The Guardians of Wrexham and Wales’ Ancient Past
Heneb
We first met Christopher Matthews from Heneb, the Trust for Welsh Archaeology at the Stori Brymbo opening event back in July. Chris kindly put us in touch with Zoe Arthurs, who met us in person at the Visit Wrexham offices.
Zoe
Arthurs
National Lead for Outreach and Engagement.
We had an interview with Zoe about the valuable work they do right across Wales, and discussed how as fellow Ambassadors for the City of Culture Bid, we could help each other to help get the work Heneb undertake known by a wider audience.
Heading up the Trust's Strategy.
In her role, Zoe heads up the trust’s strategy to connect communities with Wales’ archaeological heritage. Her responsibilities include managing national volunteer programs, overseeing public engagement projects like the "Mapping our Heritage" initiative, and leading outreach efforts for major events such as the upcoming Archaeology Conference Cymru here in Wrexham this October.
Our
New
Museum's
First
Event
Zoe is particularly excited about this conference as it will be both a major event for Heneb and the very first event hosted at the new Wrexham Museum and National Football Museum of Wales, opening in Wrexham, 25th September.
Wrexham
Industry
Heritage
Previously a Heritage Management Archaeologist for the Clwyd-Powys region, Zoe specialises in industrial landscapes and community archaeology. She also acts as a key contact for partnerships, ensuring Heneb’s work remains accessible and relevant to the public right across Wales, including here in Wrexham.
Heneb
The
Story
Tellers
What sets Heneb apart is its holistic approach to bringing archaeology alive. They don’t just dig; they tell stories – something very close to our heart. By combining cutting-edge technology with traditional methods and using storytelling to help bring ancient history back to life. This means the trust uncovers not just artifacts, but the human narratives behind them.
Mapping
Out
The
Past
This commitment has already yielded groundbreaking discoveries, reshaping our understanding of Wrexham’s and Wales’ past.
Zoe described the immense efforts members of her team have already undertaken in mapping out and capturing in exact detail local restoration projects like Thomas Telford’s aqueducts in the Wrexham area, using advanced 3D imaging techniques.
Chirk and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
These were both designed by Thomas Telford), and Heneb utilised an integrated survey combining photogrammetry and laser scanning. This created a high-resolution 3D model capturing in very high resolution the aqueduct, the adjacent railway viaduct, and the canal tunnel beneath in precise detail.
By recording every structural element, nut, bolt, and balustrade the team can plan all the conservation works required of our nearby UNESCO World heritage sites, ensuring they remain fully protected, maintained and used safely by millions of visitors to Wrexham for decades to come.
How
We
Can
Support
Visit Wrexham supports Heneb by highlighting their work and events around their archaeological discoveries for the UK City of Culture 2029 bid, integrating Heneb’s work and highlighting their efforts in our local sights such as Stori Brymbo and on the Wrexham Visitor Trail itself, and jointly marketing major events like the Archaeology Conference this October which will help boost tourism and community engagement.
Heneb has
significant plans for
Wrexham.
This year is headlined by hosting the inaugural Archaeology Conference Cymru (ArCC) from this October 2nd to 4th, here in Wrexham. This major event, a collaboration with PAS Cymru, will showcase remarkable archaeological discoveries from across Wales, with a specific focus on recent Roman findings in the Wrexham area.
The Future
Is Built
On The Past.
As Wrexham creates more sights that record and celebrate its past, Heneb remains a beacon of cultural stewardship. Its recent formation marks a new era - one where archaeology thrives as a living, breathing connection to our roots. For anyone fascinated by history, Heneb offers a window into the past that continues to shape the present.