If we build it, they will come!
And we’ll be putting the first bricks in place on Wednesday 15th January in Wrexham Library at 2.30pm.
That afternoon, the Library – through our annual literary festival with a difference – Wrexham’s Carnival of Words – hosts a gathering for dozens of organisations, and individual “movers and shakers”, to decide how to take forward the plan for a year-long celebration of Wrexham’s 1876 “Year of Wonder.”
Specific Events
The beginning of February 1876, saw the concept 0f a Football Association for Wales agreed at the Wrexham Wynnstay. So, it’s hoped that, around Monday 2nd February 2026 (or Sunday 1st) there might be a celebratory event in partnership, for example, with the Football Association of Wales, Wrexham Football Club, the Wrexham Wynnstay, Gŵyl Wal Goch Festival, and others.
Opening Spectacular
Yes, it’s hoped that February might also see an opening spectacular – perhaps a community opera staged at one of our local theatre venues, similar to the one produced by New Sinfonia’s Jon and Rob Guy, with the libretto by Grahame Davies, based on the story of the Gresford Mining Disaster: Up From Underground.
St. David’s Day
According to the Wrexham Advertiser, St. David’s Day in 1876 was celebrated with banquets and a procession of the Royal Welch Fusiliers. So, on Sunday 1st March 2026, perhaps a St. David’s Day parade with maybe a Victorian theme and military bands, possibly “food stalls” by way of a celebratory event, in partnership, for example, with the Royal Welsh Regiment, the RWF Museum, Wrexham food outlets, and St. Giles Church.
Wrexham Cemetery
Early in April 1876, the first burial took place at the new Ruabon Road Cemetery. So, on Friday 3rd April 2026 (or Saturday 4th), perhaps a celebratory event, and guided walks at the cemetery, in conjunction with the relevant church authorities, the Friends of Wrexham Cemetery, representatives of the Polish, Canadian and other Allied forces buried there. The official opening of the cemetery actually took place in July 1876, so almost certainly scope for further cemetery-linked events during the summer.
Easter
Monday 6th April 2026 is also Easter Monday and, even back in 1876 version, this was celebrated as Wrexham’s Dydd Llun Pawb (Everybody’s Monday) when, following the spring market, everyone was given the Monday off to descend on the town. The streets would be filled with entertainment, food stalls, musical acts and side shows. The tradition was picked up again only recently through Oriel Wrecsam and Tŷ Pawb. Another opportunity to celebrate this very special Victorian Wrexham event?
Wrexham’s Victorian Library
It’s likely that Wrexham opened its first, modest public library in 1878 – but that’s near enough. So, at the end of April 2026 we can promise a celebratory version of Wrexham’s Carnival of Words with a focus on Wrexham-linked, Welsh language and Victorian writers, in partnership, for example, with Literature Wales, Library Services, Moneypenny, and others, as well as the possible involvement with St. Chad’s School, Hanmer – in continuous operation for 345 years!
Wrexham Industrial Expo
June 1876 saw the decision taken to include an Industrial Annexe for the forthcoming Art Treasures Exhibition. So, early June 2026 – a celebratory Wrexham Industrial Expo, to profile thriving Wrexham businesses, in partnership, for example, with Coleg Cambria, the University, Mersey-Dee Alliance, local SMEs and other major employers – and possibly also involving the “Wrexham Tailor’s Quilt” in conjunction with St. Fagan’s, our very own National Museum of Welsh History, and Wrexham’s “Wonder Quilt” group.
Victorian Walks
Also for early June 2026, we’re hoping for a collaboration with the Wrexham Walking Festival with a view to some specific Wrexham 1876 Walks. Watch this space!
The Great Art Treasures Exhibition
July 1876 saw the opening of the astonishing and enormous four-month long Art Treasures Exhibition (Argyle Street). So, in July 2026, the chance for a celebratory “virtual recreation” of the 1876 Exhibition, possibly at Tŷ Pawb, at the Drawing Boards, and other locations, combining art displays, music recitals, the “Wrexham Tailor’s Quilt” (as well as examples of quilting being produced by local schools). Another possible performance, too, of an 1876 Wrexham community opera.
Wrexham’s 1876 National Eisteddfod
In August 1876, there was the opening of the first-ever National Eisteddfod held in Wrexham. So, in August 2026, the potential for a celebratory exhibition to commemorate Taliesin o Eifion’s cadair ddu (the first ever, and only one of two ever “Black Chairs”) and maybe also about Hedd Wyn’s cadair ddu in 1917, a bilingual experience in conjunction with the Eisteddfod Council? Perhaps even a local Wrexham Eisteddfod?
Wrexham’s First Tram System
Yes, that was 1876, as well. Through October and November 1876, the opening of Wrexham’s first tram system (horse-drawn), Johnstown to Pen-y-Bryn. So, in October-November 2026, the chance for a celebratory exhibition/display to commemorate the old Wrexham tram and other Victorian transport systems and maybe today’s transport links, in partnership, for example, with local transport companies.
The Victorian Christmas Market
Wrexham’s Victorian Christmas Market gets bigger and better every year, so what better way to round off these events than this! But perhaps some additional features to help us bring our “Year of Wonder” events to a special close.
Bringing It All Together
These events, if we can make them happen, will mainly be the work of individual organisations we’ve mentioned, but we’re hoping they might at least all be “branded”, as well, with a common logo. Something like this…
And More…
Apart from all that, we’re hoping that, throughout 2026 – in conjunction with Wrexham Carnival of Words and others – there’ll be projects to help NE Wales schools celebrate all of the above. And we’ve already established these resources on the Carnival’s website: https://wrexhamcarnivalofwords.com/1876-a-year-of-wonder/
And wouldn’t it be neat if some of the fabulous murals presently appearing around Wrexham could include one or two, perhaps on the side of the old Woolworths building in Argyle Street, to show how the 1876 Exhibition pavilion would have looked. Or for still more QR codes at each of the city centre’s 20 Wrexham Revealed Stopping Points, with a shortened version of the content.
Well, it’s all to play for! Email me if you need more details or you’d like to be with us on Wednesday afternoon, 15th January: davemccall@davidebsworth.org
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