Wrexham’s Christmas Ale Of 1858

Looking back into the archives of newspapers published locally we have discovered the first mention of Father Christmas and associated events in 1858.

The two mentions from an edition of the now defunct Wrexham Advertiser (below) detail an annual show of Christmas Cakes on Hope Street, and Christmas ale being served in the Nags Head 156 years ago.

The two hundred gallons of ale equates to around 1600 pints of ‘splendid beverage’.

Hotel Keepers, Inn Keepers and private family orders were also encouraged for barrels, half barrels and casks of the ale to help lubricate the festive period of 1858.

A new business was also opening ‘four doors from the market hall’ on High Street, selling boots and shoes.

To give this a date context, the chimes of Big Ben were still several months from being rung for the first time, Charles Dickens was finishing up writing A Tale Of Two Cities and the internal combustion engine was just being invented.