), Prestatyn , Rhyl , and stations to Bangor and Holyhead, which has a ferry service to Ireland. There are no motorways in Denbighshire. The A55 dual carriageway runs from Chester through St Asaph to

2904-399: Is the coast, where Rhyl and Prestatyn form a single built-up area with a population of 46,267. The next-largest towns are Denbigh , Ruthin , and Rhuddlan , while St Asaph is its only city. All of these settlements are in the northern half of the county; the south is even less densely populated, and the only towns are Corwen and Llangollen . The geography of Denbighshire is defined by

3025-564: Is the main port for freight and sea passenger transport with the Republic of Ireland, handling more than 2 million passengers each year. 81% of freight traffic going through Welsh ports to the Republic of Ireland, and 75.5% of sea passenger traffic between Wales and the Republic of Ireland went through Holyhead in 2018. Historically, there were two routes between Holyhead and the Irish ports of Dublin and Dun Laoghaire . The route to Dun Laoghaire

3146-452: Is the most populated principal area of North Wales, home to an estimated 155,600 people, with the Isle of Anglesey being the least populated with an estimated 70,000 people. In 2018, North Wales has an estimated population density of 113.6 persons per square kilometre. Flintshire is the most densely populated of the 6 areas, at 355.6 persons per km, with Gwynedd being the least dense principal area at 49.0 persons per km. Between 2008, and 2018,

3267-870: The Cambrian Line . There is a total of 5 rail routes in North Wales: the North Wales Coast Line , the Shrewsbury—Chester Line , the Conwy Valley Line , the Borderlands Line (all part of the North Wales lines) and the Cambrian Line. All 5 routes together in 2018-19 had approximately 5,295,602 entries and exits through the 66 stations. The North Wales Coast Line, the main rail line serving

3388-608: The Clywedog Valley ; the National Trust Property of Erddig ; and the fine Tudor church of St Giles , which towers over the historic Wrexham city centre . Human activity in the Wrexham area dates back to the Mesolithic period (8000 to 4300 BC), with tools made from flint being found to the east of the city. Two Bronze Age burial mounds are located to the west of the modern city centre and there

3509-686: The Cornovii . A Roman civilian settlement was located in the Plas Coch area of Wrexham and excavations have revealed evidence of agriculture and trade with the wider Roman world. Following the end of Roman rule in Britain, Wrexham formed part of the Romano-British Kingdom of Powys . The Battle of Chester circa 615/616 marked the beginning of a long struggle between the Welsh and English for territory in this part of Wales. During

3630-692: The European Union on 31 January 2020. The division with the rest of Wales is arbitrary and depends on the particular use being made. For example, the boundary of North Wales Police differs from the boundary of the North Wales area of the Natural Resources Wales and the North Wales Regional Transport Consortium ( Taith ). The historic boundary follows the pre-1996 county boundaries of Merionethshire and Denbighshire which in turn closely follow

3751-806: The Gobowen to Oswestry line, Cambrian Heritage Railways , the line's operator, is working on reopening the line (multiple sections of line), and the Anglesey Central Railway is also proposed to be restored. In Llandudno, the Great Orme Tramway links to the Great Orme . It is the only remaining cable-operated street tramway in Great Britain, and one of only a few surviving in the world. North Wales has very diverse and complex geology with Precambrian schists along

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3872-722: The Halton Curve , direct trains run to Liverpool Lime Street , linking to the Merseyrail. Services to Manchester Piccadilly from Chester, via the Chester—Manchester line for Transport for Wales services, and the Mid—Cheshire line for Northern services, in addition to the Northern service to Leeds , provide North Wales' connections to Northern England. Shrewsbury provides the main travel connections for passengers from

3993-521: The Heptarchy , to distinguish it from "West Wales", known today as Cornwall , although the term "Wales" or the names of the various petty kingdoms of Wales ( Gwynedd, and Powys in North Wales) are more commonly used to depict the region during this time. The region is steeped in history, being a crucial component in Welsh medieval history , and was from the 5th to the 12th/13th centuries under

4114-695: The Menai Strait and the great Cambrian dome behind Harlech and underlying much of western Snowdonia. In the Ordovician period much volcanism deposited a range of minerals and rocks over the northwestern parts of Gwynedd whilst to the east of the River Conwy lies a large area of upland rolling hills underlain by the Silurian mudstones and grits comprising the Denbigh and Migneint Moors. To

4235-661: The North Wales South Wales service , along with the Shrewsbury—Chester, North Wales Coast Line, and South Wales Main Line . These lines form the main rail connection between North Wales and South Wales. Chester provides the main travel connections for the North Wales Coast, as a major transport hub. As part of the North Wales Metro , from Chester (and Wrexham General at limited times), via

4356-634: The Office for National Statistics . In addition to the six principal areas, North Wales is also divided into the following preserved counties for various ceremonial purposes: Clwyd (comprising Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham), and Gwynedd (comprising Gwynedd and Isle of Anglesey ) The preserved counties are based on the counties created by the Local Government Act 1972 and were used for local government purposes (with county councils) between 1974 and 1996. During this period up to

4477-497: The Rump Parliament and Parliamentarians occupied the town in 1643 and 1645. Wrexham served as military headquarters for both forces and a quarter of houses were burned down in 1643 during the quartering of troops in the town. In the 17th century, Wrexham served as an educational and cultural focal point for local society and became a 'Puritan Metropolis'. Morgan Llwyd , the radical nonconformist preacher and writer,

4598-516: The Senedd (Welsh Parliament; Welsh : Senedd Cymru ): Aberconwy ( UK / SN ) , Alyn and Deeside ( UK / SN ) , Arfon ( UK / SN ) , Clwyd South ( UK / SN ) , Clwyd West ( UK / SN ) , Delyn ( UK / SN ) , Dwyfor Meironnydd ( UK / SN ) , Montgomeryshire ( UK / SN , if considered North Wales) , Vale of Clwyd ( UK / SN ) , Wrexham ( UK / SN ) , and Ynys Môn (Anglesey, UK / SN ) . An electoral region for

4719-599: The UK Parliament and the Senedd . The constituency includes both the city and some of its outlying villages such as Gwersyllt, Llay , Marford , Rossett and Holt . The UK Parliament constituency of Wrexham was considered a safe seat for the Labour Party until 2019. At the 2019 general election , Wrexham elected Sarah Atherton MP to the House of Commons , the first Conservative Member of Parliament for

4840-490: The Welsh Conservatives in the 2019 general election for the first time. The following MPs were elected from Denbighshire in 2019: From 2024, Denbighshire is covered by four constituencies. These are Bangor Aberconwy , Clwyd North , Clwyd East and Dwyfor Meirionnydd . Denbighshire is also represented in the Senedd by three members elected in 2021: In 2019, research by UnHerd in association with

4961-486: The West Coast Main Line to London Euston . According to StatsWales, the number of rail journeys across the 6 principal areas of North Wales, made in 2017-18 was 1.4 million, an increase of 20,525 from 2007-8. The largest share of these rail journeys, at 38.4%, was within the boundaries of Gwynedd. Conwy was the principal area which saw the greatest increase in rail journeys as a percentage of journeys over

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5082-452: The proposed replacements to the existing 6 principal areas before proposals were scrapped in 2019 . They are: North East Wales (Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham), and North West Wales (Anglesey, Conwy, Gwynedd) being the two most popular groupings, although a North Central Wales (Conwy and Denbighshire) grouping has been occasionally used, specifically for health administration. The population, density and areas are estimates for 2022 from

5203-563: The " King(s) of the Britons ", and Gwynedd would lead the charge in the subsequent formation of the Principality of Wales . The mountainous stronghold of Snowdonia formed the nucleus of that realm and would become the last redoubt of independent Medieval Wales — only overcome in 1283 by English forces under Edward I . To this day it remains a stronghold of the Welsh language and a centre for Welsh national and cultural identity. The area

5324-594: The 1912 National Eisteddfod of Wales was held at Wrexham, T.H. Parry-Williams achieved for the first time the feat, almost unheard of since, of winning both the Chair and the Crown . Parry-Williams later recalled returning home to Rhyd-ddu , where he had been working as a hired hand upon the farm of a relative. Upon telling his employer of his double-victory, Parry-Williams was advised to, "seek grace." When Parry-Williams then explained that both victories had gained him £40,

5445-516: The 2011 Census returns, 24.6 per cent stated they could speak Welsh. Since the 20th-century demise of the coal and steel industries in the Wrexham area, there is no heavy industry in the county. Although most towns have small industrial parks or estates for light industry, the economy is based on agriculture and tourism. Much of the working population is employed in the service sector . The uplands support sheep and beef cattle rearing, while in

5566-444: The 20th century, the city and surrounding area were a hub of coal and lead mining; the production of iron, steel and leather; and brewing. Today, Wrexham continues to serve north Wales and the Welsh borderlands as a centre for manufacturing, retail, education and administration. The city is noted for hosting Wrexham A.F.C. (one of the oldest professional football teams in the world); the nationally significant industrial heritage of

5687-616: The Cambrian line (and those commuting south from other North Wales stations), providing services, in addition to those to South Wales, through England to Crewe, Birmingham International , and Birmingham New Street , and via the Heart of Wales line , services to Llanelli . There are numerous heritage railways in the region. Most of them are narrow-gauge . Several run on sections of historically longer lines. Heritage railways employ more than 300 people and generate over £50 million per year for

5808-475: The Cambrian line, while Welshpool on the Cambrian line is across town from Raven Square on the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway . Many rail and bus lines of the region are part of an improvement project called the North Wales Metro or North East Wales Metro, which proposes improvements to the existing lines (specifically the Borderlands lines), improved connectivity between rail and other modes of transport, and more connections to North West England . For

5929-426: The Denbigh Moors from south-east to north-west, and the A525 links Ruthin with St Asaph. There are local bus services between the main towns. Several services by Arriva Buses Wales run along the main coast road between Chester and Holyhead, linking the coastal resorts. Another route links Rhyl to Denbigh. Denbighshire was last represented in the House of Commons by three MPs . The Welsh Labour Party lost to

6050-426: The Middle Ages and the pattern was for local English people to rapidly adopt the Welsh-language and to be assimilated into Welsh culture , even to point of adopting Welsh Patronymic surnames . The local Welsh nobility and peasantry backed the uprising led by Owain Glyndŵr against King Henry IV of England during the early 15th century. Local poet Guto'r Glyn (c. 1412 – c. 1493) heralded Siôn ap Madog,

6171-402: The North Wales coast and passing Deeside, Llandudno Junction , Conwy, and Bangor. It is described as the economic lifeline for North Wales, and the second most important road in all of Wales, only to the M4 in South Wales. The road connects all the way to the Port of Holyhead following an extension in 2001, which provides ferry connections to the Republic of Ireland . The majority of the road

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6292-404: The North Wales coast at Abergele, then parallel to the railway through Conwy and Bangor to Holyhead. The A548 run from Chester to Abergele through Deeside and along the coast, before leaving the coast and terminating at Llanrwst . The main road from London, the A5 , passes north-westwards through Llangollen , Corwen and Betws-y-Coed to join the A55 and terminate at Bangor. The A543 crosses

6413-405: The North Wales economy. The heritage railways in the region are: Several of these lines connect to the Cambrian line. Stations where the heritage railway uses the same station as Network Rail. At Fairbourne, the Fairbourne Railway connects to Barmouth Ferry and the Ffestiniog Railway connects at Minffordd . The Talyllyn Railway's Tywyn Wharf station is a short walk from Tywyn station on

6534-447: The North Wales region, consists of the 6 northern principal areas, and statistics provided by StatsWales only include these 6 areas. In 2018, the estimated population of the region was 698,400 people. North Wales exhibits the evenest distribution of population across the local authorities of any of the 4 statistical regions of Wales, with 4 of the 6 authorities home to over 100,000 residents, Flintshire, Wrexham, Gwynedd and Conwy. Flintshire

6655-420: The Parish Church of St Giles which was the focal point around which the city developed. The church precinct, and the surrounding narrow enclosed streets and alleyways retain a medieval character. Several complete medieval buildings survive on Town Hill and Church Street . Hope Street, Regent Street and Queen Street form the traditional main shopping streets and are wider in some parts than others, resulting from

6776-405: The RWF, as well as official records. The local police was housed in the high-rise Wrexham Police Station from 1973 to 2019, with the building demolished the following year. The police moved to a smaller facility next to Wrexham Library . Wrexham County Borough Council is made up of 56 Councillors, with one then appointed to serve as Mayor for a year. The most recent election to the council

6897-406: The River Dyfi). The area is mostly rural with many mountains and valleys . This, in combination with its coast (on the Irish Sea), means tourism is the principal industry. Farming , which was once the principal economic force in the area, is now much reduced in importance. The average income per capita of the local population is the lowest in the UK. The eastern part of North Wales contains

7018-500: The Senedd, shares the name "North Wales", yet does not cover all of North Wales, only the northern coast, Anglesey, and northeast of Wales (specifically the entire area of the former pre-1996 county of Clwyd); the rest of North Wales (mainly Meirionnydd) is covered by the Mid and West Wales Senedd electoral region. All constituencies aside Dwyfor Meironnydd, and Montgomeryshire are in the North Wales Senedd electoral region. Between 1979 and 1994, all of North Wales (including Montgomery )

7139-633: The Vale of Clwyd dairy farming and wheat and barley crops predominate. Many towns have livestock markets and farming supports farm machinery merchants, vets, feed merchants, contractors and other ancillaries. With their incomes on the decline, farmers have found opportunities in tourism, rural crafts, specialist food shops, farmers' markets and value-added food products. The upland areas with their sheep farms and small, stone-walled fields are attractive to visitors. Redundant farm buildings are often converted into self-catering accommodation, while many farmhouses supply bed and breakfast. The travel trade began with

7260-432: The Wales . The Denbigh Moors (Mynydd Hiraethog) are in the west of the county and the Berwyn Range adjacent to the southern edge. The River Clwyd has a broad fertile Vale running from south–north in the centre of the county. There is a narrow coastal plain in the north which much residential and holiday-trade development. The highest point in the historic county was Cadair Berwyn at 832 m or 2,730 ft), but

7381-526: The area borders the principal areas of Ceredigion , Powys , and the rest of Wales to the south, England and its counties of Shropshire , and Cheshire to the east, and the Irish sea to the north and west. Other definitions, especially historical, commonly include Montgomeryshire , one of the historic counties of Wales , to be part of North Wales, although as part of Powys its more commonly considered Mid Wales today. The definitions of North and Mid Wales constantly overlap, with Meirionnydd (southern part of

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7502-410: The area. Wrexham has a number of historic city centre buildings, many of which are pubs but others have been converted into arts or community centres. Denbighshire Denbighshire ( / ˈ d ɛ n b i ʃ ər , - ʃ ɪər / DEN -bee-shər, -⁠sheer ; Welsh : Sir Ddinbych [ˌsiːr ˈðɪnbɨχ] ) is a county in the north-east of Wales . It borders the Irish Sea to

7623-430: The arrival of the coast railway in the mid-19th century, opening up the area to Merseyside . This led to a boom in seaside guest houses. More recently, caravan sites and holiday villages have thrived and ownership of holiday homes increased. Initiatives to boost the economy of North Wales continue, including redevelopment of the Rhyl seafront and funfair . The North Wales Coast Line running from Crewe to Holyhead

7744-488: The barracks for the Royal Denbighshire Militia, is now home to Wrexham County Borough Museum . The museum has two galleries devoted to the history of the city and its surrounding communities. The museum also holds the archive of the Royal Welch Fusiliers ; battalions were stationed in Wrexham during the First World War. The collection is notable for containing original documents in the handwriting of Siegfried Sassoon , Robert Graves , J. C. Dunn and other notable members of

7865-433: The birthplace of the Football Association of Wales, which was formed at a meeting in the hotel in 1876. The Golden Lion Pub on the High Street is of 16th century origin and became an inn c.1700. The listed Border Brewery chimney towers over Tuttle Street and forms a local landmark in the city centre. Wrexham held the National Eisteddfod of Wales for the sixth time in 2011. A number of visitor attractions can be found in

7986-444: The boundary changes since 1974 make Cadair Berwyn North Top the highest point. Denbighshire borders the present-day principal areas of Gwynedd , Conwy County Borough , Flintshire , Wrexham County Borough , and Powys . Rhyl and Prestatyn form a single built-up area in the north of the county, with a population of 46,267. They are immediately adjacent to the Kinmel Bay and Abergele built-up area in neighbouring Conwy , and at

8107-463: The boundary of North Wales with South or Mid Wales differs between organisations. It is strongly used culturally for comparison to the more urban South Wales. The most common definition for statistical and administrative purposes of North Wales contains the 6 principal areas of: Isle of Anglesey , Conwy , Denbighshire , Flintshire , Gwynedd , and Wrexham . Of which have a combined estimated population in 2018 of 698,400 people. Under this definition,

8228-437: The breweries all closed in the latter half of the 20th century. Wrexham suffered from the same problems as much of industrialised Britain and saw little investment in the 1970s. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Welsh Development Agency (WDA) funded a major dual carriageway (the A483) bypassing Wrexham town centre and connecting it with nearby Chester and with England's trunk road network. New shopping areas have been created within

8349-404: The brewing of beer: by the mid-19th century, there were 19 breweries in and around the town. Wrexham Lager brewery was established in 1882 in Central Road and became the first brewery in the United Kingdom to produce lager beer. A permanent military presence was established in the town with the completion of Hightown Barracks in 1877. The Poyser Street drill hall was completed in 1902. When

8470-554: The broad valley of the River Clwyd , which is surrounded by rolling hills on all sides except the north, where it reaches the coast. The Vale of Clwyd , the lower valley, is given over to crops, while cattle and sheep graze the uplands. The Clwydian Range in the east is part of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty . This part of Wales contains the country's oldest known evidence of habitation – Pontnewydd (Bontnewydd-Llanelwy) Palaeolithic site has Neanderthal remains of some 225,000 years ago. The county

8591-484: The communities of Trefnant and Cefn Meiriadog from the district of Colwyn (entirely Denbighshire) and most of the Glyndŵr district. The last includes the former Edeyrnion Rural District , part of the administrative county of Merionethshire before 1974, covering the parishes of Betws Gwerfil Goch , Corwen , Gwyddelwern , Llangar , Llandrillo yn Edeirnion and Llansanffraid. Other principal areas including part of historical Denbighshire are Conwy , which picked up

8712-596: The constituency. Lesley Griffiths MS, Welsh Labour , has represented the Wrexham constituency in the Senedd since 2007 and has held a number of cabinet positions in the Welsh Government . Wrexham Maelor Hospital (Welsh: Ysbyty Maelor Wrecsam ) is the region's major acute district hospital, with over 900 beds, and is the largest of the three core hospitals in North Wales . The other NHS hospital within

8833-472: The control of the influential Welsh kingdoms of Gwynedd, and Powys following the end of Roman rule in Britain . The Kingdom of Gwynedd controlled the majority of what is now the commonly defined 6 counties of North Wales, including all of the North Wales coast, with Powys retaining control over what is modern Powys, and parts of Wrexham and Flintshire, in addition to part of Shropshire. Through their over 800 year existences', their rulers acclaimed themselves to be

8954-436: The conurbations of Deeside and Rhyl/ Prestatyn , where the main retail, cultural, educational, tourism, and transport infrastructure and services of North Wales are located. Bangor and St Asaph are the region's cities , Bangor is Wales' oldest city , whereas St Asaph is one of Wales' smallest and was awarded status in 2012. Wrexham, the region's largest settlement, became a city in 2022. Historically, for most of North Wales,

9075-553: The county borough is Chirk Community Hospital and a former Penley Polish Hospital . Yale Hospital (Welsh: Ysbyty Iâl ), situated close to the Maelor Hospital on the Wrexham Technology Park, is Wrexham's largest private hospital with over 25 beds. Formerly BUPA Yale Hospital , it is now owned and operated by Spire Healthcare. Wrexham is served by North Wales Police ; their Eastern Division HQ has

9196-526: The county of Clwyd in 1974, it has been the principal settlement of Wrexham County Borough since 1996. Wrexham has historically been one of the primary settlements of Wales. At the 2021 Census , it had an urban population of 44,785. The core of the city comprises the local government communities of Acton , Caia Park , Offa and Rhosddu . In the 2011 census, Wrexham's built-up area was determined to extend further into villages like Brymbo , Brynteg , Gwersyllt , New Broughton and Pentre Broughton with

9317-461: The east, around Llangollen, to the north on Halkyn Mountain and the Great Orme and in eastern Anglesey are beds of limestone from which metals have been mined since pre-Roman times. Added to all this are the complexities posed by Parys Mountain and the outcrops of unusual minerals such as Jasper and Mona Marble which make the area of special interest to geologists . Terms for people from

9438-445: The eastern end of series of coastal resorts which that also includes Colwyn Bay and Llandudno further west. According to the 2021 United Kingdom census , Denbighshire's population was approximately 95,800. According to previous censuses, the population of Denbighshire was 93,734 in 2011 and 93,065 in 2001. The largest towns on the coast are Rhyl (2001 population c. 25,000) and Prestatyn (2001 population c. 18,000). According to

9559-544: The eighth century, the Anglo-Saxon royal house of Mercia pushed their frontiers westwards and established the earth boundaries of Wat's Dyke and Offa's Dyke to the west of the present city. It was probably during this first period of Mercian advance in the eighth century that the settlement of Wrexham was founded on the flat ground above the meadows of the River Gwenfro . The name Wrexham probably comes from

9680-601: The eighth to tenth centuries but the Welsh Kings of Powys re-conquered the Wrexham area during the 11th century. Following the Welsh reconquest, Wrexham formed an integral part of the Powys lordship of Maelor and so does not appear in the Domesday Book of 1086. The first recorded reference to the town in 1161 is to a castle at 'Wristlesham'. Stability under the princes of Powys Fadog enabled Wrexham to develop as

9801-637: The geographic features of the River Dyfi to Aran Fawddwy , then crossing the high moorlands following the watershed until reaching Cadair Berwyn and then following the River Rhaeadr and River Tanat to the Shropshire border. The most common definition is that North Wales ends at the peripheries of the northern 6 principal areas, therefore the border is between Wrexham - Powys, Denbighshire - Powys, Gwynedd - Powys, and Gwynedd - Ceredigion (over

9922-496: The great-nephew of Owain Glyndŵr, as ' Alecsander i Wrecsam ' ("an Alexander for Wrexham") and the poet Hywel Dafi addresses Siôn's heir as ' Gwregys am ais Gwregsam wyt' ('a girdle around the heart of Wrexham.’). The Acts of Union passed during the reign of Henry VIII brought the lordship into the full system of English administration and law. It became part of the new shire of Denbighshire in 1536. In 1584 St Richard Gwyn ,

10043-550: The land-holding classes of Wrexham bore Welsh names and every field except one within the manor bore a Welsh or semi-Welsh name. A grammar school was established in 1603 by Alderman Valentine Broughton of Chester. During the English Civil War , most of the local Welsh gentry supported King Charles I and in 1642 the King addressed enthusiastic crowds in the town. However, local landlord Sir Thomas Myddelton declared for

10164-514: The lithic remains belonged to ancient peoples, who while passing through the area, made camp by the river more than 9,000 years ago. The eastern edge of Denbighshire follows the ridge of the Clwydian Range , with a steep escarpment to the west and a high point at Moel Famau (1,820 ft (555 m)), which with the upper Dee Valley forms an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty , the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley – one of just five in

10285-459: The location of the street markets, which occurred from Medieval times through to the 19th century. The shopping streets and indoor markets are interconnected by historic narrow alleyways and arcades, such as Bank Street and Central Arcade , which host small independent businesses. The half-timbered Talbot Hotel building , built in 1904, stands in a prominent position at the junction of Hope Street and Queen Street. The Horse and Jockey Public House,

10406-506: The middle of Wales, leading most north-south connections to be slower, leading to diversions onto north-south roads in England. The emphasis on east-west roadways has led to North Wales having closer connections with North West England (centred on Liverpool and Manchester ) rather than with South Wales. The busiest road in North Wales is the A55 , the "North Wales Expressway", a dual carriageway primary road connecting Chester to Holyhead , along

10527-425: The modern principal area of Gwynedd) sometimes considered Mid Wales. North Wales may also be spelled as 'north Wales' with a lower case 'n' for north , coined as the "to cap or not to cap" debate. It is argued that using a lower case 'n' is to be only used to signify "north" as merely a geographic identifier, and a capital 'N' to distinctly separate the region for cultural, organisational, or statistical purposes from

10648-530: The most populous areas, with more than 300,000 people living in the areas around Wrexham and Deeside. Wrexham, with a population of 65,692 at the 2011 census in its built-up area , it is North Wales' largest city. The total population of North Wales is 696,300 (2017). The majority of other settlements are along the coast, including some popular resort towns , such as Rhyl , Llandudno , Pwllheli , Prestatyn and Tywyn . There are two cathedral cities – Bangor and St. Asaph  – and

10769-466: The north Wales coast, and connecting with Irish Ferries and Stena Line ferry services to Dublin Port in the Republic of Ireland. The Conwy Valley Line branches off at Llandudno Junction, heading north to Llandudno and south to Blaenau Ffestiniog . The Shrewsbury—Chester line, connects Chester and Shrewsbury via Wrexham , providing the main north Wales and south Wales connection. A former open-access operator Wrexham & Shropshire , used to provide

10890-464: The north coast. English Maelor , currently part of Wrexham County Borough, located east of the River Dee, as the name suggests, was part of England during a significant part of this period. North Wales is electorally divided into constituencies and electoral wards to elect local representatives to multiple layers of government. There are eleven constituencies used for both the UK Parliament and

11011-403: The north, Flintshire to the east, Wrexham to the southeast, Powys to the south, and Gwynedd and Conwy to the west. Rhyl is the largest town, and Ruthin is the administrative centre. Its borders differ from the historic county of the same name . Denbighshire has an area of 326 square miles (840 km ) and a population of 95,800, making it sparsely populated. The most populous area

11132-516: The old English for Wryhtel's river meadow. Alternatively, the name may have described a settlement of the Wreocensæte people, who were possibly a continuation of the Cornovii tribe of Roman Britain. The settlement may have originally been named 'Caer Fantell' in Welsh but by the 13th century was recorded in Welsh as 'Gwrexham' or 'Gregsam'. The Mercians fought over north-east Wales during

11253-516: The other side of the Wales-England border . There have been proposals to upgrade the A55 into a motorway or have more motorway-like features. Trunk roads in the region are maintained by the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent (NMWTRA). The main roads spanning across North Wales, mostly span east to west, especially along the North Wales coast. This is mainly due to the mountainous terrain in

11374-755: The other west-east line in the region (as the Mid-Wales line), it connects Shrewsbury, westwards with Mid Wales and towns along Cardigan Bay . The line is commonly split into two sections, the section from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth is sometimes referred to as the Cambrian Main Line, with the Cambrian Coast Line, splitting off from this line at Dovey Junction , heading northwest to Pwllheli . The Welsh Marches Line connects Crewe to Newport , via Shrewsbury, with services from Holyhead usually continuing to Cardiff Central . It forms part of

11495-414: The population density of North Wales grew by 2.3%, the third-highest rate of population density growth of the 4 statistical regions of Wales. Gwynedd, with 3.7% growth, had the highest population density growth rate in North Wales, whereas the Isle of Anglesey had the lowest population density growth rate at 0.1% from 2008 to 2018. The population growth for the region between 1998 and 2018 was 6.3%, however,

11616-424: The present six (seven with Montgomeryshire) is that Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire were combined into one principal area, initially called 'Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire' until a day after its formation where it took the name Gwynedd instead, and the formation of two county boroughs, Conwy carved out of Caernarfonshire and Denbighshire, and Wrexham carved out of Denbighshire and Flintshire. The north of Wales

11737-459: The present, Montgomeryshire remained a part of Powys. Prior to the preserved counties, there were counties, now referred to as historic counties. These are the oldest of the counties of North Wales, used for centuries. North Wales contained 6 historic counties during these times, the counties were; Anglesey, Caernarfonshire , Denbighshire , Flintshire , Merionethshire , and Montgomeryshire. The most notable difference between these six counties and

11858-594: The rate was lower between 2008 and 2018, than in 1998 and 2008. Conwy was the area with the highest population growth rate for the two decades at 8%, with Isle of Anglesey having the smallest growth rate at just over 3%. Population settlements North Wales' largest settlement (locality) is Wrexham, with 65,692 people in the 2011 census. Data from the census details that North Wales has a lower number and proportion of residents living in settlements of 25,000 or more, than South East and South West Wales, but higher than Mid Wales. StatsWales attributes this to North Wales' lack of

11979-588: The region can be referred to as simply " Gwynedd ", named after one of the last independent Welsh kingdoms, the Kingdom of Gwynedd . This has led to a stronger sense of Welsh identity and home to more Welsh-language speakers , especially in North West Wales, than the rest of Wales. The term "North Wales" is rarely applied to all of Wales during the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain and the period of

12100-682: The region include; North Welsh, and North Walian (also spelt as North Walean), or informally as "Gogs" from the Welsh word for North, "Gogledd". This term is mostly only used to distinguish from other parts of Wales (i.e. only used domestically in Wales), a majority of the population consider themselves as just " Welsh ", and some additionally or only as " British ". Communities along the Wales-England border and northern coast may identify as " English " as they are home to many of those of English ancestry . According to Statistics for Wales (StatsWales),

12221-473: The region serve as a reminder of the former railways across the region. The majority of lines operated in Wales are part of the Wales & Borders franchise , the current operator is Transport for Wales Rail , a Welsh-Government owned company , although some services (from Holyhead and Wrexham) are operated by the West Coast Partnership operator, Avanti West Coast on services using

12342-558: The relative shouted in angry disbelief, "Ac mi gwnest nhw i gyd ar dy din!!!" ("And you earned them all sitting on your arse!!!!") By 1913, the North East Wales coal field was producing up to 3 million tonnes a year and employed over 10,000 people, dominating the economic and cultural life of the area. One of the worst mining disasters in British history occurred at Gresford Colliery in 1934 when underground explosions and

12463-445: The remainder of 1974–1996 Colwyn, the Denbighshire parts of 1974–1996 Aberconwy , and Wrexham , which corresponds to the pre-1974 borough of Wrexham along with most of Wrexham Rural District and several parishes of Glyndŵr. Post-1996 Powys includes the historically Denbighshire parishes of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant , Llansilin and Llangedwyn , which formed part of Glyndŵr district. Researchers have found signs that Denbighshire

12584-588: The rest of Wales may use a capitalised N. Local newspapers, such as the Daily Post describe themselves to be a "capper" capitalising the 'N', whereas other organisations such as BBC News may use a lower case. The Welsh Government's style guide uses lowercase, whereas Visit Wales uses capitalised. David Williams, chairman of the North Wales Business Club, announced his support for capping the term "North", stating that North Wales should be

12705-421: The rest of Wales. Such usage may follow ideological lines, with North Wales used to confer the region as a distinctly separate entity from the rest of Wales, whilst north Wales as merely the northern bit of Wales. Organisations, where the region is administered the same as with the rest of Wales, may prefer to use a lower case for north. Whilst organisations only operating in the region or separate from any others in

12826-487: The role of Wrexham as a "great market for Welch flannel". The artist J. M. W. Turner also visited the town in 1792-93 and 1794 which resulted in his drawings of St Giles Parish Church and surrounding buildings and a watercolour painting of a street scene. Rev. William Bingley described Wrexham in 1839 as "of such size and consequence as to have occasionally obtained the appellation of the metropolis of North Wales". Wrexham gained its first newspaper in 1848. The Market Hall

12947-485: The semi-independent Marcher lordship of Bromfield and Yale. Wrexham increased in importance throughout the Middle Ages as the lordship's administrative centre, and the then town's position made it a suitable centre for the exchange of the produce of the Dee valley and Denbighshire uplands, whilst iron and lead were also mined locally. From 1327 onwards, the town is referred to as a villa mercatoria (market town) and became

13068-567: The single-carriageways of the A470 from Llandudno to Cardiff via the Conwy valley , and the A487 from Bangor to Haverfordwest via Caernarfon and Snowdonia. The Port of Holyhead, on the isle of Anglesey, is the main commercial and ferry port in North Wales. The port had the third-largest volume of freight traffic , in Wales, in 2018 (5.2 million tonnes), after Milford Haven and Port Talbot , and it

13189-517: The ten-year period, at 22.5%. The least amount of rail journeys in 2018-19 was in Anglesey. As of 2020, there as 66 rail stations within the boundaries of the 6 northern principal areas, of which 2 are among the 20 busiest stations in Wales, Rhyl , and Bangor . 41 of the rail stations are stations of the North Wales lines, whereas the remaining 25 are stations of the Mid Wales lines, specifically

13310-677: The town at Henblas Square, Island Green and Eagles Meadow and the Wrexham Industrial Estate , previously used in the Second World War , has become home to many manufacturing businesses. Wrexham Town Hall, an early 18th century arcaded structure with an assembly hall on the first floor, which had been built at the top of Town Hall, was demolished to improve traffic flows in the area in February 1940. Wrexham's former police station on Regent Street, originally

13431-499: The turn of the 21st century, in competitions to mark the new Millennium, and for both the Queen's Golden and Diamond Jubilees. In March 2012, it was announced that Wrexham had again missed out on city status as the community of St Asaph , which was previously a city, was granted city status. In 2021, the Wrexham council announced their intention to apply for a fourth time for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee award . On 20 May 2022, it

13552-585: Was a single European Parliament constituency (EPC), the North Wales European Parliament Constituency . In 1994, minor border changes put parts of Montgomeryshire in the neighbouring Mid and West Wales constituency. In 1999, both of the constituencies ceased, when it was absorbed into the larger Wales constituency until 2020 when it was subsequently abolished following the United Kingdom 's withdrawal from

13673-488: Was announced that as part of the Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours , Wrexham would receive city status . The status was confirmed by Letters Patent on 1 September 2022. It became Wales' seventh city . Wrexham is not built on a major river, but on a relatively flat plateau between the lower Dee Valley and easternmost mountains of north-east Wales . This position enabled it to grow as

13794-432: Was built in 1848, and in 1863 a volunteer fire brigade was founded. In addition to brewing, tanning became one of Wrexham's main industries. In the mid 19th century Wrexham was granted borough status. By 1851, the population of Wrexham was 6,714; within thirty years this had increased to 10,978 as the town became increasingly industrialised. Wrexham benefited from good underground water supplies which were essential to

13915-482: Was educated at the Wrexham Grammar School and became Vicar of Wrexham in 1645. Wrexham was known for its leather industry and by the 18th century there were a number of skinners and tanners in the town. The Industrial Revolution began in Wrexham in 1762 when the entrepreneur John Wilkinson (1728–1808), known as "Iron Mad Wilkinson", opened Bersham Ironworks . Wilkinson's steam engines enabled

14036-424: Was home to approximately 40% of the total population of the county borough in 2007. Wrexham is approximately 13 miles (21 km) south of Chester, 30 miles (50 km) north-west of Shrewsbury , 43 miles (69 km) south-west of Manchester , and 140 miles (230 km) north of Cardiff . The historic city centre contains a large number of listed buildings set on a Medieval street pattern radiating out from

14157-659: Was inhabited at least 225,000 years ago. Bontnewydd Palaeolithic site is one of the most significant in Britain. Hominid remains of probable Neanderthals have been found, along with stone tools from the later Middle Pleistocene . In 2021 February, archaeologists from Aeon Archaeology announced a discovery of over 300 Stone Age tools and artifacts in Rhuddlan . They revealed scrapers , microliths , flakes of chert (a hard, fine-grained, sedimentary rock composed of microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline quartz), flints and other rudimentary tools. An expert, Richard Cooke, believes

14278-600: Was on 5 May 2022, the election resulted in a Independent Group – Conservative coalition , as well as various ward changes and the addition of 4 new councillor seats from the 2022 election. The main contiguous part of the city of Wrexham, east of the A483 dual carriageway , is divided into the communities of Acton , Rhosddu , Offa and Caia Park . Although other definitions of the city, may consider Wrexham to extend westwards into other communities such as Gwersyllt and New Broughton which are part of Wrexham's built-up area. The Wrexham constituency elects members to

14399-534: Was probably originally built in the 16th century as a hall-house and retains its thatched roof. High Street is notable for its grand 18th and 19th century properties of varying scale, colour and detail which were built on long, narrow burgage plots probably of medieval origin. The 18th century façade of the Wynnstay Hotel on Yorke Street closes the vista down the High Street. The hotel is notable as

14520-410: Was the most popular in 1998 with over 1.7 million passengers ferried, however following a consistent decline in passenger traffic, it was removed in 2015. The other route to Dublin saw an overall increase in passenger numbers from just over 1 million in 1998 to just over 1.9 million in 2018, an increase of 82%. A Mostyn -Dublin ferry service once existed, on the now Liverpool -Dublin route, attracting

14641-585: Was traditionally divided into three regions during the middle ages: Upper Gwynedd (or Gwynedd above the Conwy), defined as the area north of the River Dyfi and west of the River Conwy ; Lower Gwynedd (or Gwynedd below the Conwy), also known as the Perfeddwlad ("the middle country") and defined as the region east of the River Conwy and west of the River Dee ; and Ynys Môn (or Anglesey), a large island off

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