A live fossil forest excavation at Stori Brymbo is drawing scientists and visitors from across the world.
Stori Brymbo has opened as Wrexham’s newest visitor attraction. It sits on the site of the former Brymbo Steelworks. Beneath the old industrial ground, however, lies a 314-million-year-old Fossil Forest. Today, it is the only place in Europe where visitors can watch a live fossil excavation in progress.
A Discovery Millions of Years in the Making
The Fossil Forest sits at the heart of the attraction. It continues to draw academic interest from around the globe. As a result, students and researchers visit regularly, and new finds emerge often. Recent discoveries include a giant fish scale and a huge millipede. Together, both finds add fresh evidence that Wrexham once sat within a tropical landscape, long before the steel industry arrived.
That industry, meanwhile, left its own mark on the site. Coal, iron and steel production once shaped Brymbo. The area also played a role in the wider Industrial Revolution, through figures such as John Wilkinson. When the Steelworks closed in 1990, the closure hit the local community hard. Consequently, it appeared to end a defining chapter of Brymbo’s history.
From Industrial Past to Community Future
Since then, Stori Brymbo has reopened that chapter. Volunteers, local businesses and local artists shaped it into a community-led attraction. For example, visitors can explore heritage exhibits covering the Story of People and the Story of Steel. They can also watch the active Fossil Forest dig itself. In addition, a coffeehouse serves food made with locally sourced ingredients, and some are grown on site. Furthermore, a Changing Places facility supports accessible visits.
For those wanting to explore further, Lodge Valley Park offers a 2.5km loop across the road. The walk reveals the true scale of the former steelworks. It also tells the story of the lost village of Lodge. This September, a new Pattern Shop opens too. It tells the Story of Iron and recreates the heat of the old smelting process. Alongside this, a changing gallery programme and a full calendar of events round out the year.
Amazingly, an annual pass costs the same as general admission. As a result, it lets visitors return throughout the year, rather than fit everything into one trip.
Overall, Stori Brymbo welcomes visitors to its coffeehouse Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm. Tickets are available at bit.ly/4fTHrLg.
We hope you enjoyed reading about Stori Brymbo’s fossil forest and heritage attraction. Click here for more articles about local attractions in and around Wrexham.
