Dapol

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Dapol Ltd are a Welsh company which designs and manufacturers model railway products at its factory near Chirk in Wales close to the border with England.

The Dapol trading name is known throughout the World for its model railway products having purchased the moulds and designs from Airfix and also the former Hornby Dublo range from G & R Wrenn in 1993 as well as its own range of N scale and OO scale models. Unfortunately in 1994 while the company was moving to its previous location at Llangollen in North Wales a huge fire destroyed the old site at Northwich near Manchester, and large amounts of products and of historical Wrenn material were destroyed.

In 1996 Dapol sold many of its model railway lines to Hornby.

In 1998 the company came under the control of a new board of directors headed by the experienced George Smith.

In 2001 Dapol sold the little exploited Wrenn product line and trading name to three G & R Wrenn collectors.

For a period ending in 2001 Dapol also produced a wide range of Doctor Who models, many of which are now considered highly collectable. In 2002 the BBC caused considerable upset by declining to renew the licenses to make the Doctor Who products. Dapol also hosted the 'BBC Doctor Who Experience' exhibition until 2003.

In 2004 Dapol were awarded the prestigious award of 'UK Small Business of the Year'.