This story has been kindly shared by Vicky Heathfield.
Wrexham
National
Trust
Association
50 Years of the Wrexham National Trust Association. By Geraldine Goldstraw. Supporting Erddig Hall and Gardens’ Legacy - a celebration of dedication, community and preservation.
50 Years
Of
Dedication
On Friday, 26 June 2026 the Wrexham National Trust Association (WNTA) marked 50 years of dedication to the restoration and preservation of Erddig with an evening of celebration in the Rose Garden at Erddig.
100
Member
Celebration
Nearly 100 members enjoyed canapés and a glass of fizz whilst listening to a most enjoyable talk by our guest speaker, Stephen Lacey, the renowned plantsman and garden designer. They also had the opportunity to see ‘Behind the Scenes’ into the Chinese and Tapestry Rooms and view a display of some of the items which have been conserved through funding from the WNTA.
Erddig
Needed
Saving
The WNTA was formed after Leta Jones was taken round Erddig, still in its unrestored state, by the last squire, Philip Yorke III. She consulted with friends on how to raise funds to help with the restoration and in March 1976 the first event was held, a coffee morning in the Wrexham Memorial Hall, where Philip gave the opening speech expressing his delight in the project to save Erddig.
History
Of
Fundraising
The Memorial Hall Coffee Morning became an annual event along with many other fundraising events such as coach outings, the Autumn Talks and an annual dinner.
In 1988, the WNTA was the third highest fundraiser for the National Trust in England and Wales and, to date, has donated over £100,000 to a wide variety of projects at Erddig. These include the restoration of the Victorian Clock, the gates on the West Front, the Victorian Greenhouses and the recreation of the thatched Victoria Playhouse with the most recent donation, purchasing two mobility scooters, which allow visitors to explore the gardens and the ground floor of the house.
Ongoing
Events
Talks
Fundraising events continue today with a series of trips through the summer, the summer and Christmas lunches and the Autumn Talks which take place on the second Tuesday of the month from October to March in St John’s Church Hall, Herbert Jennings Avenue, Wrexham.
Over the last half century, our members, many of whom are volunteers at Erddig, have recognised the importance of Philip Yorke’s gift of his unique home to the National Trust and will continue to support his remarkable legacy.