Gresford, Flintshire

Description
Gresford, a village and a township in Denbighshire, and a parish partly also in Flintshire. The village stands on the river Alyn, near Wats Dyke, 3 miles NNE of Wrexham. It is a very charming place, and has a station on the Chester and Shrewsbury branch of the G.W.E., a post, money order, and telegraph office (S.O.) The township includes the village, and comprises 1025 acres; population, 853. The parish contains the townships of Gresford, Llay, Burton, Allington, Gwersyllt, Erthig, Borras Rifire, and Erias, in Denbighshire, and the lordship of Marford and Hoseley, in Flintshire. Acreage, 13, 428; population of the civil parish, 7458; of the ecclesiastical, 1814. The scenery is attractive, and there is a very fine view from Marford Hill. Traces of a strong ancient British camp occur on an eminence called the Rofts. Coal is extensively worked. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of StAsaph; net value, ££359 with residence. Patron, the Bishop of St Asaph. The church stands conspicuously on a rising ground, is Later English and interesting; has a handsome tower, surmounted by pinnacles and eight figures of warriors, with a peal of bells which have been ranked among the wonders of Wales; and contains an octagonal font, a finely-carved rood screen and stalls, some ancient monuments (several to the Trevor family), and a sculpture by Westmacott to John Parry. A yew tree in the church-Jard measures 30 feet in girth, and is thought to be nearly 1500 years old. Eliot Warburton, author of " The Crescent and the Cross," was a resident, and Samuel Warren, author of " Ten Thousand a Year," was a native.