Project Breathes New Life Into Wrexham Village

The £1.2 million pound second phase of a scheme to breathe new life into the heart of a Wrexham village has just completed its first two projects.

The Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) Phase 2 aims to help revitalise the centre of Cefn Mawr by bringing old buildings up to modern-day standards – while retaining their unique heritage and features. A total of 20 buildings have now been restored to their former glory – 18 as part of Phase One and two as part of the new Phase Two.

The latest buildings to be restored include a house on Well Street and another at Offa View, High Street.

The scheme is being managed by the Cefn Mawr Regeneration and Towncsape Heritage Initiative Partnership, with help from officers at Wrexham Council.

Councillor Derek Wright, chair of the partnership, said “Like every other building improved under this scheme, the properties on Well Street and High Street have been restored with pain-staking attention to original detail.

“The aim is to re-invigorate buildings – making them even better places to live or run a business from – while protecting their character and helping the village re-discover its heritage.”

The property in Well Street is a 19th century cottage. All of its original features have been reinstated, including traditional sash windows, traditional door, Cefn sandstone steps and a Welsh slate roof.

The house on Offa View is just a stone’s throw from the old Cefn Quarry – the source of stone for the nearby Pontcysyllte Aqueduct World Heritage Site.

Original features restored include wooden lead-lighted windows, cast-iron gutters, Welsh slate roof and an ornate Ruabon brick and terracotta boundary wall.

The THI is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Cadw, Welsh Government and Wrexham Council.