The extensive increase in Britain of the production of iron, coal and lead during the period following the late 1800s up until the Great War saw large population movements into more rural areas and, as a result, the previously isolated countryside required some sort of infrastructure for the newly created communities.
So corrugated iron buildings were able to fulfill this demand for schools, churches and chapels, and the large number of tin tabernacles also reflected the need by the Anglican church to compete with the Non-conformist movements, Methodist, Wesleyan and others at this time.
They were initially intended for the short-term requirements of these new communities, which themselves were only expected to last as long as the availability of the various ores, including coal, remained. This has resulted in numbers of these buildings being allowed to fall into disrepair, with subsequent demolition.
However there are still a considerable number remaining in the countryside which survive due mainly to their religious function, and I have attempted to capture for posterity some in the Wrexham area, before the last one disappears and future generations have no knowledge of their existence.
Fortunately some have been rescued by heritage museums, relocated and preserved, but there are still a number in the community, in use and generally in an excellent state of repair.
However in this century with vanishing congregations affecting all our churches and chapels it is inevitable that with rust and dry-rot - an added problem - these buildings will ultimately disappear.
Notable Wrexham buildings of corrugated iron were St Andrew's church, Wern, near Minera; the Methodist Chapel, Rhosnesni; the Church on the Llwyn Onn estate; the church at Plas Bennion, near Ruabon; and Knolton Bryn, near Overton. There are others at Abergele and also the Church of the Good Shepherd at Drury, Flintshire.
If any reader knows of similar buildings whether in use or already redundant it would be helpful to post their details on this site. 
your comments
Janet Williams from Milton Keynes
Geoff, The tin chapel at Llan-y-Pwll was (is?) on the A534 opposite the juncion with Hugmore Lane hidden in some trees quite near the main road. It's marked on OS maps of ca 1970 but maybe not there now - worth a look though?
Thu Jun 4 08:06:47 2009
Kevin Williams, ex Ruabon, now Helensburgh, Scotla
As a lad in the 60s I remember going to Plas Bennion to visit family, my aunti Attie, when they cleared the place she was moved onto Plas Madoc, along with my auntie Mary, their lives were never the same. My nain was also from Plas Bennion, Elizabeth Ann Edwards, she moved to Ruabon way before the demolition. She lived in the last house on New Hall Road (before the new estate was built). Here she lived with my taid Edward Edwards (Ned Ann). Both long gone now. It was lovely coming on here and hearing people's memories.
Mon Apr 27 09:01:33 2009
Wil Wrexham.
What about Capel Gobaith, (Chapel of Hope) in, where else, Hope Street, Rhos. Demolished long ago in spite of strong opposition from devoted worshippers, and others. Now the site of two houses which, I believe, have some sort of covenant on them re. alcohol, although I may be mistaken. Anyone know otherwise? Most of congregation transferred to Capel Mawr, Rhos, but some moved, disappointed, to other chapels.
Mon Mar 30 08:45:27 2009
Geoff B. Evans
Janet, thanks for your interest. I cannot recollect the building to which you refer, although fairly familiar with the area since school days. Was it on the town side of the Gredington pub? There are still many of these delightful buildings about; I discovered another in Trefnant, but not a chapel/church, but much smaller, and once a hairdressers, but not now although still in use.
Wed Mar 4 09:25:09 2009
Janet Williams from Milton Keynes
There used to be one in Llan-y-Pwll on the LHS of the road going from Wrexham to Holt.
Tue Jan 27 09:06:05 2009
Wil, Wrexham
Hello all! I didn't live in Plasbennion but remember, as a teenager, delivering coal there. Drive in through the gap between the rows forward one way, reverse back to the other row. Not very popular with Bob the Cefn, your very own Plasbennion coalman, first house on left from Wynne Hall to the village. While waiting at Hafod landsale for the afternoon shunt Bob would preach sermons to us all from the back of his lorry, but what a change if you took his turn while he was orating! Not Bible language, believe me. Further down on the right before the line was a house that sold cigs etc. on Sundays. Tin Chapel should have survived but the church authorities ignored the opinions of their congregations, even then. What's changed? Rhos church is next, Acrefair has gone! More houses, and not "affordables" either! Walter Klemm and family in the house about half a mile along the line towards Plas Isa and Goronwy running his farm from a council house in Plas Madoc while his fields were "opencasted". Decent football team too, gave Penycae and Stryt Isa sides games and "souvenirs" to remember, especially during the "festive" season! Another happy community destroyed! I was part of the very small, but very happy, Drefechan crowd of that era. I love the planners too, see my comments elsewhere about them.
Mon Sep 1 09:28:02 2008
Gwyn Morris
John, my family also came from Plasbennion, before your time I guess, my grandfather was Albert Evans, known locally as Albert Lancy, because he came from Lancashire, he had his own fruit and veg business which he ran from the back of a horse and cart in the Penycae-Ruabon area. I remember many happy days playing in Plasbennion, my aunty Cissie used to live in Sweeney Mount and during the long hot summers (do you remember them?), we used to play on the banks all day long. I was born in Rose Cottage which was on the level crossing very close to Wynn Hall. I have tried in vain to find information on the old Plasbennion, but it's very hard to find anyone with first hand experience of the village.
Tue Aug 19 08:15:31 2008
Geoff B Evans
Sue Yates, Thanks for that! I can also now recall the Tin Tabernacle to which you refer; was it in the narrow pointed piece of land on the left as travelling from "The Gate" towards the Rugby Club, at the junction of Dean Road, and Rhosnesni Lane?
Thu Apr 17 08:49:41 2008
Sue Bates, Leics.
I have a "Pilgrim's Progress" - a Sunday School attendance prize from Rhosnesni church in 1913 which belonged to my great-aunt Ethel Jones. The family moved from Oswestry to Wrexham, then to Denton (nr.Manchester) c.1915. She d.1945 in the Lake District.
Fri Apr 11 08:08:08 2008
Sue Yates from Bryn-y-Baal
I was born and grew up in Rhosnesni and attended another tin tab - St John's Church, which was situated at the junction of Dean Road and Rhosnesni Lane. This was in existence for many years until the lovely new church was built in the 1970s on Borras Road/Herbert Jennings Ave.
Fri Mar 28 09:25:03 2008
Cliff Norry
During my childhood in the 30 and 40s there was a tin tab in Pentre, Queensferry, on the Chester road on the left just past the pub, we went to beetle drives there, it was still there in the sixties. There are a couple of houses there now.
Mon Feb 18 10:11:44 2008
Geoffrey Evans
Thanks for your comments. My friend's family were also from the hamlet of Plasbennion, and also firm supporters of the church, they were Macmillans. Would you have a photograph? I recently travelled through and barely recognised the place.
Tue Feb 12 16:03:01 2008
John Raymond Griffiths
I was baptized in the Tin Tabernacle at Plasbennion in 1941. I still have my baptism certificate. My Mam and all her family were Plasbennion born and strong supporters of the church and lived in number 11 and number 12, the first and second houses in the second row of miners' cottages. Ocasionally I used to attend church sevices at this curch with my Mam and her sister, Eva Bailiff, who remained at number 12 until the great exodus to Daniels Drive, New Hall Road, Ruabon, and the final demolition of the hamlet of Plasbennion. I remember the chuch being beautifully decorated with flowers, very homely and peaceful to be in. It was a sad day the church was closed and demolished to make way for a posh house. It was said the church was unsafe, what a strange declaration when this was the only church of this type in the area to be enlosed with brick and made to look normal. I feel that this church may have been the victim of an economy drive rather than being unsafe. I now live in Borras and see the church of the tin Tabernacle church in Rhosnesi similar to that of Plasbennion is still in good use as is the one in the Wern Minera. How strange to declare Plasbennion redundant. We will never forget the comunity of Plasbennion and the church now gone forever even the name of the hamlet of Plasbennion has been lost by the planners by renaming this area as Plasbennion road Penycae, in my day this was Plasbennion hamlet, Ruabon. I love the planners who detroy our heritage but they cannot destroy our memories.
Mon Feb 11 10:45:37 2008
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