Penycae

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Penycae
Denbighshire
Penycae st-thomas.jpg
St Thomas' Parish Church
Location
Grid reference: SJ274453
Location: 53°0’0"N, 3°4’60"W
Data
Post town: Wrexham
Postcode: LL14
Dialling code: 01978
Local Government
Council: Wrexham
Parliamentary
constituency:
Clwyd South

Penycae is a village and parish in Denbighshire to the south-west of Wrexham.

History

The village forms part of the ancient parish of Ruabon and the district was known as Dynhinlle Uchaf (but also known as Y Dref Fechan or Cristionydd Fechan).

The parish of Penycae was formed 1879, from parts of the existing parishes of Ruabon, Rhosllanerchrugog and Rhosymedre. The parish church of St Thomas had been consecrated in 1878. However, most of the population of the parish were nonconformists and attended the Baptist chapels of Salem and Sion in Groes; the Calvinistic Methodist chapels in Groes and Tainant; the Wesleyan chapel of Soar in Stryt Issa; or the Primitive Methodist chapel in Copperas.

Industry/employment

The Penycae Upper Reservoir

Coal was extracted from pits at Plas Bennion, Wynn Hall, Afon Eitha, Cristionydd, Groes and Plas Isaf. Zinc was worked at Copperas.

Most inhabitants find employment outside the village in Wrexham with only a few local shops or public buildings providing jobs.

Dee Valley Water operates two reservoirs in Penycae: Penycae Upper and Penycae Lower.

Transport

Wright & Son, ran a bus service from Penycae to Wrexham via Rhos, and later via Ponciau also. When the bus industry was de-regulated in 1986 there was fierce competition between Wright's and the much larger Crosville company. Wrights', the last surviving independent local company, ceased operations in 1993 leaving Crosville as the sole service provider in the Wrexham area.

Notable residents

  • The Wales and Bolton Wanderers footballer, Robert Roberts, was born in Penycae in July 1864.[1]

References

  1. Davies, Gareth; Garland, Ian (1991). Who's Who of Welsh International Soccer Players. Bridge Books. p. 180. ISBN 1-872424-11-2. 

Bibliography

  • Dennis W Gilpin, "Rhosllannerchrugog, Johnstown, Ponciau, Pen-y-cae, a collection of pictures - Volume I" (1991)
  • Dennis W Gilpin, "Rhosllannerchrugog, Johnstown, Ponciau, Pen-y-cae, a collection of pictures - Volume II" (1992)
  • Colin Gibbs, "Clatter of Clogs" (1990)

Outside links