Historical & Derelict Former Pub Demolished to Make Way For Modern Flats

A derelict town centre building which fell into a state of disrepair has been demolished.

The former Red Cow Inn on Pen-y-Bryn had remained vacant for over a decade and in recent years had fallen into a considerable state of disrepair. Concerns that the building was at risk of collapsing have since been raised by many who trade and live in that area of town.

Demolition of the property began over the weekend and very little of the original structure remains.

@wrexham all thats left of The Red Cow pub Pen-y-Bryn more of Wrexham history gone pic.twitter.com/UDroUvmJt9

— Simon hall (@secondhand_shed) August 24, 2015

The site of the former Red Cow Inn will now be used for the erection of 24 modern flats and car parking, with planning permission for the development granted last year. The demolition of the Red Cow Inn has garnered a mixed response, with some voicing their relief over the removal of an ‘eyesore’ building. Others however have commented on the loss of another of Wrexham’s historical buildings. Speaking about loss of the building, Simon Hall, owner of the Secondhand Shed (located next to the former Red Cow Pub) told Wrexham.com: “I’m not happy about losing history but it needed to go as the owners had let it go into disrepair. “The new flats that have been built behind are really smart and if the same standard goes into the front it will tidy up the area. We just need the phone box opposite to go that will keep the drug users away as they are the only ones that use it.”

@wrexham the new flats behind the old Red Cow Pen-y-Bryn pic.twitter.com/xiIOjvXFRf — Simon hall (@secondhand_shed) August 24, 2015

The Red Cow Inn is the second ‘eyesore’ building on Pen-y-Bryn to be removed in recent months with the former Wrexham Motoring Supplies Stores suddenly collapsing into the street in January 2015.

Earlier this year Wrexham.com reported that the three storey building, located just across the road from the Red Cow Inn suddenly collapsed, resulting in the overnight closure of Pen-y-Bryn Road while the debris was cleared.

A few days later the remainder of the former Wrexham Motoring Supplies Store was demolished and the site has remained vacant and fenced off since.

Since the collapse of the building a number of comments about the current state of parts of Pen-y-Bryn have fallen under scrutiny – with many Wrexham residents and business owners calling for more to be done to help improve the area.

Over recent months there have been a number of applications submitted to regenerate parts of the Pen-y-Bryn area, with proposals submitted to convert a section of vacant retail space into housing.

In May 2015 planning permission was also granted to partially convert part of the former Swan pub into flats. The remainder of the building continues to be occupied by retail space.

A thread discussing the demolition of the Red Cow pub has since started on the Wrexham.com forums. You can take part in the debate here.

*Thanks to SteviesVlogs for sending us the image featured above!