Famous Acton Dogs Digitally Preserved For Future Generations

A 195-year-old wooden dog housed in Wrexham Museum is being modernised and preserved for future generations thanks to engineers at Glyndŵr University.

Olivier Durieux and Arfon Hughes have taken a 3D scan of one of Wrexham’s four ‘Acton Dogs’ which has been in the Regent Street museum since 1998.

20 million points of the artefact were taken using advanced 3D modelling equipment to complete the scan, which will be used to create replica models of the dog.

The four Acton Dogs were carved by local joiner James Edwards in 1820 and stood overlooking the gateway to the historic Acton Estate.

Karen Harris, from Wrexham Museum and Archives, said: “We’ve been looking at ways of bringing the museum into the 21st century to keep it relevant to everyone and the dog is such an iconic landmark in Wrexham that we wanted to have the opportunity to tell people more about him.

“The original dog will always be housed behind glass here but as a result of the project, we’ll be able to replicate models of him to sell in the museum shop and produce a larger replica model which we can use to educate school groups.”

Olivier Durieux, senior lecturer in mechanical engineering at Glyndŵr University, led the scanning process, which took over four hours to complete.

He said: “Over time the dog has cracked but it’s all still intact and by taking a 3D model we can preserve it in case anything happens in future and it gets lost forever.

“The equipment we used was extremely advanced so we’ve managed to take a scan which is incredibly accurate.”

Acton Hall was one of the most important houses in Wrexham whose most famous resident was the notorious Hanging Judge Jeffreys.

The gateway to the home gained the name ‘The Dogs’ and later ‘The Four Dogs’ as the greyhounds became a symbol of the town.

Copies of the dogs were produced and still guard the entrance to the Acton Park estate today as a reminder of an important part of Wrexham’s local identity and heritage.

The Acton Dog is available to view at Wrexham Museum, from Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, and 11am to 4pm on Saturday and Bank Holiday Monday. Admission is free. For more information email [email protected] or call 01978 297460.