The massive Wrexham AFC history thread (The sad case of a founding members and player of Wrexham...)

[Rhosymedre Red]

Originally Posted by eastsussexred

I believe that these photo's were taken as snapshots of Wales v Ireland BFI cinefim, from 1906, RR, as previously posted earlier in the thread.

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/...06-1906-online

I think that the film was initially posted in its original version, which is longer than the film on the link above, but I have taken a snapshot of the film 1minute and 4seconds into the film, and if you look at the last of the three photo's that you posted, you will see that it is the same as attached below.

Your right, why i put 1876 i don't know. There was a program on SC4 the other night called the History of Welsh Football, it did show the film, i took a few screenshots of it. It was only on for half an hour and my Welsh isn't great i'm ashamed to say.

[eastsussexred]

Originally Posted by eastsussexred

As Above

‘The diverted road, which will form part of Crispin Lane, is being constructed through the garden of The Turf Hotel, and side-by-side with it will run the line and rails of the extension. That wonderful specimen of architecture- the Volunteer Armoury is unfortunately to be removed and lost to view. Some perhaps will be inclined to say “ it never would be missed”, but still, even this has its admirers.’ (March 1878)

https://newspapers.library.wales/vie...87/4592392/31/


https://newspapers.library.wales/vie...14/4592419/30/ (April 1878)

The headquarters and armoury then appear to have been moved into the old farmhouse, although there was also at least one drill shed left standing after Crispin Lane had been diverted.

Originally Posted by eastsussexred

I also think that the taller section of The Turf Hotel was originally constructed as a square building (as shown on the tithe map attachment a few posts back) and was originally known as just another part of The Turf Tavern.
There are later newspaper articles which refer to people dining in ‘the large room at The Turf Tavern’ and I believe that these articles reflect an earlier name used for this side of the tavern; i.e. before this section was renamed as The Grandstand.
The earliest reference that I can find to this section being called The Grandstand, comes from a newspaper report of cricketers having dinner in ‘The Grandstand’ in 1841, and so I believe that as the popularity of the races increased, a decision was made to add a balcony to the taller section, at the end of 1830’s, which resulted in the addition of a canted bay and a balcony (as attachment 1) and the taller section subsequently was renamed as The Grandstand

I also believe that The Turf Tavern garden (also shown on another attachment a few posts back) was originally a field, which belonged to the estate of the house known as The Crispin.
There is a map from 1793-1795 (previously posted) which shows a diagonal boundary line/hedgerow from The Crispin to another very small plot of land which had been sectioned off from the rest of The Racecourse. This smaller plot was the location where The Turf Tavern was built. I have added the boundary line on a later map (attached)
It is difficult to envisage now, because the Mold Road end of Crispin Lane was diverted slightly to the west (towards The Racecourse) in the 1890’s, but back in the 18th Century, Crispin Lane was just a four foot wide track way, which had evolved on the silted up ditch of Wat’s Dyke. This lane had served as a traditional thoroughfare, which connected the original Rhosddu Lane with Hope Street (now Mold Road) and The Racecourse extended right up to the hedge line of Wat’s Dyke’s ditch/Crispin Lane. The lane became known, locally, as a lovers lane and was made more accessible with a gravel surface in the 1850’s, but the diversion works in the 1890’s swallowed up the old Turf Tavern garden, which at that time, still backed onto the original lane. After the diversion works an L shaped area of land, which was comprised of two different plots, remained on The Racecourse side of Crispin Lane. The first plot, which faced onto Crispin Lane, had previously been the location of the armoury and headquarters of the volunteer force of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was demolished during the diversion works and was sold as a builders yard. The second plot faced onto Mold Road (where the charity shop is today) and was sold to the same buyer at the same auction. (as Attachment 2).
The land on which the railway was built, was at one time known as ‘Crispin Field’ and there was another field, beyond the Yale Stand, which was know as Crispin Croft.
There was also a field known as ‘Crispin Meadow’ on Stansty Park and another Crispin Field between Stansty Lodge and Plas Coch, although I imagine that the field between The Crispin and The Turf Tavern (including the Turf Tavern Garden) as shown on the attachment, would also have been known as Crispin Field at some point in the distant past.

Correction- the diversion works were started in 1878

[Inside Left]

I noticed that this much loved thread has slipped down the RP pecking order -----so---
How about reading a bit about John Eyton -Jones of Wrexham Olympic, , as some will knowHare and Hounds, Everton and Wales. Eyton - Jones is, as some might know, very much a local name .
John was a local surgeon at the Infirmary (Now Art College) and lived in a rather smart house called Abotsfield on the bottom of Grosvenor Rd (Now The Lemon Tree).

Recently Dominic Calvin Lewin broke a 129 yr old long standing Everton record when he scored a goal for the first team. The last double barrel named played to score for the Toffees was a certain Eyton - Jones way back in 1888.

Whichever way you look Wrexham town certainly has a good deal of history.
To think Eyton- Jones's lived just a couple of fields away from where the towns first floodlit football match was held - but there lies another story.

[eastsussexred]

Originally Posted by eastsussexred

The open air seating which consisted of 7 rows of wooden planks and which ran the entire length of the pitch on the Yale side of the ground, can be seen in this pushball photo from 1907 (attached)

Originally Posted by eastsussexred

With the thread now 68 pages long, I feel that it would now be more convenient to add an updated summary of the major structures that have been built on The Racecourse since it was first established.

The Turf Hotel is comprised of two individual buildings, which were each built at different times. The Turf Tavern (the lower section of The Turf Hotel) was built at some point between 1793 and 1819, and The Grandstand (the taller section with a balcony; where the bar area is today) was built sometime prior to 1833. Both of these buildings were later joined together to form the current Turf Hotel.

In the early days of racing at Y Cae Ras, temporary wooden stands were built at either side of The Turf Tavern and dismantled at the end of the race meetings each year. The earliest evidence for this comes from a newspaper report of the 1811 races, in which one of the stands collapsed and a spectator suffered a broken leg.

1854. The first permanent stand was a stone- built structure with wooden plank seating, built on the Mold Road side of the course. The stand was separated from the Turf Tavern by a gate that provided access onto the course. The Turf Tavern was also adapted with offices for race officials and changing rooms for jockeys, which were later used as changing rooms for footballers.

After the birth of Wrexham AFC in 1864, simple open air seating was gradually re-introduced to the side of the pitch on the Northern (Yale side) of the ground. The seating consisted of continuous lines of wooden planks that ran parallel along the entire length of the pitch, and which were elevated in steps that were 7 rows high.

1869. The Mold Road Stand was repaired and upgraded

1890. The Mold Road stand was renovated and extended with a new stand that had an additional gate installed at the Plas Coch the end of this stand.

1913. Major revamp of the stadium prior to the Wales v Scotland International match on 3rd March. The Mold Road stand was extended again and additional seating was provided on the flat ground between the Mold Road stand and the touchline. The height of the banks behind each goal were also increased, particularly at the Crispin Lane end, and some concrete terracing was laid at each end.
The Turf Tavern was renovated and the separate, taller section of the premises, known as The Grandstand was also renovated, internally and externally. These two buildings, which were originally separated by an alleyway, 3 metres wide, had previously been joined together at first floor level by means of lintels which spanned the alley and provided another gated entrance into the ground, but in 1913, the alleyway was bricked up, bringing the two buildings together and forming a lounge area inside of the tavern.


1921. The first covered structure for up to 2,500 standing spectators was erected at the Plas Coch end of the pitch at a cost of £100, which was paid for by the Shareholders Association. At the same time, the height of The Mold Road stand was raised to provide more seating and the height of the terraced embankment at the Crispin Lane end of the ground was again increased.

1924. (May). First stand erected on the Northern (Yale side) of the pitch at a cost of £360 which was paid by the Shareholders Association. The Association formally handed control of the stand to the football club before the last home game of the 1923/24 season, against Durham City on May 3rd.1924.


1924. (September) The Plas Coch Stand was destroyed by a storm, which ripped the roof from its fixings and damaged the foundations. This was the second time that this had happened to the stand behind the Plas Coch goal.

1925. The Plas Coch structure was replaced with a new stand with a curved roof, which was painted with stripes.

1928. Concrete terracing laid to the paddock area in front of the Mold Road stand.

1929. A new covered stand (100 yards long and 25 feet deep) replaced the curved-roof structure at the Plas Coch end of the ground. Built at a cost of £750, which was provided by the Supporters Association, the stand incorporated ladder beams with diagonal cross members, which ran the full length along the front of the stand beneath the roof. The stand was officially opened by the President of the Welsh FA prior to the international game against Ireland on 2nd February.

1930. The ladder-beam design was also used for a new stand which replaced the earlier structure on the northern (Yale side) of the pitch. This stand was opened with an official ceremony, prior to the international match against England on 22nd November.

1931. (September) The angled/wing stand was constructed on Mold Road, filling the gap between the Mold Road and Plas Coch stands and providing covered accommodation for 1000 supporters. Construction work started in July and was completed in time for the opening game of the season against Chester on September 2nd. The £700 construction costs were paid by The Supporters Association

1931. (October) The length of the new stand on the northern (Yale Stand) side of the pitch was extended and its depth was increased down to the touchline, while retaining the ladder-beam design to match the Plas Coch end of the ground.
With accommodation for up to 7,000 supporters, the stand on the northern side of the pitch was now 70 yards long and 42 feet deep, and had been built at a total cost of around £900 (£368 of which was paid by the Supporters Association).
The stand was officially opened prior to the Wales v Scotland international match on 31st October 1931. The height of the ‘Spion Kop’ terracing at the Crispin Lane end of the ground had also been raised again to increase capacity for this match.

1937. Both the Yale Stand and The Plas Coch Stands were each extended to merge into a single structure, while new terracing was also laid to both ends of the ground in time for the FA Cup tie against Manchester City on 16th January.


1948. A conversion of the area under the Mold Road stand provided new changing rooms for players, while a new entrance was erected at the northern (Yale side) of the ground. The work to the dressing rooms had been started in April 1947 and completed in time for the international match against Ireland on March 10th 1948.

1952. Old terracing removed and new raised concrete terracing laid on the Crispin Lane end of ground to form the kop.

1957. Ground improvements included a new entrance and turnstiles next to The Turf Hotel, with a new stand in the enclosure providing 250 tip-up seats for season ticket holders. A new concrete boundary wall was also built around the pitch to replace railings and additional terracing was constructed on the kop to increase the ground capacity to 40,000.

1959. New floodlights switched on for the home tie against Swindon on 30th September.

1962. A new 700-seater stand, which was comprised of a reclaimed balcony from The Majestic Cinema in Wrexham, was erected on the kop and opened for the start of the 1962/63 season. First known as ‘The Busfield Stand’ due to an advertising hoarding on the front of the structure, the stand later became known as ‘The Pigeon Loft’. The stand was bought and erected at a cost of £4,000, which was paid by the Supporters Association.

1972. A New £80,000 stand was opened on the Yale side of the ground, which was comprised of an upper tier of seated accommodation and lower terraces for standing spectators close to the pitch. The base of the stand also provided office space for club officials, changing rooms and the hospitality rooms, which are now known as the Centenary Club.

1978. Another two-tired stand costing around £200,000 was opened at the Plas Coch end of ground, replacing the earlier ‘tech end’. Like the Yale Stand, the new stand was comprised of an upper tier for seated supporters and a lower section of terraces.

1999. The Mold Road Stand and the old changing rooms of The Turf Tavern were demolished to make way for the current 3,500-seater Mold Road Stand.

To add to this-

For most of the first 36 years of the football club’s history, the football pitch was orientated in a north/south direction, with the goals being located at the Yale end and the Mold Road end of the ground. During these early years, the pitch was only occasionally re orientated in an east/west direction (as it is today) possibly due to bare patches in the goal areas and other sections of the playing surface, although the pitch usually returned to a north/south orientation soon after.
It was during these early years that the Yale side of the ground, became known as the ‘popular end’ of the ground, and later, known as the ‘popular side’ after the pitch was finally turned to its present position after ground improvement works in 1900/01. The pitch has remained in this location ever since.
The improvement works included the construction of a new roof for the Mold Road stand in 1900, with the pitch being turned to its present position in 1901, while the open plank, raised terracing, which ran the full length of the pitch on the Yale side of the ground was added soon after. But this raised plank terracing was removed by the army during the First World War and so when the club regained possession in 1919, plans were set in place to construct a permanent covered stand on the Yale side of the pitch, as well as a covered stand for the Plas Coch end of the ground.
The location of the pitch during the early years can be determined from the 1872 map (attached) and the relocation of the pitch to its current position in 1901 is also found on the second attachment.

[eastsussexred]

As above

[jonesfach]

Originally Posted by eastsussexred

To add to this-

For most of the first 36 years of the football club’s history, the football pitch was orientated in a north/south direction, with the goals being located at the Yale end and the Mold Road end of the ground. During these early years, the pitch was only occasionally re orientated in an east/west direction (as it is today) possibly due to bare patches in the goal areas and other sections of the playing surface, although the pitch usually returned to a north/south orientation soon after.
It was during these early years that the Yale side of the ground, became known as the ‘popular end’ of the ground, and later, known as the ‘popular side’ after the pitch was finally turned to its present position after ground improvement works in 1900/01. The pitch has remained in this location ever since.
The improvement works included the construction of a new roof for the Mold Road stand in 1900, with the pitch being turned to its present position in 1901, while the open plank, raised terracing, which ran the full length of the pitch on the Yale side of the ground was added soon after. But this raised plank terracing was removed by the army during the First World War and so when the club regained possession in 1919, plans were set in place to construct a permanent covered stand on the Yale side of the pitch, as well as a covered stand for the Plas Coch end of the ground.
The location of the pitch during the early years can be determined from the 1872 map (attached) and the relocation of the pitch to its current position in 1901 is also found on the second attachment.

You have found the holy grail ESR. Brilliant work

The murmurs of past generations are true.

[WasanActonlad]

Originally Posted by Inside Left

I noticed that this much loved thread has slipped down the RP pecking order -----so---
How about reading a bit about John Eyton -Jones of Wrexham Olympic, , as some will knowHare and Hounds, Everton and Wales. Eyton - Jones is, as some might know, very much a local name .
John was a local surgeon at the Infirmary (Now Art College) and lived in a rather smart house called Abotsfield on the bottom of Grosvenor Rd (Now The Lemon Tree).

Recently Dominic Calvin Lewin broke a 129 yr old long standing Everton record when he scored a goal for the first team. The last double barrel named played to score for the Toffees was a certain Eyton - Jones way back in 1888.

Whichever way you look Wrexham town certainly has a good deal of history.
To think Eyton- Jones's lived just a couple of fields away from where the towns first floodlit football match was held - but there lies another story.

Inside left...before you edited above post...did it say who he married...?

[Inside Left]

Originally Posted by WasanActonlad

Inside left...before you edited above post...did it say who he married...?

Sorry I cant help you but there is a Wiki of the Eyton Jones's I know wiki is famed for inaccuracy but it might be of interest to you. If you do acquire a legacy let us all know

[eastsussexred]

Originally Posted by WasanActonlad

Inside left...before you edited above post...did it say who he married...?

Originally Posted by Inside Left

Sorry I cant help you but there is a Wiki of the Eyton Jones's I know wiki is famed for inaccuracy but it might be of interest to you. If you do acquire a legacy let us all know

He married Annie Stodart–Milne in London in 1891, but later remarried.

His biography is recorded on John Arthur Eyton-Jones. By Tony Onslow – Everton Heritage Society




To add to this biography, he had also been a lieutenant in The 1st Volunteer Battalion of The Royal Welsh Fusiliers.