Middle Ages
In the early 8th century, Æthelbald King of Mercia, who reigned from 716 to 757, constructed Wat's Dyke; this 40-mile (64 km) long earthwork passes through the area and close to the western edge of the town.
Wrexham is not mentioned in the Domesday Book. It is first mentioned in 1161 when reference is made to a Norman motte and bailey castle at 'Wristlesham'
The town became part of the county of Denbighshire when it was created in 1536. Wrexham was divided into two distinct townships, Wrexham Regis (which was under the control of the King) and Wrexham Abbot (generally the older parts of the town, which originally belonged to Valle Crucis Abbey at nearby Llangollen).
During the English Civil War, Wrexham was on the side of the Royalists as most Welsh gentry supported the King, even though local landowner Sir Thomas Myddelton, owner of Chirk Castle gave his support to Parliament. Wrexham became the main town in the area and grew wealthy with its markets.
In the 17th century wool was woven and fulled in Wrexham. After wool was woven it was cleaned and thickened by pounding it in a mixture of clay and water. This was called fulling. After it dried the wool was dyed.
Read more about this topic: History Of Wrexham
Famous quotes related to middle ages:
“Of all the barbarous middle ages, that
Which is most barbarous is the middle age
Of man! it is—I really scarce know what;
But when we hover between fool and sage,
And don’t know justly what we would be at—
A period something like a printed page,
Black letter upon foolscap, while our hair
Grows grizzled, and we are not what we were.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)