, also known as the Library Field, is a green space in the centre of

Wrexham Wrexham ( ; ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in the North East Wales, north-east of Wales. It lies between the Cambrian Mountains, Welsh mountains and the lower River Dee, Wales, Dee Valley, near the England–Wales border, borde ...

. It is surrounded on two sides by the city's

guildhall A guildhall, also known as a guild hall or guild house, is a historical building originally used for tax collecting by municipalities or merchants in Europe, with many surviving today in Great Britain and the Low Countries. These buildings commo ...

and on another by the library. The space is most popular with students from the nearby

Yale College Yale College is the undergraduate college of Yale University. Founded in 1701, it is the original school of the university. Although other Yale schools were founded as early as 1810, all of Yale was officially known as Yale College until 1887, ...

. It is home to a bandstand and often hosts outdoor events and activities. All ball games and alcohol are banned on Llwyn Isaf. Wrexham Council run a webcam that is pointed at the grass.

History

The green space was originally the landscaped grounds of a mansion house known as . This house was said to have been present here by 1700, and would take up the space the

Guildhall A guildhall, also known as a guild hall or guild house, is a historical building originally used for tax collecting by municipalities or merchants in Europe, with many surviving today in Great Britain and the Low Countries. These buildings commo ...

and Wrexham Library now stand. By 1715, during the Wrexham riots, there are records that a large pond called the "Great Pool" () was located at the end of these grounds adjoining the rears of the buildings along Chester Street. The house on the site was later named ''Llwyn Isaf'' (meaning "lower grove") by 1800, and later became a vicar's home by 1830, being leased to then Vicar of Wrexham, George Cunliffe, son of Robert Cunliffe of Acton Hall. Cunliffe subsequently bought the house, and following his death the house became a

vicarage A clergy house is the residence, or former residence, of one or more priests or Minister (Christianity), ministers of a given religion, serving as both a home and a base for the occupant's ministry. Residences of this type can have a variety of n ...

. The original gateway to Llwyn Isaf is the opening next to Chester Street and the library's car park. Up until 1939, the house potentially served as an extension to the nearby girls' school. Following

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the area was proposed by Crosville Motor Services to be surfaced over in tarmac and a bus station constructed on the site, which would have meant the destruction of the park. The house was purchased by the local council in the early 1950s, becoming a temporary home of the local library, but was subsequently demolished to be replaced by the Guildhall. The Guildhall's construction also faced opposition due to fears Llwyn Isaf park would be destroyed in the process. Llwyn Isaf green now lies at the centre of Wrexham's civic centre just off Queen's Square. The Wrexham Library is to the green's northern side, leading it to also be called the "Library Field". The field is popular with students from nearby

. The field has a bandstand that is also popular with the city's students. The 1912 Wrexham National Eisteddfod and the 2025 Wrexham National Eisteddfod were proclaimed here. With the 1912 proclamation having

David Lloyd George David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor (17 January 1863 – 26 March 1945) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1916 to 1922. A Liberal Party (United Kingdom), Liberal Party politician from Wales, he was known for leadi ...

in attendance, and the target of criticism from

suffragettes A suffragette was a member of an activist women's organisation in the early 20th century who, under the banner "Votes for Women", fought for women's suffrage, the right to vote in public elections in the United Kingdom. The term refers in part ...

on the Liberal government's opposition on

Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom A movement to fight for women's right to vote in the United Kingdom finally succeeded through acts of Parliament in 1918 and 1928. It became a national movement in the Victorian era. Women were not explicitly banned from voting in Great Brita ...

. The following year's eisteddfod, for 1913, was also proclaimed here for it to take place in

Abergavenny Abergavenny (; , , archaically , ) is a market town and Community (Wales), community in Monmouthshire, Wales. Abergavenny is promoted as a "Gateway to Wales"; it is approximately from the England–Wales border, border with England and is loca ...

. The Welsh

Children in Need ''BBC Children in Need'' is the BBC's UK Charitable organization, charity dedicated to supporting disadvantaged children and young people across the country. Established in 1980, the organisation has raised over £1 billion by 2023 through its ...

concert was held at this location in 2005.

References

External links

Wrexham County Borough Council

Wrexham.comLive webcam Of Llwyn Isaf
{{coord, 53.047741, -2.993057, display=title Wrexham Parks in Wrexham County Borough