Llay

Llay(Welsh:Llai;meaningmeadow;) is a village andcommunityinWrexham County Borough,Wales.

Llay Welsh:Llai
The Miners' Welfare Institute, the largest such building in the country at completion in 1931
Llay Location withinWrexham
Population	4,814 (2011 Census)
OS grid reference	SJ334561
Community	Llay
Principal area	Wrexham
Preserved county	Clwyd
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	WREXHAM
Postcode district	LL12
Dialling code	01978
Police	North Wales
Fire	North Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
UK Parliament	Wrexham
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament	Wrexham

It borders several other villages includingGwersylltandGresford.At the2001 Census,the total population of the community of Llay, including Llay village, was 4,905,reducing to 4,814 at the 2011 Census.

Prior to the 1960s, Llay was acoal miningvillage. Llay Main Colliery, at one time the largest colliery in Wales and after 1952 the deepest pit in the UK, was a major employer for the area before its coal reserves were exhausted in 1966.

History

Llay first appears in mediaeval records as ahamlet- a small settlement without a church - of the township and manor ofBurton.It later formed an outlying part of the parish ofGresford,but the relatively late growth of the village is shown by the fact that the first church service was not held there until 1916, and its church was not completed until 1925.Llay was eventually made a separate parish in its own right in 1944.

Much of the growth of the village is connected with the development of coal mines, particularly the Llay Main Colliery. It was first established by the industrialistSir Arthur Markhamin 1913, but sinking of the shafts was interrupted by theFirst World Warand by Markham's death in 1916.The shafts were eventually completed in 1921, and coal production started in 1923. The colliery had a reputation as a well-run, modern pit with a relatively satisfied workforce, and by the 1930s was employing more than 3,000 men, 450 families being installed in new housing schemes in Llay.

Today

There is acountry parkin Llay calledAlyn Waters country park,which has a sister country park in Gwersyllt of the same name. The site includes a children's play park and pathways forpedestrianandcycleaccess through the forest. There were numerous original artworks around the park such as carved wooden animals along the paths, however many of the artworks have now been stolen or destroyed. There is a small golfing range at the park, and other sporting events take place on the large playing fields, such asfootball(home of Llay United Youth Football Club) andarchery.

There are four churches in the village of Llay; theRoman CatholicSt. Francis of Assisi,Llay Community Church of the Nazarene,St. Martin of Toursof theChurch in Walesand the BethelBaptist Church.

There are three drinking establishments, which are theRoyal British Legionclub, the Crownpublic houseand Llay Miners' Welfare, also known as Miners' Welfare Institute. The Welfare had its grand opening in 1931 after negotiations in 1929 for monies to build a Miners' Institute with sports facilities. The Welfare was refurbished in 2005 after receiving agrantfor the work.

There is anindustrial estatein Llay, being similar in size to the whole village itself, which it includes aSharp Electronicsfactory.

The Llay Resource Centre was opened in 2005 byChris Armstrong.The Resource Centre features a library, cafe, youth club and runs various courses and groups for the local community.

Notable residents

• Chris Armstrong- formerWrexham,Tottenham Hotspur,Crystal Palaceand England B Team professional footballer, was brought up by his adoptive parents in the village after being born inNewcastle upon Tyne.
• Terry Hennessey- former Welsh International professional footballer who played forDerby Countyin the 1970s. Now lives inAustralia.
• Mark Hughes- formerManchester CityManager and former Welsh International andManchester Unitedprofessional footballer, lived in the village until age four.
• Steve O'Shaughnessy- former professional footballer who played forLeeds United,Bradford City,Rochdaleand captainedDarlington
• Dennis Taylor- 1985World Snooker Championshipwinner andBBCsnooker commentator.

External links

• Miner's Welfare's history on their official site
• photos of Llay and surrounding area on geograph