Not strictly 1876 or Wrexham, but while I was researching the background to my second Wrexham Victorian crime novel, Death Along the Dee, I came across this slightly strange - and vaguely related - story. During the English Civil Wars, Royalist Chester (England, of course) had been besieged by Cromwell's Parliamentarians from July 1643 until … [Read more...] about 1867’s Raid On Chester Castle
Victorian Crime
Settings and interesting trivia arising from the author's twelfth novel, Blood Among the Threads, set in Wrexham during the town's "anno mirabilis", 1876.
Wrexham’s Great Art Treasures Exhibition, 1876
The year had an interesting beginning - the Football Association of Wales established at the town's Wynnstay Hotel. And then there were the visits by George Pinder's Continental Circus and a memorable Horticultural Show, the first to be held in town for almost ten years. But in July 1876, Wrexham saw the most memorable event of the entire … [Read more...] about Wrexham’s Great Art Treasures Exhibition, 1876
Alfred Neobard Palmer
I remember plainly how I first stumbled across Alfred Neobard Palmer. I was writing the final part of my Yale Trilogy and was searching for significant events which might have taken place in Wrexham during 1715. This search led me to a book with the lengthy title, A History of the Older NonConformity of Wrexham and its Neighbourhood, being the … [Read more...] about Alfred Neobard Palmer
1876, Viper Bites
Viper Bite Fatalities A couple of early readers queried my inclusion of a death by adder bite in the opening pages of Blood Among the Threads - and whether such things ever actually happened. Well, of course, we all know that this was exactly what killed Ragnar Lodbrok, wasn't it? Maybe more relevant, I was lucky to come across the review … [Read more...] about 1876, Viper Bites
1876, Wrexham’s High Street
For Blood Among The Threads, we needed to recreate at least most of the shops along Wrexham's High Street in 1876, like this... My favourite? J.F. Edisbury's pharmacy, at Number Three. He sells medications, ginger beers, and much more, including special “Wrexham Exhibition” souvenir versions of (a) his special pomade, Wrexham … [Read more...] about 1876, Wrexham’s High Street