Key Kabin

Great bit of Charles St history from the Wrexham Museums page! Looks odd seeing the corner of the street with no Kabin in the pic, but very interesting to see how its changed 😎. Go follow their page if you like local history! Thanks to Cub for the heads up 🖖

Beginners' Guide to the History of Wrexham

Someone from outside the area might not realize from this photograph that Charles Street is now one of Wrexham’s most attractive streets (apart from the neglected Bumbles that awaits a more caring owner). Charles St was originally known as Beast Market Street, as it led from the produce markets in High Street to the farm animals on sale in the Beast Market (now St George’s Crescent), and the field beyond, known as Cae’r Cigyddion, where the butchers pursued their trade.

No one knows the origins of the current street name. It didn’t come into use until a century after the reign of Charles II, let alone Charles I. It seems unlikely despite the town’s Jacobite tendencies that they would name a street after Bonnie Prince Charlie. Were there any other important Charleses in 18th century Wrexham to explain the choice?

Picture: The bill posters on the left announce a Landscape Art exhibition in the Council Chamber (of all places!), a travelling circus coming to Bellevue Park, a motorcycle scramble and Jack and the Beanstalk as the town’s panto; late 1947/early 1948.

Image courtesy of Wrexham Archives