Honouring Wrexham’s History through craftsmanship and creativity

THE HONOUR

The National Eisteddfod is Wales’s leading festival celebrating language, literature, and the arts. Rooted in over 800 years of tradition, it remains one of the most significant cultural events in the Welsh calendar, drawing more than 150,000 visitors annually. It showcases the very best of Welsh talent and provides a powerful platform for artists, poets, and musicians to share their work and heritage.

Each year, a unique crown is created to be awarded to the winning bard—one of the Eisteddfod’s highest honours. Being entrusted with this commission once again not only affirms the trust placed in our hands, but also reinforces our commitment to exceptional craftsmanship and to keeping the tradition of hand-crafted design alive for future generations.

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THE CONCEPT

The 2025 crown is inspired by the ancient fossils discovered in Brymbo Forest—dating back over 300 million years to the Carboniferous period. During this era, layers of plant debris, combined with flooding caused by natural events, formed the rich coal seams that would one day shape the industrial legacy of Wrexham. These fossils serve as the symbolic bedrock of the crown—representing the deep-rooted foundations of the region’s identity.

THE MAKING

After finalising the design using CAD, we began the physical process by hand-forming silver wire to create the crown’s flowing, organic structure. Each curve was shaped with precision, echoing the natural forms that inspired the design.

Once we were satisfied with the final form, we produced a master mould and used it to cast all the individual components needed to assemble the crown. Every casting was then carefully prepared—each sprue from the casting process was cut away and meticulously filed by hand to ensure a flawless finish.

With all the elements refined, we soldered the crown together into a single unified piece. It was then polished to a high shine, revealing the intricate detail and texture of the design.

Finally, the crown was plated in-house with rich 9ct yellow gold. We applied a subtle gradient effect—starting with a deeper, more intense gold at the base, gradually transitioning to a lighter, brighter gold toward the top. This gradient gives the impression of flames rising and flickering around the crown’s form, bringing a sense of movement, energy, and symbolism to the finished piece.

THE FINAL CROWN

OTHER DESIGN FEATURES

Encircling the crown is a flowing, organic pattern drawn directly from fossilised forms—subtle yet symbolic references to Wrexham’s geological past. Woven into this motif are a series of key historical dates, each marking a pivotal moment in Wrexham’s journey through time:

1725 – Construction of Strode House near Brymbo
1782
– John Wilkinson opens Bersham Ironworks, igniting Wrexham’s Industrial Revolution
1792
– Establishment of Brymbo Ironworks
1795
– Completion of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
1864
– Founding of Wrexham Football Club
1882
– Launch of Wrexham Lager
1900
– James Idwal Jones publishes the first Welsh-language historical atlas of Wales
1913
– Over 10,000 workers employed in Wrexham’s coal mines
1934
– The Gresford Mining Disaster claims 266 lives
2021
– Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney purchase Wrexham AFC

These dates were carefully chosen to reflect Wrexham’s evolution—from industrial power to cultural beacon—honouring both its legacy and its renewal.

At the heart of the crown sits a reimagined version of the Nod y Cyfrin. This year’s interpretation features a rugged, stone-like texture—evoking the ancient land beneath our feet and grounding the crown in a sense of permanence and place.

The word WRECSAM appears boldly across the piece, set in a bespoke typeface inspired by the now-iconic Hollywood-style sign that was unveiled in 2021. It stands as a proud emblem of place, identity, and voice.

THE COLLECTION

Own a piece of the crown.

Alongside the crown, we’re proud to present a limited-edition jewellery collection available exclusively at our stall during the Eisteddfod and available for pre-orders on the 14th of July. Each piece has been crafted using the master mould developed for the crown, featuring the same distinctive organic shape inspired by the ancient Brymbo fossils. Available in both sterling silver and gold-plated. A unique opportunity to own a piece of the crown’s story.

Enquiries

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02921 328114

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