Based at one of Wrexham’s landmark buildings on Regent Street, Wrexham Heritage & Archives Service is responsible for the county borough’s museums and archives.
Wrexham County Borough Museum & Archives is the starting point for discovering the eventful history of this region on the Welsh-English border.
The Museum’s displays and collections tell the stories of our local communities and their place in Wales and the wider world from prehistory up to the present day.
The Archives are the place to research the history of your family, your home, your neighbourhood and those of your ancestors.
Wrexham Heritage & Archives Service, aided by volunteers and partner organisations, is also responsible for Bersham Colliery Headgear, Bersham Ironworks Holt Castle, Minera Lead Mines and Penrhos Engine House.
Facilities
- Museum Galleries
- Local Studies & Archives search room
- The Courtyard Café: Caffi’r Cowt – coffees, pastries, sandwiches, soups and a range of light meals featuring some of the area’s best food
- Souvenir Shop
- Wheelchair access
- Toilets
- Blue badge holder parking on site
- Venue hire
Wrexham County Borough Museum & ArchivesCounty Buildings, Regent StreetWrexhamLL11 1RB
Tel: 01978 297 460
About the Museum Building
Our museum is based in County Buildings built in 1857 as a barracks for the Denbighshire Militia. The architect was Thomas Penson.
The militia kept their armoury upstairs in what is now Court Room 1 including guns and ammunition which had previously been held at Chester Castle.
Militia officers lived in the building, whilst the squaddies were billeted in houses around town. They would train for one month per year.
By 1877 the militia had moved to the newly opened Hightown Barracks and County Buildings re-opened as the town’s Police Station and Magistrates Court in 1879 following some remodelling both internally and externally.
The Denbighshire Constabulary were based on the ground floor of the building, with cells built to accommodate prisoners, including drunk and disorderly.
The 1901 census tells us three prisoners were held overnight. It doesn’t tell us what they were in for though!
Following the removal of North Wales Police to Bodhyfryd in 1976-77, County Buildings lay empty until it became part of the local art college and opened as a brand new museum in 1996 and underwent a major refurbishment in 2010 – 2011.
Friends of Wrexham Museum
The objectives and aims of the Friends are to promote, support and assist in all aspects the work of Wrexham County Borough Council’s Museums and Heritage Services.
The Friends is a charitable trust and as such is run according to rules laid down by the Charity Commissioners. It is not part of the Council but a private body run by its members. The members elect from their number a small committee to run the organisation.
Officers
Chairman: Sandra Allen
Vice-chairman: Carolyn McKenzie
Treasurer: Rebecca Wright
Secretary: Robin Bendon
Annual Subscription Rates
Adult Individual £15
Adult Couple £22.50
Concession Individual £10
Concession Couple £15
Corporate £30
Visitor Donation £3