How a Welsh market town became the largest settlement in Wales during the 1600s
In short: Long before its modern industrial identity, Wrexham was a thriving medieval hub and a Puritan stronghold. Once the largest settlement in Wales, this city has evolved from a Roman-era trading post into a centre for innovation, surviving civil wars, mining disasters, and the shifting tides of the British economy.
Wrexham’s history is deeply rooted in the landscape of north-east Wales. Likely founded during the eighth-century Mercian advance, the settlement took its name from the old English for 'Wryhtel's river meadow.' By the Middle Ages, it had emerged as a vital administrative and trading centre for the lordship of Maelor. Its strategic position between the Dee Valley and the Denbighshire uplands allowed it to flourish as a market town, where Welsh craftsmen became renowned for producing high-quality bucklers.
The 17th century marked a high point for Wrexham, as it briefly became the largest settlement in Wales. During the English Civil War, the town served as a critical military headquarters for both Royalist and Parliamentarian forces, suffering significant damage when a quarter of its houses were burned in 1643. Culturally, it gained a reputation as a 'Puritan Metropolis,' with figures like the radical preacher Morgan Llwyd shaping its intellectual life. By this time, the town was already a hub for diverse trades, including weaving, smithing, and tanning.
The Industrial Revolution fundamentally transformed Wrexham’s economic character. Starting in 1762 with John Wilkinson’s Bersham Ironworks, the area became a powerhouse for coal, lead, and iron production. This industrial expansion brought rapid population growth, rising from 6,714 in 1851 to over 10,000 by 1881. However, the 20th century brought severe challenges, including the tragic 1934 Gresford Colliery disaster, which claimed 266 lives. Following the decline of traditional heavy industry in the late 1900s, the city has since pivoted toward manufacturing and retail, eventually being awarded official city status in 2022.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Wrexham
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