Heritage Events &amp; Exhibitions

Make your own historic toy soldiers in this gallery activity for 7-11 year olds. FREE. Donations welcome.

Young Prospector’s Explorer Trail

Until September 1st 2008

Venue: Minera Lead Mines

Get ready to explore Minera Lead Mines with our children’s activity trail. Start the trail at the Visitor Centre.

Money Makers

August 4th – September 1st 2008

Try your hand at making money inspired by John Wilkinson’s tokens. Suitable for children aged 5-11. FREE

Mentioned in Dispatches

Until September 6th 2008

From long before Balaclava Ned to the war in Iraq, Wrexham people have served in the armed forces. This exhibition includes over a hundred years of military memorabilia from the museum collections and stories about the daring dos of Wrexham’s many wartime heroes.

The Tomb Builders: Wales 4000-3000BC

September 22nd – December 15th 2008

Megalithic tombs have stood for thousands of years, yet they keep their meanings hidden. This major exhibition explores the lives of the people who built these great tombs through the evidence they left behind.

In association with the Department of Archaeology & Numismatics, Amgueddfa Cymru ~ National Museum Wales.

Return of the Tomb Builders

Saturday 4th October 2008, 11.00am – 3.00pm

Travel back in time six thousand years. Witness the skills of our ancestors. Handle the tools they would have used. Suitable for adults and children. FREE.

In association with Ancient Arts.

Big Draw

Saturday 11th October 2008, 11am – 3pm

Get in touch with your artistic side. Just drop into the museum and let your imagination run wild. Local artist, Andy Leigh, will be on hand to help children and adults. FREE.

Trail of the Ancients

October 25th – November 1st 2008

Follow the trail around the Tomb Builders exhibition. Suitable for children aged 7-11. FREE.

Spooky Stories

Friday 31st October 2008, 6.00 - 7.00pm

Listen to spooky stories at the Haunted Heritage Centre. Prizes for the best Hallowe’en costumes. Admission is free. Suitable for children aged 5-11. FREE.

Family History: A Beginner’s Guide

Tuesday 4th November 2008, 6.00pm – 8.00pm (Also available: Monday 10th November, Thursday 20th November and Tuesday 25th November.)

Get some advice on how to research your family tree and what sources are available. Strictly for beginners. Advance booking essential. Phone 01978 317 973 to book your place.

The Thought That Counts

December 1st – 23rd 2008

Gallery activity for children – make your own Christmas cards inspired by the stained glass windows of Wrexham. FREE

The Tomb Builders: Life and Death in Neolithic Wales

Tuesday 2nd December 2008 7.0pm

Steve Burrow, Curator of Neolithic Archaeology at National Museum Wales, shares his knowledge of Wales’ megalithic tombs and what they tell us about the people who built them. Places are limited. Book ahead to guarantee your place. FREE.

From Coal to Carnations: The Evolution of Plants

January 10th – April 18th 2009

Brymbo Fossil Forest is currently the most important geological site in north-east Wales. Find out why fossils are central to uncovering the amazing history of plants and discover why Brymbo Fossil Forest is so important.

In association with the Grosvenor Museum, Chester and NEWRIGS.

Money Makers

April 4th – 19th 2009 (Also available May 23rd – 31st 2009)

Try your hand at making money inspired by John Wilkinson’s tokens. Suitable for children aged 5-11. FREE

Stories from the Deep

April 15th 2009, 10.30am – 12.30pm

Do you enjoy storytelling? Do you like using your imagination? Take part in this special creative writing workshop for children aged 7-11. Limited places - Booking essential. FREE.

Black, White and Shades of Grey

Saturday April 25th, 12.30 – 2.0opm

Do you enjoy storytelling or expressing your thoughts and feelings through writing. Take part in this special creative writing workshop for adults. Limited places - Booking essential. FREE.

Dinosaurs In Your Garden

May 5th – July 5th 2009

You thought the dinosaurs were extinct. They aren’t. They are living in your garden. This touring exhibition from the Department of Geology at the National Museum in Cardiff explores the links between dinosaurs and modern birds.

In association with Amgueddfa Cymru ~ National Museum Wales

Lovespoons for Lovers

Saturday 24th January 2009 11.00am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-2.30pm

Ted McKay demonstrates the traditional craft of lovespoon making and explains the symbolism behind each spoon.

Fossil Fun

February 14th - 21st 2009

Children’s trail exploring the plants and fossils in the ‘From Coal to Carnations’ exhibition. Suitable for children aged 7-11. FREE.

Fossils Fantastic

Wednesday 18th February 2009, 10.30am – 1.00pm

A special event for anyone who likes fossils. Bring along your fossils to show to other people and to get them identified. FREE.

Tales from Wales

Thursday 19th February 2009, 10.30am – 12noon

Storytelling for children aged 7-11 inspired the legends and history of Wales. FREE.

Buried Beneath Brymbo: The Fascinating Fossil Forest

Tuesday 3rd March 2009 7.00pm & Saturday 7th March 2009 11.00am

Venue: Wrexham County Borough Museum

Jacqui Malpas and Peter Appleton have both been closely involved in the excavation of Brymbo’s fossil forest. They reveal what has been found and why the site is so important in this two-part talk. Places are limited. Book ahead to guarantee your place. FREE.

Wales Women’s History Roadshow

Saturday 28th March 2009 12noon – 3.30pm

Bring along your letters, diaries, photographs and other memorabilia and discover women’s heritage with our expert historians and archivists. Make your story part of our history.

In association with the Women’s Archive of Wales

Fossil Fun

April 4th -18th 2009

Children’s trail exploring the plants and fossils in the ‘From Coal to Carnations’ exhibition. Suitable for children aged 7-11. FREE.

Eggstravanganza Egg boxes

Tuesday April 7th 2009, 10.30am – 12noon

Make an eggstra special egg box for that eggstra special person! Suitable for 7-11 year olds. Cost: £1

Milestones: Gods and Mortals

Thursday April 16th 2009, 10.30am – 12.30pm

Mosaic making in an art workshop inspired by the Romans. Suitable for 7 – 11 year olds. Cost: £2

Dinomodels

May 5th – 30th 2009

Make your own dinosaurs inspired by the ‘Dinosaurs In Your Garden’ exhibition. Suitable for children aged 6-12. FREE. Donations welcome.

Treading On the Toes of Dinosaurs

May 5th – July 5th 2009

Pick up a copy of our special children’s dinosaur activity booklet packed full of facts, puzzles and things to do. FREE. Donations welcome.

Climbing Your Family Tree

Thursday 21st May 2009 7.30pm

Learn the first steps to researching your family history. Advanced booking essential. Phone 01978 317973 to reserve your place.

Roamin’ Romans

Saturday 30th May 2009, 11.00am – 3.00pm

The Roman Legionaries are coming to Wrexham and they won’t be taking any prisoners. Be at the museum or risk being put to the sword.

In association with Romans Tours Ltd and Deva Victrix, the Roman re-enactment society from Chester.

Galena Galore

July 16th - August 31st 2009

Venue: Minera Lead Mines

New for 2009: Minera Lead Mines comes alive with our new hands-on activities for younger visitors. Ask for details at the Visitor Centre.

The Ingenious Inventor

Sunday 26th July 2009, 11.00 – 12.30pm

John Wilkinson, the Iron Mad inventor, changed history with his inventions. He also had a colourful private life. Learn his full story in this new guided tour of his ironworks. Watch out for appearances by Mrs Wilkinson and Anne, his mistress! Adults only. Limited places. FREE.

The Ingenious Inventor

Sunday 26th July 2009, 2.00 – 3.30pm

John Wilkinson was a great inventor, but business never ran smoothly. Hear about the trouble he had with pirates, spies, the mob and most of all – his brother. Watch out for appearances by Mrs Wilkinson! Suitable for all the family. Limited places. FREE.

History Alive!

Sunday 2nd August 2009

Look out for news of Wrexham’s new living history event for all the family

Coal Miners’ Community Days

Saturday 19th September 2009 & Sunday 20th September 2009, 1.00pm - 4.30pm

If you or your family have connections to coal mining, come along to Bersham Heritage Centre. There’ll be a chance to see the coal mining exhibition, touch and handle the coal mining artefacts, share stories and enjoy good company.

Spooky Stories

Saturday 31st October 2009, 6.00 - 7.00pm

Link to Events for Children

Listen to spooky stories at the Haunted Heritage Centre. Prizes for the best Hallowe’en costumes. Admission is free. Suitable for children aged 5-11. FREE.

For all children's events, please phone 01978 317 970 and book ahead to guarantee a place

For all children’s events, please phone 01978 317 970 and book ahead to guarantee a place.

- Wrexham County Museum

Look out for changes in the galleries: new displays on the themes of 'Home Life' and 'Work Life'

Look out for changes in the galleries: new displays on the themes of 'Home Life' and 'Work Life'.

- Wrexham County Museum

Whist we have done our best to ensure that all information contained in this programme is correct at time of publication, Wrexham County Borough Council cannot be held responsible for any changes, errors or omissions

Permanent Exhibitions

The Iron Man of Industry: John Wilkinson, Wales & the Wider World

John Wilkinson was a pioneer of the Industrial Revolution and Bersham was the site of his greatest achievements. In this exhibition you can find out about his inventions, why it all happened here and enjoy the many stories, both fact and fiction, involving Wilkinson and his workforce.

Sharp as Steel, Tough as Iron: The Story of Brymbo

Venue: Bersham Heritage Centre

Brymbo Steelworks was the heart and soul of a community for nearly two hundred years. Created in partnership with the Brymbo Heritage Group, this exhibition brings old Brymbo back to life, explains how the steelworks operated and remembers the lives of the steelworkers and the community they created.

Exhibitions

Gadgets and Gizmos

July 21st – September 21st 2008

If you are mad about gadgets and gizmos, then you have to see Maurice Collins’s amazing collection. Only chance to see this touring exhibition in Wales.

A Welsh Connection - A Visual Response

September 29th – October 31st 2008

Local artists Margaret and Boris Tietze interpret the lives of John Wilkinson, Judge Jefferies and the Ladies of Llangollen through art. Prepare to be intrigued and surprised.

Bersham Heritage Centre will be closed during the winter months.

Coal Mining in North Wales

April 3rd – October 31st 2009

Coal has shaped the landscape and the people of Wrexham and the mining villages to its west. What was it like to be a miner in the 19th century? How did the working practices and lives of the colliers change during the 20th century? Explore this important history through film, witness, historic artefacts, and activities in this special exhibition.

Collectors’ Case

Are you a collector? Do you have a private collection that you would like to share with others? We can help you showcase your collection in the museum. Contact the Access & Interpretation Officer on 01978 317 970 to talk about your collection and to plan its display.

Talks & Demonstrations

All talks and demonstrations take place in the Education Room at Wrexham County Borough Museum. Please phone 01978 317970 for access information.

Booking is essential for all evening events. The museum reserves the right to refuse access to people who have not booked.