Wrexham

Wrexham, a town of Denbighshire, called sometimes the 'metropolis of North Wales,' on an affluent of the Dee, 12 miles SSW. of Chester. Its church, destroyed by fire in 1457, and rebuilt in 1472-1520, was restored in 1866-68 at a cost of £4000, and is a fine Perpendicular structure, whose tower, 135 feet high, contains ten bells of singular sweetness, and is one of the 'Seven Wonders of Wales.' Judge Jeffreys was born close by, at Acton; and Bishop Heber wrote 'From Greenland's Icy Mountains' in the vicarage. Wrexham is situated in the heart of a mining district, and has far-famed breweries, tanneries, &c. It was incorporated in 1857, and with Denbigh (q.v.), &c. returns one member to parliament. Pop. (1851) 6717; (1891) 12,552.