Funding boost for major Brymbo Ironworks restoration project

A project that will see a former iron and steel works restored for community use has received £300,000 from the Welsh Government.

The Brymbo Heritage Trust is set to transform Brymbo Ironworks, Steelworks and Fossil Forest site into a major tourist attraction.

Once complete, Stori Brymbo will offer a unique visitor attraction that moves from the humid, mossy swamp forests of 300 million years ago (the period when coal was formed), through the industrial processes on the site over time.

The Welsh Government announced this week that the project will be one of several across north east Wales to receive a share of funding through the Community Facilities Programme – a capital grant scheme which helps voluntary sector organisations make improvements to community facilities such as sports clubs and community halls for the benefit of the people they serve.

Brymbo Heritage Trust will receive £300,000 towards restoring and refurbishing the former iron and steel works machine shop for community use.

Cabinet Secretary for Culture and, Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt said: “The Community Facilities Programme is important in helping organisations improve facilities so local people can benefit from them in their day to day lives.

“Each recipient of support from the programme provides a crucial service to the people they serve and it is great the Welsh Government is able to help them do even more.”

In June the Brymbo Heritage Trust announced that it had received permission to start the project.

Over the next 12 months the Fossil Forest will be covered with a temporary structure and the process of excavating the fossilised trees and fauna will begin.

This will be a live excavation, allowing visitors to see the fossils being revealed before their eyes.

Works will also see the former Machine Shop building being repaired and the Heritage Area around it developed.

The other side of Phoenix Drive will be transformed into Lodge Valley Park – a unique parkland space for the community and visitors to enjoy.

Once complete Stori Brymbo will uniquely combine the stories of nature, industry and people in the area over time.

Speaking at the time Nicola Eaton Sawford, Chief Executive of Brymbo Heritage Trust, said clearing the final hurdle is “an emotional moment” for those involved in the project.

“Resolving all of the unique legal and commercial issues necessary to get this project underway has been tough and it’s taken time, but we’re there now,” said Nicola.

“It’s an incredibly emotional moment for the many people who have worked so hard over two decades to get us to where we are today.

“Every one of those people who played their part should be very proud today – they’ve helped a stoic community protect the unique heritage they cherish and they’ve helped Wrexham secure a huge tourism investment.

“This attraction will be unique in the world. What has been achieved here is truly remarkable.”