![2022 Wales Wrexham Ward Offa map](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/2022_Wales_Wrexham_Ward_Offa_map.svg)
Offa is a
community
A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place, norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g. a country, village, tow ...
and
electoral ward
A ward is a local authority area, typically used for electoral purposes. In some countries, wards are usually named after neighbourhoods, thoroughfares, parishes, landmarks, geographical features and in some cases historical figures connected to t ...
in
Wrexham County Borough
Wrexham County Borough ( cy, Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam) is a county borough, with city status, in the north-east of Wales. It borders England to the east and south-east, Powys to the south-west, Denbighshire to the west and Flintshire to the ...
,
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
, covering most of the south-western portion of the city of
Wrexham
Wrexham ( ; cy, Wrecsam; ) is a city and the administrative centre of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is located between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley, near the border with Cheshire in England. Historically in the count ...
. It is bordered by the communities of;
Rhosddu
Rhosddu () is a suburb and community in Wrexham County Borough, Wales, covering the north-western parts of the city of Wrexham and comprises the wards of Grosvenor, Garden Village and Stansty.
At the 2011 Census, the population of the communit ...
, and
Caia Park
Caia Park () is a suburb and community in Wrexham, Wrexham County Borough, Wales. Created in 1985 after a boundary commission review of the four community areas within the city, of which, Caia Park occupies its east, with the others being Acton, ...
to the north,
Abenbury to the east,
Esclusham, and
Marchwiel
Marchwiel ( cy, Marchwiail) is a village and community in Wrexham County Borough, Wales.
It is about 2 miles south-east of Wrexham city on the A525 road towards Bangor-on-Dee. The community has an area of 1,488 hectares and a population of 1,4 ...
to the south, and
Broughton,
Coedpoeth, and
Gwersyllt to the west.
Naming
According to Howard Williams and Liam Delaney, a Professor of Archaeology and Doctoral Researcher respectively, at the
University of Chester
, mottoeng = "He that teacheth, on teaching"
, former_names =
, established = (gained university status in 2005)
, type = Public
, endowment = £395,000 (2018)
, budget = £118.3 million
, chancellor = Gyles Brandreth
, vice_chancell ...
, the area is named after
Bryn Offa (
Welsh
Welsh may refer to:
Related to Wales
* Welsh, referring or related to Wales
* Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales
* Welsh people
People
* Welsh (surname)
* Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...
for Offa's Hill), a housing estate and former hall located currently within the community. Bryn Offa itself is actually named after
Wat's Dyke
Wat's Dyke ( cy, Clawdd Wat) is a linear earthwork running through the northern Welsh Marches from Basingwerk Abbey on the River Dee estuary, passing east of Oswestry and on to Maesbury in Shropshire, England. It runs generally parallel to ...
which historically passes through the community, as historically there was no distinction between Wat's and
Offa's Dyke
Offa's Dyke ( cy, Clawdd Offa) is a large linear earthwork that roughly follows the border between England and Wales. The structure is named after Offa, the Anglo-Saxon king of Mercia from AD 757 until 796, who is traditionally believed to ha ...
, leading to local confusion. Williams and Delaney state that such distinction between the two dykes was only made by at least the nineteenth century.
History
Unlike many such community areas in Wales, Offa was not based on the boundaries of an earlier
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties, or their combined form, the unitary authority ...
or
township
A township is a kind of human settlement or administrative subdivision, with its meaning varying in different countries.
Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, that tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, Ca ...
, although it corresponds roughly to some of the areas included in the old township of Wrexham Abbott. It was first established only in April 1985, after a boundary review bought four new 'urban' communities into being within the city of
Wrexham
Wrexham ( ; cy, Wrecsam; ) is a city and the administrative centre of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is located between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley, near the border with Cheshire in England. Historically in the count ...
.
[About Offa Community Council]
Offa Community Council The community has four wards, Erddig, Brynyffynnon, Hermitage, and Offa. The Community Council states that it was noted in a
Welsh Assembly
The Senedd (; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and () in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, it makes laws for Wales, agrees certain taxes and scrutinises the Welsh ...
report as one of the most "active and innovative" in Wales.
[
At the 2001 census, the community had a total population of 9,852 in 4,294 households,][Offa Community]
Office of National Statistics the population increasing to 10,501 at the 2011 census. Following the Hermitage ward's inclusion in the top 10% of the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation, Offa Community has been involved in the Welsh Assembly
The Senedd (; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and () in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, it makes laws for Wales, agrees certain taxes and scrutinises the Welsh ...
's Communities First
Communities First was a Welsh Government programme aimed at reducing poverty. The programme was community focused and supported the most disadvantaged people in the most deprived areas of Wales with the aim of contributing to alleviating persisten ...
regeneration programme.[Community Regeneration – Teams and Partnerships]
Wrexham CBC
Area
Offa is bounded by the A483 dual carriageway to most of its west, stopping before Bersham
Bersham ( cy, Y Bers) is a village in Wrexham County Borough, Wales, that lies next to the River Clywedog, and is in the community of Esclusham. Bersham was historically a major industrial centre of the area, but despite this the village sti ...
, where it arbitrarily curves around until reaching the River Clywedog
The River Clywedog is a river in Wrexham County Borough, Wales. Its uses have been watering crops, powering industrial machinery but is now used as walking trails or geography trips. The river originates to the west of Wrexham, and joins the ...
near Bersham Road. The river forms the community's southern boundary until its confluence
In geography, a confluence (also: ''conflux'') occurs where two or more flowing bodies of water join to form a single channel. A confluence can occur in several configurations: at the point where a tributary joins a larger river (main stem); o ...
with the River Dee which continues the border to the King's Mill. It then follows the A525 A5 and variants may refer to:
Science and mathematics
* A5 regulatory sequence in biochemistry
* A5, the abbreviation for the androgen Androstenediol
* Annexin A5, a human cellular protein
* ATC code A05 ''Bile and liver therapy'', a subgroup of ...
until reaching Eagles Meadow
Eagles Meadow () is a medium-sized shopping centre in Wrexham city centre. Previously this area has had a variety of uses over hundreds of years, originally used as stables for local gentry, and later a car park hosting a market. It was developed ...
which via Mount Street it curves around reaching Wrexham's High Street
High Street is a common street name for the primary business street of a city, town, or village, especially in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. It implies that it is the focal point for business, especially shopping. It is also a metonym fo ...
, Regent Street, and the A541 until closing with the A483.
The community of Offa covers much of the south-western part of the city of Wrexham, including St. Giles' Church, Wrexham Central station, Wrexham Maelor Hospital
The Wrexham Maelor Hospital ( cy, Ysbyty Maelor Wrecsam) is a district general hospital for the north east region of Wales. It is managed by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
History
The hospital has its origins in the Wrexham Union Workho ...
, Wrexham Technology Park, and Bellevue Park. It covers large residential areas, including the areas known as Hightown, Brynyffynnon and Felin Puleston, as well as the part of the grounds of Erddig not within the neighbouring communities of Esclusham, and Marchwiel. Its easternmost sections are regarded to be part of Hightown.
Gallery
File:Wrecsam kingsmill.jpg, Former King's Mill Visitor Centre on the River Clywedog
The River Clywedog is a river in Wrexham County Borough, Wales. Its uses have been watering crops, powering industrial machinery but is now used as walking trails or geography trips. The river originates to the west of Wrexham, and joins the ...
File:Bandstand, Bellevue Park, Wrexham - geograph.org.uk - 605760.jpg, . The Bandstand at Bellevue Park
References
{{Wrexham
Communities in Wrexham County Borough
Areas of Wrexham