One of Wrexham’s most recognisable new landmarks has arrived at its latest home, with the giant WRECSAM letters now taking pride of place at National Trust Cymru’s Erddig Hall and Gardens.
The spectacular installation, owned and hosted in partnership by Wrexham County Borough Council and This is Wrecsam Tourism Partnership, has moved to Erddig following a successful summer stay at Stori Brymbo.
The letters will remain at Erddig throughout October and November, giving visitors the opportunity to see – and photograph – the artwork against the backdrop of one of Wrexham County Borough’s best-known historic attractions, before they move on once again to their next, currently secret, location.
Crafted by renowned Wrexham-based artist Simon O’Rourke, the WRECSAM letters were created from a single oak tree, almost 200 years old, which fell at Trevalyn.
The installation was unveiled in Queens Square in February and was designed from the outset to travel around Wrexham County Borough, creating a distinctive focal point at different locations while encouraging residents and visitors to discover more of the area.
Intricate carvings across the letters celebrate Wrexham’s communities, landmarks and stories, while the steel structure on which they sit reflects the county borough’s rich industrial and built heritage.
Their latest move brings together two celebrations of Wrexham’s heritage – the contemporary craftsmanship and storytelling of the WRECSAM installation and the remarkable history, landscape and collections of Erddig.
Graeme Clark, Visitor Experience Manager at Erddig, said: “We’re delighted to welcome the WRECSAM letters to Erddig for the autumn. They’re a wonderful celebration of Wrexham – its communities, creativity and heritage – and those are themes which connect so naturally with the stories we share here at Erddig.
“We hope people will enjoy seeing the letters in this very different setting and that their visit encourages them to explore more of Erddig and the wider Wrexham area. Autumn is a particularly special time across the estate – with our Apple Festival launching this weekend, so we think they’ll make a fantastic addition for visitors during October and November.”
Councillor Nigel Williams, Wrexham Council’s Lead Member for Economy, Business and Tourism, said: “The whole idea behind the WRECSAM letters was that they wouldn’t simply stay in one place. We wanted them to travel around the county borough, shining a spotlight on different communities and attractions and giving people another reason to explore Wrexham.
“After a fantastic stay at Stori Brymbo, it’s brilliant to see them arrive at Erddig and we’re extremely grateful to our partners at National Trust Cymru for hosting them.
“The letters have quickly become a recognisable symbol of Wrexham and this partnership between Wrexham Council and This is Wrecsam allows us to use them creatively to promote the whole county borough. I’m looking forward to seeing plenty of autumn photographs from Erddig – and there’s already another exciting location waiting for them when their stay comes to an end.”
The WRECSAM letters form part of a wider partnership between Wrexham County Borough Council and This is Wrecsam Tourism Partnership to promote Wrexham as a visitor destination, showcase its communities and attractions and encourage people to explore more of the county borough.
Since their unveiling earlier this year, the letters have provided a striking backdrop for photographs and social media content while helping tell the story of Wrexham through Simon O’Rourke’s craftsmanship and the detail incorporated throughout the installation.
Visitors will be able to see the WRECSAM letters at Erddig throughout October and November.
And where will they appear next?
For now, that remains a secret – with the next stop on their journey around Wrexham County Borough set to be revealed later this year!
