The project to create a new ‘Museum of Two Halves’ in Wrexham city centre is now well underway!
Building work has now commenced on the iconic, 167 year old, Grade II listed County Buildings in Wrexham city centre – the home of Wrexham Museum since 1996.
When the building reopens to the public in 2026 it will be home to an enhanced and expanded Wrexham Museum, alongside Wales’ first ever football museum.
With new, state of the art galleries and a fully refurbished and extended building, the museum is set to be a world-class new national attraction for Wrexham, drawing thousands of visitors from all over Wales – and beyond!
As well as the construction work there’s been plenty happening behind the scenes! Plus there’s some exciting news to share on how you can access the museum’s services while the building is closed!
Here’s what you need to know…
A site to behold!
The appointed contractor, SWG Construction, took possession of the museum buildings and forecourt in July.
Initial work included the demolition of the modern alterations to the building as part of creating the new atrium and the new gallery spaces on the ground and first floors.
For anyone familiar with the museum building, the biggest changes to the building are the removal of the roof over the old main gallery to re-create the original inner courtyard space, while at the front of the building the glazed extension has been carefully dismantled to allow work to proceed on the front façade of the building.
The big crane on St Mark’s Road has assisted with these tasks, though its work is only just beginning!
As well as developing a fantastic new museum, this is also very mush a conservation project that will see one of Wrexham’s most famous buildings restored to its former glory.
Shaun Humphries Construction Director, of SWG Construction, added: “We are delighted to be involved in such an important project for Wrexham and indeed the whole of Wales.
“We are using all of our experience and expertise to take care of this historic building which will once again be a source of pride for the local community, as well as attracting even more visitors to Wrexham.”
The Museum is being developed by Wrexham Council’s museum team in association with museum designers, Haley Sharpe Design and architects, Purcell.
Funding support for the new museum is being delivered by Wrexham Council, Welsh Government, National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Wolfson Foundation. The Museum of Two Halves project has also received £1.3 million from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
Major funding secured
You may have heard the fantastic news we received in August: the Museum of Two Halves project is to receive a £2.7m grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund!
The grant will fund fitting out the museum with the displays that the visitors experience, as well as providing the means to deliver a series of activities, events and other museum programmes over the next four years across Wrexham County Borough and elsewhere in Wales.
The grant has also enabled the museum to go ahead with the purchase of a significant Welsh football collection previously held in a private collection. This includes an unrivalled collection of material relating to Cardiff City’s 1927 FA Cup final victory and an impressive variety of Wales men’s international match programmes, the earliest dated 1901.
Visit our Pop-up Museum
The museum now has a temporary base on Queen’s Square in Wrexham city centre!
You can visit the pop-up museum to view all the latest design plans for the Museum of Two Halves and to contact the museum team. We’ll be hosting children’s activities here during half term and school holidays, as well as other public outreach events.
The museum shop is also based here, where you can purchase a range of unique gifts, books, cards and more, all inspired by Wrexham’s local history.
Opening times: Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm.
Courtyard Café
Our much loved Courtyard Café have now settled in to their temporary home in the food court at Wrexham’s multi-award winning markets, arts & community hub, Tŷ Pawb.
You’ll be glad to hear their still serving the same delicious range of home-made light meals, coffees, sandwiches, soups, cakes and irresistible desserts.
Opening times: Monday-Friday, 10.30am-4.30pm; Saturday, 11.00am-3.30pm.
Archives & Local Studies
Wrexham Archives & Local Studies now have a new, permanent home at Wrexham Library. You can email them on archives@wrexham.gov.uk.
‘Huge appetite’ for Wrexham’s new museum
Councillor Paul Roberts, Wrexham Council’s Lead Member for Partnerships, said: “There is a real buzz starting to build around this project now that construction work has begun and the scale of the ambitious plan for the new museum is becoming visible.
“The football museum’s stall at the recent National Eisteddfod in Pontypridd was massive hit, with thousands of people from all over the country visiting to find out more about the plans – an indication of the huge appetite there is for Wales to have its own football museum.
“The expanded Wrexham Museum will benefit from state-of-the-art galleries to tell the story of our city and the county borough at a time when global interest in Wrexham is skyrocketing.”
“The new museum is set to open in 2026. In the meantime I would encourage everyone visiting the city centre to go and take a look at the new pop-up museum on Queen’s Square where they can view some beautifully illustrated plans for the new museum and find out more about this exciting new development for Wrexham.”
Want to know more? Follow us online
You can follow Wrexham Museum and Football Museum Wales on social media.
We regularly post lots of tasty content inspired by the rich history of Wrexham and Welsh football, including photos, stories and specially selected items from the museum’s collections.
Wrexham Museum on social media
Football Museum Wales on social media
Visit the museum website for more information about the project
