A FINANCE firm has launched an appeal with help from the daughter of a former Wrexham Brewery worker to find hidden treasures from the iconic building’s history.
The owners of Wrexham-based Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management have signed a lease on the original Wrexham Lager brew house on the edge of Central Retail Park and have started a major transformation project to turn it into state-of-the-art finance offices.
The team are keen to help preserve as much of the building’s history as possible and would like to showcase photos, artefacts, and other items from the brewery business as part of a celebration of its contribution to the town.
Dominic Richmond, Hadlow Edwards Operations Director who is overseeing the move to the new site, said: “We are all very excited to be moving in to the fantastic Wrexham Brewery building which is such a treasured landmark for the town.
“When you take over the lease for a historical building like this, you feel a certain sense of duty to look after its history and preserve it in some way for generations to come.
“While we are carrying out an extensive and modern refurbishment of the entire building, we do not want to lose sight of its heritage and hence why we are on a bit of a mission to find anyone who has old photos, artefacts and memories from the brewery in its hey-day to get in touch.
“We are exploring ideas of how best to incorporate the history of the brewery in our own extensive redecoration of the building.”
Dominic’s chance meeting with Hilary Neil-Williams, whose late father Leslie Neil of Hightown worked at the brewery, sparked the idea for an appeal.
Hilary was passing the brewery building when she noticed Dominic there and the pair spoke about Hadlow Edwards’ plans for the site.
Hilary, who was born and brought up in Wrexham and now lives back in the town after living abroad in Germany, Canada and Brunei with her husband Neil who was in the British Army’s REME Corps for 25 years, said: “It was strange really because I had been on my way back from Wrexham Museum to see if they wanted an old picture of the brewery which my Dad had but they already had a copy so I am delighted I happened to see Dominic and have been pleased to donate the picture to Hadlow Edwards for display once the offices are finished.
“My Dad was based in the brew house where he looked after and helped maintain the machines. He was there for 24 years and I know he made a lot of good friends there.
“My mum drove, which was quite unusual in those days, and we only had one car so I remember quite often getting in the car and going up there to pick my Dad up. My sister and I would be in our Pyjamas. I remember the smell of the hops and I liked the smell and still do because it reminds me of going to pick my Dad up.
“He always had white overalls on and that distinguished them as workers from the brew house.
“When we moved my parents from our family home in to a flat, it needed quite a lot of redecoration and we used my Dad’s old overalls to do the painting!
“We also used one of the brewery lager barrels as a kennel for our family dog – Cleo a Labrador!
“My Dad was very proud of the brew they created there and enjoyed drinking it himself. He always enjoyed lager as a drink.”
Leslie, a grandfather-of-three, passed away in November 2015 aged 77 at Nightingale House Hospice.
Hilary said: “I was pleased to learn that Hadlow Edwards are a supporter of the hospice because the kindness and compassion they showed my family when my Dad was poorly will never be forgotten.
“Nothing was too much trouble during what was such a sad and difficult time for us.
“My Dad was a fantastic and very sociable person so losing him was extremely hard.
“The hospice is such an important place for Wrexham to have and it is good to hear that local businesses like Hadlow Edwards are doing their bit to support it.”
Hilary said she was also pleased to learn of Hadlow Edwards’ plans for the brewery site and added: “It’s terrific to know that such a well-established and reputable local firm is going to be taking it over and looking after it.
“My Dad would have been really proud to see it and it is important to me and my family that Hadlow Edwards are going to help preserve it in this way for many more years to come.”
Do you have memories, photos or artefacts which relate to the Wrexham Lager Brewery? Contact Claire Garner on 01244 680385 or [email protected]
