Moss Valley, Wrexham

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Moss Valley is an area and country park in the county borough of Wrexham, in north east Wales ^[1]. The area is also informally known as "The Moss" and "The Aggey" amongst locals. It is most well known for its extensive coal mining history.

1 History
- 1.1 Thomas Telford
- 1.2 Collieries
2 Return to nature
3 Decline
4 Restoration
5 Photographs
6 Notes and references
7 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Thomas Telford

In 1796, a feeder reservoir lake was constructed in the Valley for an extension of the Ellesmere Canal under Thomas Telford. The canal was would have eventually served as an extension from Trevor Basin. This plan was abandoned in 1798. Reminants of the canal are still visible in nearby Gwersyllt, and a street in the village is named Heol Camlas (Welsh: Canal Way). It should be noted that Telford's lake is not the lake that is currently present in the valley. ^[2].

[edit] Collieries

Throughout the 19th Century and early 20th Century, the Moss Valley was the home to the Westminster Colliery in its northern end, and Gatewen Colliery at the southern end. The coal was distributed both locally and nationally through major railway links, much of which was built specifically for the distribution of goods. The colliery's railways were linked to neighbouring Great Western Railway lines. This originally was the Wheatsheaf Branch which ran from the Wheatsheaf Junction of the Chester line, then up a worked incline up Gwersyllt Hill, and then through the 220ft Summerhill Tunnel to Westminster Colliery. The line then continued through the other side of the valley through the 400ft Brymbo Tunnel, up a second worked incline to Brymbo Steelworks. The western portal of the Summerhill Tunnel is still visible as of 2008, although its eastern portal and both portals of the Brymbo tunnel have been buried. ^[3] In 1862 the GWR Ffrwd Branch from the Croesnewydd Junction was opened to transport railway traffic over a much more 'normal' terrain between the Chester line and Brymbo, replacing the Brymbo half of the Wheatsheaf Branch. A Moss Branch was later created from the Ffrwd Branch, making the Wheatsheaf Branch, its brake inclines and two tunnels defunct by 1908. ^[4] The Great Central Railway Brymbo Branch also ran through the valley, and the Moss Valley station is still visible.

Much of the local working force relied on these collieries for both income and fuel. Westminster Colliery closed in February 1925, but the remnants of the industry were not removed until the early 1970s. It closed mainly due to water leakage, but this was the beginning of a declining industry.^[5]

[edit] Return to nature

In the early 1970s, the area was reclaimed as a country park. The finished area was to include two lakes (one "north" boating lake complete with boat storage, and one "south" smaller lake which includes an island at the centre), a children's playground, public toilets, a golf club, facilities for fishing and various benches and picnic tables.

[edit] Decline

Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, the park was subject to a high level of vandalism. Many of the public features, including picnic benches, litter bins, gates and jetties, were forced to be removed after being in a state of beyond repair.

In the late 1990's, the boating on the north lake ceased. In 2001, the public toilets were closed in 2001. Any remaining vandalised facilities were also removed, including fishing plinths and park benches. The-then existing golf relocated from its existing site in the valley to just over the road, in the Moss Village. Public houses in the area also closed.

[edit] Restoration

However, in early 2004, the area was donated large grants to restore the environment. Both lakes were cleaned, and fishing was restricted to private permit holders only. Paths were given new surfaces, information signs and benches were erected, and bridges were repaired. The north former-boating lake was re-targeted towards conservation, and water plants were added to the water. Many species of fish and ducks can now be found in the lakes, a sure sign of an improvement. Many of the former railway trackbeds were transformed into nature walks, and steps were installed on banks. Gates and fences were erected to prevent the use of motor vehicles in the lake areas. However, both the toilets and former boat-house remain empty. Throughout 2005 and 2006, the original playground was dismantled and eventually replaced in 2007 (pictured below).

The area is now an official country park, and attracts many visitors including those interested in its industrial history and its wildlife amongst its waters and woodlands. It highly successful golf club still provides to its newer course, just over the road from the original one (now a free "pitch and putt" 9-hole course).