National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Wrexham Local Events
A miscellany of events including demolition, building, and preparations for war with the distribution of gas masks in August 1939 and white line painting on roads/pavements.
From the collection of:
Overview
Change was on the cards in Wrexham 1938-40. The Cobden Flour Mill chimney was demolished along with the historic Town Hall and adjoining Hand Inn which sold Wrexham Lager on draught; the Grove Park Amateur Dramatic Society built a shed (headquarters), learning the value of spades; gas masks were distributed, as war approached, and white lines were painted on roads, pavements and car bonnets in preparation for black-outs.
Included on the end of this reel are some shots which appear to show Wrexham streets after the war, a banner heralding a football match 'Wales v Switzerland'. Wales played Switzerland on 26/5/1949 at a 'Friendly' match in Switzerland and lost, 4-0. They played another 'Friendly' against Switzerland on 16/5/1951 in Wales (Wrexham) and won 3-2. Much Wrexham Lager was probably drunk on both days, brewed by German immigrants from 1883 onwards in the first lager brewery in the UK. This lager was supplied to the White Star shipping line so bottles of it were available on board the Titanic. The brewery closed in 2000 but the lager has been revived and has been brewed in the town again since 2011.