Some of the world’s greatest discoveries happen by accident. That was certainly the case at Brymbo, where work on the former steelworks site led to an extraordinary discovery hidden beneath the ground for more than 300 million years.
A Lush, Tropical Forest Beneath the Steelworks
The attraction sits on the historic site of the former Brymbo Iron and Steelworks. However, long before iron, coal and steel transformed the landscape, this area was home to a lush tropical forest. Over millions of years, those forests became buried. Consequently, they formed the coal that fuelled one of Britain’s great industrial success stories.
Perfectly preserved fossilised trees and ancient plant life emerged from the earth. Therefore, this revealed one of Britain’s most significant fossil forests. Today, that incredible discovery forms the beating heart of Stori Brymbo, Wrexham’s remarkable new visitor attraction. It tells this extraordinary journey through three connected themes: Nature, Industry and People.
Genuine Scientific Discovery, Not Glass Cabinets
The star attraction is undoubtedly the internationally significant Brymbo Fossil Forest. Unlike many museums where fossils sit safely behind glass cabinets, here visitors can witness genuine scientific discovery taking place. The excavation is ongoing, meaning every visit has the potential to reveal something nobody has ever seen before.
Children, in particular, will love the sense of adventure. Rather than simply reading information boards, they can watch experts at work. Meanwhile, they discover how fossils are carefully uncovered, cleaned and studied. Consequently, young visitors quickly realise that science isn’t just something found in textbooks.
More Than Fossils: Iron, Steel and Community
Stori Brymbo isn’t only about fossils, though. The attraction also celebrates the people whose lives revolved around Brymbo’s ironworks and steelworks for almost 200 years. Through engaging exhibitions and restored heritage buildings, visitors discover how local families helped build an industry that supplied steel around the world.
The attraction offers annual memberships for its fossil forest and industrial heritage site. Why visit once when you can come back all year? Prices start at £14 for a general admission pass, while a Community Membership costs £20 per annum. When little legs need a rest, the on-site coffeehouse offers the perfect opportunity to recharge. Stori Brymbo is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am until 5pm, with booking recommended during busy holiday periods. Full details are available at storibrymbo.co.uk.
A Genuinely Special Experience
The excavation is one of the first live palaeontological digs of its kind in Europe open to the public, making it a genuinely special experience. Every excavation season brings fresh discoveries and new questions. Visitors, therefore, become part of an ongoing journey rather than a finished exhibition. Few attractions can promise that no two visits will ever be quite the same.
Friendly staff and volunteers are passionate about sharing the stories behind the site, making every visitor feel part of Brymbo’s continuing story. Therefore, whether your children are fascinated by fossils or simply have endless curiosity about the world around them, Stori Brymbo offers something to capture their imagination this summer.
We hope you enjoyed reading “Fossil Forests and a Window Into Brymbo’s Iron and Steel Heritage”. Click here for more articles about Stori Brymbo.
