Have a look at a slideshow of the village
To the older inhabitants, of whom I am one, Rossett is a place interwoven with their lives; to others, newly-come, it is either their future or a place of call; to the estate agent it is desirable property. To the Sunday painter, it is a watermill; to the bon vivant, a wine bar and to the toper a paradise of pubs. The village street, which was once a simple affair with its bakery and ironmongery, now provides life's necessities through its financial advisers, its beauticians, its mini-market, its surgeries and boutique. It also has a car park, where once stood the school I attended, a chapel, what was originally the Cocoa Rooms but is now a bank, and a village hall; pensioners' bungalows squat next to a rather grand development. But the most undemonstrative building in the street is a tin bungalow called Wynona.
There are two red brick terraces in Rossett, Sunny Villas in Station Road and Halkyn Terrace along the main road. Their frontages, despite the ministrations of double-glazing salesmen, retain some of their original character. Behind Halkyn Terrace is Gun Street. This lane runs down to the River Alyn through which horse-drawn traffic splashed en route to and from Chester.
The other old part of the village is the enclave known as the Green. Here, change has been more dynamic than in Gun Street: the 1882 Mount Zion chapel is now a house, the tin shanty shop is now a back garden; in-fill building has arrived along with a school and a clinic. Between Gun Street and the Green is an estate, the occupants of which seem to be largely absent during the day. This may be a dormitory for commuters, but it is also a source of energy and undoubtedly where the future of the village lies. School-support associations, environmental lobbies, art groups - their members are all to be found somewhere in the estate. In the year 2000 the River Alyn burst its banks and wreaked havoc: those who monitored the rising waters and used the information to defeat proposed building along the river were largely from the estate. They may not have been those most affected by the flood, but they were the ones who took action.
In the past - my past - the river was a source of pleasure for the young of the village: fishing, bathing, watching elvers arrive from the Sargasso Sea. Nowadays these pleasures are virtual, even though the herons and cormorants, the water voles and kingfishers are still to be seen; and fish to be enticed. Without the river, the origin of Rossett would seem arbitrary, set as it is in a flat, well-groomed landscape on the edge of Wales, as though fallen off a cart. Drivers coming into the village from the south look down on a sinuous line of willows and alders; this marks the course of the millrace which comes off the weir upstream. In the foreground is a field which will have gulls following a plough, or sprouting growth; sometimes, in thundery weather, the sky in the distance can be bruised and threatening, a brooding backcloth to wind-flurried golden wheat.
Beyond is seventeenth century Trevalyn Hall, very Jacobean and reassuring. Past a wood and over a bridge and to the left is a waterwheel, undershot with wooden paddles, and its magpie mill, all black and white with drunken timbers. 1661, it says on its façade, though it is much older than that. All much beloved of photographers and amateur artists. This is where Rossett's significance emerged, in water, in milling, in horses and carts splashing their way through a ford, and this is the scene which comes to mind when the name of the village is mentioned.
Apart from the mills and halls, Rossett has a collection of large houses. These are the Victorian houses of entrepreneurs attracted to the village by the railway which runs at the top of the village street. It once had a station with two platforms, signal boxes and flower beds, now all gone. These large houses are now nursing homes, hotels and apartments. One - the Manor - is a hospital soon to go the way of the others and become luxury dwellings. In its time, therefore, it has seen birth and death - and carnivals. The Rose Queen was crowned annually on its lawns after a procession through the village; children in fancy dress hopped and skipped down its avenues of trees and afterwards were allowed to play in the grounds. And what grounds! Grottoes, archways, bamboo groves, strange volcanic rocks, secret pathways and monkey puzzle trees. There was an army of gardeners, of course, but now all is forsaken and sad.
Nostalgia is our defence against change: at least we have lived in good times. Of course, one remembers only too well that there was no litter in the old days. Graffiti and vandalism did not exist and certainly there were no roaring boys wronging the ancients. Now, Rossett has its fair share of uncouthness, though, no doubt, this will be excised from the nostalgia of the future. But Rossett, like everywhere else, is in the mind. It is not defined by facts and figures, but is a place of large skies, noisy rookeries, a chestnut tree with sheep huddled beneath, herons with spear-beaks poised, resin like amber syrup on a broken branch, the crack of ice in a wheel rut, a hawk on a leather glove, eyes-a-glitter, early morning mist on the river. My private village. When you pass through, tread softly, please.
your comments
Tony Anthony (2 Tone)
Peter, I'll tread as softly on your village as your village treads softly on my aspirations. If you move away from your allocated position and purpose in the contradictory farce that is the "community", if you move away to pursue something that is above providing kicks for the bored, you've won. I feel sorry for the gypsies.
Thu Jun 11 08:19:22 2009
Dave Greenly from Mold
Now that the 1911 census has been extended to include the Welsh counties(about time!)we have located my g/grandmother living in Rossett as housekeeper to the Edwards brothers, Harry and Alyn, Bakers and Grocers.No street address is given.
Wed Jun 10 12:42:10 2009
Steve, Rossett
Cyril stationed at Horsely Hall in 1946. Would you happen to recall the name of the US Army Unit based at Darland Hall during WWII?
Thu May 21 09:25:14 2009
Cyril Cunnick, Mold
I was stationed at Horsely Hall in 1946, one of seven men among 400 ATS girls. It was a school for ATS drivers, cooks and office staff. Many a happy hour spent in the Hall.
Tue Apr 14 10:50:16 2009
Jane Atkinson, Rhuddlan
I also spent 12 weeks on a pre-nursing course at Strathalyn Hall, Rossett, in 1976. Today I tried to find the hall but the road I remember it on had been blocked off permanently and a fly over built! A colleague of mine bought the hall and turned it into a nursing home, I have lost touch with her and wondered if it is still a nursing home and how do I get to it now?
Mon Mar 9 09:30:04 2009
Shirley Williams, Conwy
I am very drawn towards the Rossett and Lavister area. My grandmother was Constance Wycherley and reputedly worked or lived at the Rossett Mill after her parents died. Two of her brothers, Spencer and Leonard, were killed in 1915 in WWI. Are there any descendents left in the area?
Mon Sep 8 09:04:28 2008
Frances Fisher, York
I wrote about the nurses' training house in Rossett - I now remember the name Strathalyn Hall. Our nurse tutor was Sister Megan Jones who I think was a resident of the village. Does anyone have any memories of this?
Fri Aug 8 10:26:25 2008
Frances Fisher, York
In 1975, before I worked at the Wrexham hospitals, I attended a 12 week pre-training nursing course at a building known as 'Plas' on Chester Rd, Rossett. It was a stately house with period features and beautiful grounds. Is it still standing and what is it called now? It holds happy memories for me and I would love to hear more about it.
Mon Aug 4 10:40:25 2008
Andrew Sutton, Ripley
I lived for almost 6 years, between 1995 & 2001, in Rossett, on Halkyn Terrace. By far the best place I have ever lived and given the chance I'd move back in a instant.
Thu Jul 24 13:58:17 2008
Jean Lovell, Hampshire
I think that I was born in the Trevalyn nursing home, Rossett. I too would be interested to learn when it closed, also, any info or pictures of this building in 1949.
Tue Jul 1 08:10:16 2008
Rupert
We are just normal people we have not got two heads. Your peace and tranquility will not be shattered. It might look like a building site at the moment but just give us a chance and you will see. If anyone would like to speak to us they are more than welcome.
Wed Jun 4 09:11:35 2008
Rossett taxpayer
What a beautiful village we have? Now our peace and tranquility could be shattered by the arrival of travellers on the Holt Road. They have bought a piece of land and under the cover of the bank holiday, when they know the council are unavailable, have erected fencing around the site and are laying a hardcore surface. These people do not have planning permission! The planning dispute could go on for years!
Web Team replies: Wrexham Council issued a statement today saying this matter was being dealt with by their planning department as the site concerned was open countryside.
Tue May 27 09:31:13 2008
Visitor to Rossett
My husband and I were very keen to visit the Mill last weekend and saw a board with the Easter weekend opening times, but when we arrived it was closed. We tried later that day but there was no sign of life. If anyone knows the proper opening times please post them on this site.Many thanks.
Tue Mar 25 14:28:17 2008
Ken
Rossett is still a good place to live - all villages have problem kids. BUT this village does not need people to give it a negative view when there are a lot of places have a lot more yobs. We have a good police / PC support officer in the village.
Mon Dec 17 08:35:17 2007
Ian from Rhosddu
Is the prodigal son returning to Burton?
Mon Nov 19 07:59:30 2007
Danny
I moved here from London and I sometimes miss the busy hassle of the city and the discussions made by my near friends.
Fri Nov 16 08:28:26 2007
Sue Panton
Can anyone tell when Trevalyn closed as the old maternity hospital?
Tue Oct 16 09:32:05 2007
Carol Wells, Oldham
I have visited Rossett quite a few times as my father, Tom Humphreys, was born there in 1913. He lived at 4 Halkyn Terrace, his father Thomas Humphreys was also born in the village. My grandmother Margaret Edwards also lived in the village with an Eliza Evans at Roft cottage. I would love to know if Roft cottage still exists. My great grandfather James Humphreys was a miller and I often wonder if he worked in the mill at Rossett. It's a beautiful village and I always enjoy my visits there.
Fri Sep 28 11:25:44 2007
Emma - Jayne Dulson from Gloucestershire
To Charlotte From Rossett: My father (Peter Dulson) went to school with Sandra Green, and he also knew Samuel Green.
Mon May 14 08:51:58 2007
Charlotte, Rossett
My mum never went to the little school where the car park is now. She said it was knocked down before she was born. I don't know where I got that from!
Tue May 8 10:27:45 2007
Charlotte from Rossett
To Diane Gratton. My nan lives in the same row of cottages as a large family of Dulsons. They are probably related to you. My mum Sandra Green (plus five siblings) has lived in Rossett nearly all her life. She went to the little school where the car park is now. My grandad Samuel Green was a water bailiff. He passed away before I was born. If anybody knows the Greens from Rossett and could tell me any stories about them I would be very grateful. They'll never live it down! PS. The village used to be beautiful until it got taken over by drug users, teenage yobs and boy racers. All people have left are the ghosts of how it used to be.
Mon Apr 23 08:59:21 2007
Dianne Gratton, Hawarden
My Grandparents lived at Meadow Farm, Trevalyn, Rossett. They were called Hilda and Arthur Dulson and my Mother, Joan Rayner nee Dulson, thinks she went to school with Peter Jones in the late 40s/50s. The Peter Jones she knew lived in Waverley Crescent. Can anyone confirm if it was the same person? Thanks
Thu Apr 19 08:12:38 2007
Lucy Hine - Marford
Re Richard Bowens comment. Hoseley Hall was used as an officer training camp during the war. It lies between Rossett, Trevalyn and Marford in the old Hoseley area. Nothing much remains now, its a ruin in the woods. There are records and photos of the old hall still available in local libraries and regimental museums.
Fri Jan 26 10:42:29 2007
Richard Bowen
My father's military record from WWII shows that he attended an Officers' Training Course in Rossett in 1942. Where would that have been? It is likely that this would have been somewhere substantial?
Tue Jan 9 08:39:27 2007
