The towering headgear and engine house at Bersham Colliery remain some of the most recognisable reminders of Wrexham’s industrial past. Standing beside Colliery Road in Rhostyllen, the site once formed part of one of the largest and most important coal mines in North Wales.
Glan-yr-Afon Colliery
Today, thanks to the work of volunteers from the North Wales Miners Association Trust, visitors can step back in time and discover the story of the people who powered the region’s coal industry for more than a century.
The colliery first began life in the 1860s under the name Glan-yr-Afon Colliery before expanding into a major mining operation during the late Victorian era. At its peak, hundreds of men worked underground extracting coal from the Denbighshire coalfield, helping fuel local industries including Brymbo Steelworks and the wider industrial growth of Wrexham. Bersham eventually became the last working pit in the Denbighshire coalfield before closing in 1986.
Although much of the original surface site disappeared after closure, the winding engine house and pithead gear survived. The preserved structures now stand as a powerful monument to the generations of local families connected to mining. The remaining engine house is Grade II listed and continues to attract industrial heritage enthusiasts, former miners and younger visitors keen to understand how coal shaped communities across Wrexham.
Personal Memories
Open days organised by the North Wales Miners Association Trust give the public a chance to explore the site and learn more about the machinery, working conditions and everyday lives of the miners who once worked there. Volunteers are often on hand to share personal memories and explain how the winding gear operated, raising miners and equipment hundreds of yards below ground.
The Trust opens the Bersham Colliery Engine House on the last Sunday of each month from April to September between 10 am and 4 pm. Entry and parking are free, making it an accessible day out for families, local history enthusiasts and anyone interested in Wrexham’s industrial heritage. The site is at Bersham Colliery, Colliery Road, Rhostyllen, Wrexham, LL14 4EG.
“Iron Mad” Wilkinson
The attraction also sits within a wider area rich in industrial history. Nearby attractions include Bersham Ironworks, where the famous industrialist John “Iron Mad” Wilkinson helped pioneer advances in iron production and steam engine technology during the Industrial Revolution. Together, the sites help tell the story of how coal, iron and engineering transformed Wrexham into one of the key industrial centres of North Wales.
For many visitors, however, the strongest connection is personal rather than historical. Bersham Colliery represents the memories of fathers, grandfathers and neighbours who worked underground in difficult and dangerous conditions. Preserving the engine house ensures that nobody ever forgets those stories.
You can more information about upcoming open days through the North Wales Miners Association Trust and related local Facebook groups.
Feature image courtesy of Creative Commons (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0).
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