QUIET VILLAGE WHERE STAR HAS BOUGHT A HOME
SITTING just a couple of miles away from the English border, the village of Marford is a sleepy community which has all of a sudden found itself front-page news. It was revealed earlier this week that Wrexham AFC co-chairman Ryan Reynolds has bought a property in the village - with Marford located just five miles north of the club’s Racecourse home.
After hearing the news, I decided to pay the tiny rural community a visit.
Sandwiched between Gresford and Rossett, Marford has gained a reputation as one of the most salubrious neighbourhoods in the Wrexham area.
With house prices averaging nearly £500,000, according to Rightmove, the area is one of the most expensive places in north Wales to buy a property.
I arrived on a Thursday afternoon and the village was relatively quiet.
Passing through the villages of Cefny-Bedd and Llay, I noticed those two places have more of a ‘Wrexham feel’ in my opinion, with Marford resembling more of a leafy Cheshire suburb.
However, the sizeable and proud Welsh contingent in the village would probably take issue with that statement.
Travelling up the hill from the A483, it’s easy to see why Marford is one of the most expensive places to buy this side of the border. Every property seems to be a mini-mansion and the scores of beautifully kept half-acre gardens add to the area’s appeal.
The Trevor Arms looks to be an enjoyable place to sit outside and enjoy a pint on a summer’s day but I continued further into the village and reached the top of the hill.
There is a Co-op and The Red Lion pub at the top, which I’m led to believe is near Mr Reynolds’ new abode - perhaps the locals will be able to enjoy a celebratory pint with him and wife Blake Lively later this month if Wrexham do win the National League title.
I popped into the pub for a pint and a chat. It also doubles up as an Indian restaurant and there were a few customers already in enjoying afternoon drinks.
The locals were very friendly and the landlord told me there has been a great deal of excitement since the news broke about Mr Reynolds.
One local said: “Marford is great - it’s a very safe and pleasant village to live in, although there isn’t a great deal here.
“With us being next door to Gresford and Rossett it’s not a big issue, and what it does have makes up for it. The quarry/ nature reserve is fantastic, ideal for walking, running, biking, whatever you want from a big open space.”
After an enjoyable pint of Madri and a chat, I was on my way.
I went for a walk to the nearby quarry, which was set up in 1927 in order to excavate materials to build the Mersey Tunnel - it has since closed down and is now a nature reserve. It was beautiful, peaceful and totally in keeping with the village’s relaxed and picturesque nature.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my couple of hours in Marford and although I’m pretty sure Ryan Reynolds and family aren’t expecting to live in the village full time, it’ll certainly make for a lovely retreat when they are over for Wrexham AFC matches in the future.