welcome to
cefn mawr
Cefn Mawr is a village with an industrial background made up of sandstone quarries, ironworks, clay works and coal mines. Its name meaning ‘big ridge’, it is one of several villages in the wider community of Cefn on the northern slopes of the Dee Valley, currently part of the ‘Buffer Zone’ of the World Heritage Site and under-explored by tourists. As our programme and project film highlight, there is a wealth of cultural and social history to explore in Cefn Mawr. Many people say that Cefn is the birth place for the aqueduct, with all the mineral resources being utilised in its creation and then alongside the developing railways used to create wealth for the visionary entrepreneurs. Heavy industry in the eighteenth- and nineteenth-centuries was characterised by forges and blast furnaces in Cefn Mawr, as well as coal pits, products of which were transported along the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. The chemical works at Plas Kynaston, (formerly the Plas Kynaston Foundry, where the ribs for the arches of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct were cast) has gone through expansion and diversification over the years and is one of a number of large manufacturers to have ceased production within the village recently. The Cefn (Newbridge) Viaduct is a Grade II listed railway viaduct located over the River Dee between Cefn and Chirk, close to Cefn Mawr (and Cefn-bychan), Pentre and Newbridge. The viaduct forms the eastern boundary of Tŷ Mawr Country Park and is around a mile downstream of its more famous cousin, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, which was built from stone quarried in Cefn! Cefn Mawr was the catalyst for the valley’s heavy industry.
Today, there are other significant social and cultural heritage sites in Cefn Mawr in the shape of Cefn Druids Football Club,The Dovecot Memorial and the community hub CRNCA, whose programme of activities empower individuals, fostering unity and personal growth. Nook Arts Cefn Mawr is a micro-pottery studio in the Dee Valley Trust CIC building. Run by potter Charlie, Nook Arts run open sessions for everyone to try the craft and fire in their own kiln.
Jamaican British artist Chantelle Purcell will present work in Cefn Mawr and the Trevor Basin. Words on Water, an iterative project that sources voices from communities on the value of water. Responses gathered will become a large text-based textile work that creatively responds to the environment and will be displayed at the visitor centre of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Trevor.
Chantelle hopes to connect meaningfully with the industrial heritage of the site through work that explores the colonial implications of the industries once prevalent in the area. Key themes of crossing and passage; connection and language; and land and labour will be explored within a newly developed short film, made in collaboration with filmmaker Leon Bowen on location in Cefn Mawr and close to the aqueduct. The film will show Chantelle carrying a new, large and vibrant textile work featuring patterns taken from local architectural forms combined with African symbolism.
The topography of Cefn Mawr is shaped by alleyways cut through the landscape for industry, and now used as pedestrian routes such as The Doctor’s Steps, Smith’s Hill, Tin Smith’s Hill and the ABC Steps. These alleyways are just some of Cefn Mawr’s architectural and landscape heritage sites that include old tramways and quarries that are still visible in people’s back gardens! As part of the special event in Cefn Mawr on 24th November local painter Emma-Jayne Holmes is creating a new series of temporary signs for a number of these pathways such as Aunty Menna’s that uncover their significance and some of their lesser known histories. Earlier this year we invited the artist to spend time in her own community (Cefn Mawr) to capture through drawings ‘Cefn life’ – the beautiful architecture, incredible topography and what makes Cefn so special. This expedition extended to Trevor, Fron and Chirk. You can see some of the artist’s drawings throughout this newspaper and on the project website.
‘5 Walks around the Cefn Mawr Heritage Trail’ published by the Cefn Mawr, Rhosymewdre and Newbridge Community Association Ltd.
You can see copies of this booklet in the Cefn Mawr Community Museum which is an incredible award winning museum wholly volunteer run, normally open Wednesday - Friday. We are excited to say that the museum will be open on Sunday 24th November especially for the event. There’ll also be an opportunity to explore the museum with volunteers and artist duo Juneau Projects who will be hosting a family workshop from the ground floor function room in the beautiful George Edwards Hall in response to the Cefn Mawr and District Museum which contains artefacts from the area’s heavy industry, all collated from community donations, allowing people to learn, explore and celebrate this rich cultural and industrial heritage. Over in the Ebenezer Chapel you will be in for a treat – in this beautiful building will be art exhibitions and engaging activities for the family – all free. It will be a jam packed day for the whole family in Cefn on 24th November, with outdoor art, performance, poetry recitals and more all taking place between 10 am - 3 pm. Hungry, thirsty? Moonbakes, Teadrop, the Hollybush and the Jolly Masons will have you covered!
The George Edwards Hall, 29 Well Street, Cefn Mawr
Now a much loved Community Hall and Council Chambers, this beautiful building officially opened in 1911, and was operating as a cinema by 1914. Housed in a building formerly used for stage presentations, this hall was considered the less pleasant of the two cinemas in Cefn Mawr.
It has a 26 feet wide proscenium, an 18 feet deep stage and two dressing rooms. By 1934 it had been re-named Stanley Cinema and was equipped with an AWH sound system. By 1944, it had been re-named People’s Cinema and was still open in 1954. It had gone from listing by 1963.
By 2000, it had reverted back to its original name, George Edwards Hall, and is now in use as a community hall. It retained its full stage facilities, and has a flat floor for dancing, with the catering facilities in the former stall projection room. The circle is also still intact with its original seating.
