Quote:
Originally Posted by WasanActonlad
ESR....Sir have you received pm re Soames family on Wrexham-history.com
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Thanks WAL I hope you are well? I got your message and sorry that I hadn’t responded sooner but I have been busy.
Yes it is a great, informative piece on Wrexham-History about the Soames Family.
I wasn’t aware that the first roof was installed on the MRS in 1900, but on looking back to earlier maps, I can see that the original stone built stand was still open to the elements in 1872. There is some confusion in later newspaper articles, because The Turf Hotel was originally comprised of two distinct sections and in the early days, the taller of these sections with the balcony (Where the bar area is today) was also known as The Grandstand.
The first permanent Mold Road Stand was a stone- built structure that was constructed in 1854 and was continuously added upgraded and extended throughout the 19th Century. I had read that the stand was extended and improved in 1900 and so assume that this was when a roof was added, although the club had also intended to erect a covered stand on the Yale side of the ground in 1892 (attached) for the game against
Chester and so I am not sure why this wasn’t erected.
I have added a number of maps from 1874 onwards to show you the extent of improvements over the years.
1854 Existing Mold Road Stand mentioned in correspondence
https://newspapers.library.wales/vie...60/4584963/12/
Wrexham Races 1857
‘There were no carriages on Friday, the day being too wet for the ladies to attend, but there were more gentlemen in the grand stand’.
https://newspapers.library.wales/vie...68/4586972/32/
1891 Stone stand on Mold Road renovated and an additional stand added to extend the MRS
https://newspapers.library.wales/vie...48/3172051/11/
1896- Bangor v Newtown Welsh Cup semi final report from The Racecourse.
‘As the ball curled downward, Thomas lashed out at it, and a hurricane of chears burst out all round the field, and from the densely packed real grand stand, and from the second class grand stand where Edwin and I were the other time, when it was seen that Edwards had been beaten.
1885 Wrexham Racecourse the Sports' Committee deemed it necessary to support with timber one portion of the grand stand on account of its insecurity. On Monday the stand was crowded with a large number of persons, who were interested spectators of the international football match. No steps were taken to protect the stand in the manner indicated, and fortunately no accident occurred, but I fancy that had the occupants known of its imperfections they would have quitted their exalted position for safer quarters. Something should be done, and that without delay
1892 Miners Meeting
‘The speeches were delivered from the grand stand, on which admirable arrangements were made for the speakers’
https://newspapers.library.wales/vie...69/4593576/66/
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1899 Wrexham v Rhyl on The Racecourse.
‘I got among a jolly set of fellows on the grandstand. They turned out to be the Wrexham choir. They knew only one chorus, and perform it with such precision that it has a telling effect. Some fifty or sixty of them assemble together and on the down beat they attack as one man the refrain “Play UP Wrexham” finishing together on the up beat.
https://newspapers.library.wales/vie...09/3637716/66/
1875 Proclaiming the 1876 Eisteddfod on The Racecourse 1875
‘the committee had secured the Grand Stand, the admission to which was made only upon payment. The 400 or 500 who thus sought admission had a capital view of the proceedings, which lasted about two hours.’
https://newspapers.library.wales/vie...23/3853529/37/
Charles Murless ‘speaking from the grandstand 1895
https://newspapers.library.wales/vie...052/4594054/4/
January 1900 ‘the large and commodious grandstand being well patronized’
https://newspapers.library.wales/vie...052/4594054/4/
Concert in May 1900- ‘The Grandstand was well filled, and the football enclosure was well-lined with spectators’.
This article also states that The Racecourse was kindly lent for the occasion by J.J.Scott.
https://newspapers.library.wales/vie...34/4594339/48/
1882 Miners Meeting on The Racecourse- ‘Mr Moses Williams, Rhosddu, presided, and the speakers addressed the meeting from the grand stand. There were between 2,000 and 3,000 people present on the course and stand, and delegates represented the various collieries in the district’.
https://newspapers.library.wales/vie...83/4589590/51/
January 1900 Military on The Racecourse
‘They were the first company to be met by the band, and they came on to the Race- course in a most orderly fashion, followed by a large crowd of people, who probably were attracted by the martial music. They formed on the football field, and as the wind was blowing very strong they approached the Grand Stand for shelter.’
https://newspapers.library.wales/vie...08/4594214/77/
1879 Wales v Scotland
Admission to the Ground, 6d. Reserved Enclosure and Grand Stand, Is.
https://newspapers.library.wales/vie...46/3854951/29/
1876 North Wales v Sheffield- ‘A charge of 6d per head was made for admission to the ground; but owing to the unfavourable weather the attendance, including a few ladies who were undercover, was comparatively limited. ‘
‘Shefield won the toss and chose the goal near to the Grandstand.’
https://newspapers.library.wales/vie...74/3308177/24/
September 1900 Wrexham Races ‘the grandstand was brought down’
https://newspapers.library.wales/vie...96/4594502/76/