SOME ROSSETT HISTORY

Promises, promises

My wife said she had copious notes on the history of Rossett. She also said she knew exactly where they were.

They still haven't appeared . . . . but let's start a Timeline anyway from information gleaned from the Web and elsewhere!

A Timeline

11th Century
1086	The Lower Mill mentioned in the Domesday Book
15th Century
1474	The Upper Mill is built
16th Century
1576	There is some evidence to suggest that the building of Trevalyn Hall was started by John Trevor III
17th Century
1620	Reference in a written survey that a knight known as Richard Trevor held a chapel at Yr Orsedd Goch in Allington called the chapel of St Peter. This had a piece of common land adjoining it which was 140 feet long and 72 feet wide. This is now the children's playground opposite Rossett Hall.
1661	Upper Mill (Rossett Mill) extended and renovated, replacing the earlier one.
1675	Plans were made to build a road from Rossett to Holt. Apparently the two main obstacles were boggy ground and the need to build a bridge across the Alyn, just beyond Allington, that was capable of carrying fully laden wagons.
19th Century
1840	The parish of Rossett was formed out of the parish of Gresford, comprising the Denbighshire townships of Allington (Trefalun) and Burton, and the detached Flintshire townships of Marford and Hoseley
1841	The new parish church was built and consecrated as Christ Church. It was said to have been of "somewhat eccentric design, both inside and out"
1846	Rossett Station built by GWR.
1859	Village School built in Station Road - and extended in 1860!
1862	Burton School built Hafod Alyn (Strathalyn) built
1870	Heating using hot water pipes introduced into Christ Church
1875	Foundation stone of new Presbyterian Chapel laid by American Evangelist Mr D L Moody.
1877	Presbyterian Chapel completed
1881	Cocoa Rooms (Rossett Institute) built
1890	Congregational Chapel built in Lavister
1891	Foundation stone of a completely new parish church was laid on 1st May.
1892	New parish church consecrated on All Saints Day
20th Century
1911	Church Hall built on Station Road
1921	The new bridge over the Alyn was opened on 16th July
1940	Burton School closes
1950	New school built in Chapel Lane to replace the old one in Station Road
1955	Old Village School in Station Road demolished - now the Car Park
1956	Rossett Station's buildings demolished (station axed by Beeching in the 60's)
1960	Rossett Signal Box opened more details and a picture here
1972	Roman Catholic Church built on corner of Harwoods Lane Lower Mill renovated and converted into offices (now BASC)
1974	Rossett moves from Denbighshire to Clwyd
1986	Rossett Signal Box closed!
1996	Rossett moves from Clwyd to Wrexham County Borough
1998	Horace Jones Ironmongers closes

Odds & Ends

Harwoods Lane
was once called Harry Witts Lane and also, perhaps, Heriot Lane.

The Golden Lion
was reputed to have been haunted by 'Old Jeffrey' who was hanged for murder in Ruthin and his body sent to Rossett to be gibbeted. A wooden palette was used which afterwards was used in the construction of the Inn.

Can you help?

Do you have any details of the history of Rossett? Do you know any of the history of the Upper and Lower Mills? What about Trevalyn Hall? When was the bridge over the Alyn originally built and when was the "modern" one built?

What to Do

Apart from helping my wife to find her notes, perhaps you have some details that we can use to chronicle the history of our village. If you have, and you would like us to publish them, send them to the Webmaster at the address on the Contact Page.

If you have such information stored on a computer, perhaps you could Email it to me at .

Note that all items to be published must be copyright free - ie your own pictures, or you have permission to "publish" the information.

Your Name on the Web

All pictures, photographs and information published on the web will be accredited to you, unless you specifically request to remain "anonymous".

Getting your items back

If you are sending photographs, pictures, articles etc. through the post, don't forget to enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope, so they can be returned to you. If you live close by in the village, perhaps I might cycle round to return them personally!