Geography

Acton Park is a residential area in the Welsh county borough of Wrexham. It neighbours other communities such as Borras, Rhosddu and Garden Village. Acton Park itself is a landscaped Parkland with mature specimen trees and gently undulating expanses of grass areas with recent tree planting. There are also areas of ornamental shrubberies, and wild bulb planting. It is often referred to locally as Acton. This article is about the country. ... Wrexham is a county borough in northern Wales. ... Acton, or Acton Park as it is sometimes referred to is a community in the Wrexham County Borough of Wales. ...

Acton estate

The lake provides the centre feature of the park. It was originally constructed using puddled clay in the 18th Century but during the 1970's, the pond was drained and butyl lined. Fishing is popular on the lake with platforms provided for disabled anglers. (The lake is closed for fishing during the Wildfowl nesting period). A wetland area exists and supports a diverse range of wildlife. (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Fishing is the activity of hunting for fish by hooking, trapping, or gathering animals not classifiable as insects which breathe in water or pass their lives in water. ... Falcated Duck at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands centre, Gloucestershire, England Wildfowl or waterfowl, also waterbirds, is the collective term for the approximately 147 species of swans, geese and ducks, classified in the order Anseriformes, family Anatidae. ... A subtropical wetland in Florida, USA, with an endangered American Crocodile. ...

A designated area managed to benefit wildlife as one of the Wrexham Bio-diversity Action Plan 'Urban Green Space' areas. Native wild meadow flowers have been planted to the existing grass to assist in providing habitats for insects and other fauna , increasing the bio-diversity of the parkland.

Park history

Acton Park lake, January 2007.

The park land was originally laid out in 1785 by the landowner Sir Foster Cunliffe. The whole park was enclosed within a stone wall and were the grounds of Acton Hall. Acton was designed by James Wyatt (For Cunliffe). Many of the beautiful mature specimen trees which survive today were planted at this time and the general park layout and picturesque positioning of the lake were part of the original park layout. Acton Hall in Wrexham was the birthplace of George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys of Wem, PC (May 15, 1645 – April 18, 1689), better known as Judge Jefferies or The Hanging Judge, became notorious during the reign of King James II, rising to the position of Lord Chancellor (and serving as...

The estate did not remain within the Cunliffe family ownership and has passed through several owners throughout the years. The Jeffreys family lived at Acton Hall in the 17th century. The most famous member of the family being the notorious Hanging Judge Jeffreys, He gained his nickname because of the punishment he handed out at the trials of the supporters of the Duke of Monmouth. In 1688 when James II fled the country, Jeffreys was placed in the Tower of London for his own safety. He died there the following year at 44 of kidney disease. Judge Jeffreys's ghost is said to haunt Acton Park as he does with many of the homes that he lived in. Acton Hall in Wrexham was the birthplace of George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys of Wem, PC (May 15, 1645 – April 18, 1689), better known as Judge Jefferies or The Hanging Judge, became notorious during the reign of King James II, rising to the position of Lord Chancellor (and serving as... James Crofts, later Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, 1st Duke of Buccleuch (April 9, 1649–July 15, 1685) recognised by some as James II of England and James VII of Scotland, was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the son of Charles II and his mistress, Lucy Walter, who... James II can refer to: James II of Scotland James II of England James II of Aragon James II of Cyprus This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Her Majestys Royal Palace and Fortress The Tower of London, more commonly known as the Tower of London (and historically simply as The Tower), is a historic monument in central London, England on the north bank of the River Thames. ... George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys (1648-1689), Baron Wem, better known as Hanging Judge Jeffreys, became notorious during the reign of King James II, rising to the position of Lord Chancellor. ...

In 1947 the Council was presented with the hall and parklands by, the then owner, Alderman William Aston. By then the grounds had become very overgrown and a programme of restoration was implemented.

Acton Park in Winter Sunset, November 2005.

Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 227 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Author: SPicke01. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 227 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Author: SPicke01. ...

Housing

Between 1930 & 1970, about half of the park was developed as an area for housing. The remaining 55 acres of the original estate forms the majority of the present day park. Recently, 2005, the Acton Hall as been rebuilt by Bloorhomes and has been sold off as Exclusive apartments, there is also a small number of houses to the back of the hall which is still within the oringal boundaries of working Acton Hall. A number of the 'older' work house can still be seen within the grounds. Acton Hall in Wrexham was the birthplace of George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys of Wem, PC (May 15, 1645 – April 18, 1689), better known as Judge Jefferies or The Hanging Judge, became notorious during the reign of King James II, rising to the position of Lord Chancellor (and serving as... Acton Hall in Wrexham was the birthplace of George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys of Wem, PC (May 15, 1645 – April 18, 1689), better known as Judge Jefferies or The Hanging Judge, became notorious during the reign of King James II, rising to the position of Lord Chancellor (and serving as...

Even though the area was not initially designed as a 'park', it now features a bowling green, tennis courts, children's play areas, a Japanese garden, Gorsedd and a lake with abundant wildlife. The park is a jewel to the town of Wrexham and is very well preserved. A gorsedd (SAMPA /gO:rsED/), occasionally spelled gorseth, plural gorseddau, is a community of bards. ... Wrexham (Welsh: Wrecsam) is an industrial town (4th Largest in Wales) and sizeable urban area in north-east Wales, close to the English border with Cheshire. ...

External Links

Wrexham Today