A RARE map charting the history of a village is set to go under the hammer.

The unusual artefact dating back to 1835 is among the lots coming up at a Wrexham auction house.

The map of Rhos is a photostat of the original, but is the first that Dyfed Griffiths, auctioneer at Wingetts, has seen in a decade.

It will be sold as part of a collection of ephemera relating to the region.

Other items in the lot include a framed copy of The Wrexhamite dated 1856, a copy of The Wrexham Telegraph from the following year and another photostat map depicting Wrexham “before the fire of 1643”.

The Rhos map shows various landmarks, including coal mines in the area, as well as individual houses with the inhabitants named.

Mr Griffiths said: “We sold an original about 10 years ago and this is the first time I’ve seen a copy of it. It’s unusual because ordinary villagers are named on it. It will certainly interest local historians. Some of the street names have also since changed and there were only three chapels back then. There weren’t many pubs either.

“The newspapers are also quite interesting – The Wrexhamite has an article about the ‘coming of age’ of Lord Kenyon and the other features adverts for local tradesmen as well as reports on the war in India.”

The lot will be sold at Wingett’s next general sale which will be held on Monday, January 31 and it is estimated to fetch between £80 and £100. Meanwhile, the auction house’s fine art and antique sale takes place next Wednesday and features other items of local interest.

Among them is a clock, made by W. Butt of Wrexham, expected to make £100 – £150 and a longcase clock by Joyce of Ruthin, estimate £300 – £400.

Some of the star lots in the antique sale include a Regency tortoiseshell tea caddy, valued at £400 – £600 and a gold necklace, set with diamonds and emeralds, which should make £2,000.

The sale also features a selection of furniture, jewellery, china, pictures and works of art.

The auction takes place at the saleroom on Holt Street on Wednesday, January 26, from 10.30am. Visit www.wingetts.co.uk for details.