Wrexham Industrial Estate 3.94

Wrexham Industrial Estate is a well defined industrial area in Wrexham. It is suited on the eastern outskirts of the town and 2.5 miles from the centre of Wrexham. Originally the site of a World War II munitions factory, the estate later became known as the Wrexham Trading Estate. It has now grown to cover approximately 550ha and the largest industrial estate in Wales, second in the UK after Trafford Park, and one of the largest industrial estates in Europe. There are around 300 businesses, providing employment for approximately 8000 people. The estate consists of standalone industrial sites, industrial estates and business parks. The estate is the location of the UK's largest prison, HM Prison Berwyn which opened in 2017.ROF WrexhamThe Wrexham Industrial Estate had its origins as a Royal Ordnance Factory, ROF Wrexham, during World War II. The site employed 13,000 workers. The factory made cordite, an explosive propellent for shells. The site was chosen for its distance from German bomber bases in Europe while having good rail networks and a rural location that provided a good supply of labour. The complex was spread over a large area to minimise any damage from aerial attack. The main buildings were camouflaged and existing farm buildings were left in situ to help protect the site against reconnaissance. Many of the original buildings can still be seen today and still house smaller businesses on the estate; these can be distinguished from the 1950s buildings by large grids near the roof, essential for ventilation of the buildings.