Wrexham’s Garden Village has been celebrating its centenary over the last fortnight, marking 100 years since the houses were built.
Back in 1913, the Welsh Town Planning and Housing Trust Limited purchased 200 acres of land from Sir Foster Cunliffe near to the estate of Acton. The intention was to build affordable housing to workers coming to Wrexham to work at Gresford Colliery, which had recently opened.
The original plan, by the Architect GL Cunliffe was to provide a village institute, two places of worship, a school and plenty of open spaces and recreation grounds.
In the first year, 44 properties were completed; numbers 63-69 Acton Gate, numbers 149-167, Chester Road (originally called Bryn Acton) and Cunliffe Walk.
Unfortunately, with the outbreak of World War I, only 240 out of a planned 1,000 homes were built and the planned shops, churches, institute and school were not, although St Margaret's church was built later on in 1928.
Today there was a parade from St Margaret’s Church down Chester Road and Kenyon Avenue to the green, where a summer fete was held, complete with music, rides and stalls.
The green has been granted ‘Village Green status’ and a beautiful mosiac plaque was today unveiled by Wrexham Mayor, Cllr David Bithell. The plaque is on the wall of Wat’s Dyke school where they had also created a time capsule, which will be buried and hopefully uncovered in another 100 years!
The history of the village and works of art created by local art groups are on display at Garden Village Institute on Kenyon Avenue, open daily 11am to 4pm to Sunday 14th July, with a special Meet and Chat on Sunday 14th 12-3pm.
To commemorate the centenary, a book of residents' memories and old photos entitled ‘Garden Village: A pictorial record of a Wrexham Community’ has been published by Councillor Andy Williams and Terry Sutton.
The book is on sale for £10 and profits from sales will be put back into community improvements.
To order your copy of the Garden Village book, please contact Cllr Andy Williams.
