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The Wrexham Hippodrome, Henblas Street, Wrexham, Clwyd

Above - The Wrexham Hippodrome in June 2002 with 'Closed' and 'For Sale' notices plastered on its walls - Photo Paul Hamblet 02

The Wrexham Hippodrome was built on the site of a former Public Hall which was itself originally built in 1873 and eventually destroyed by fire.

In 1909 the New Opera House & Public Hall was built on the site and in 1911 this became known as the Wrexham Public Hall, and then later still, the Wrexham Hippodrome.

Left - Auditorium of the Wrexham Hippodrome in 1985 - Courtesy Ted Bottle

The Hippodrome is mentioned in the Theatres Trust Guide To British Theatres stating that the Theatre 'had an interesting lozenge shaped interior with one curved balcony with baroque plaster ornament and a tiny triangular stage.' It had a seating capacity of 800.

The Theatre was later subdivided and used as a cinema for many years.

In 2004 the Hippodrome was bought by a property developer and its future became extremely vulnerable. Local campaigners and celebrities, including Ken Dodd (see cutting below) fought to save the building for future generations but its redevelopment looked almost certain.

Above - Doddy joins the fight to save historic theatre from developer - A local newspaper cuttings on the Campaign to save the Wrexham Hippodrome on August the 19th 2004

Then on the 16th of June 2008 a major fire did extensive damage to the building and its future became even more uncertain. Ironically the fire occurred just a week after the Theatre's former owner Barry Flanagan, who had run the Theatre for over 37 years, passed away.

Above - Video of the Wrexham Hippodrome on fire on the 16th of June 2008
(You will need to have the Macromedia Flash Player plug-in installed to be able to view this Video)

Sadly, nothing could save the building after the fire and 10 months later, in April 2009, the Theatre was finally demolished.

For more information on the Wrexham Hippodrome and its history you may be interested in the following links:

The last picture show - From the BBC

Dodd backs cinema campaign - BBC

Daily Post article on the fire

Wrexham Entertainment news

You may also like to visit the website of the new Wales Millennium Centre here...

And an article on this site about Britain's Hippodrome Theatres here...

Arthur Lloyd is known to have performed in Wrexham 1872

If you have any more information or images for this Theatre that you are willing to share please Contact me.