79-637: Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port in the Borough of Halton , Cheshire , England. Its population in 2021 was 62,100. Runcorn is on the southern bank of the River Mersey , where the estuary narrows to form the Runcorn Gap . It lies on the southern shore of the River Mersey 15 miles (24 km) upstream from the port of Liverpool. Runcorn was founded by Æthelflæd of Mercia in 915 AD as
158-730: A unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Cheshire. In April 2014, Halton Borough Council joined five other local authorities in Merseyside to form the Liverpool City Region . Runcorn is in the Runcorn and Helsby constituency for representation in the House of Commons . The seat has been held by Mike Amesbury of the Labour Party since its creation for the 2024 general election . From 1997 to 2024, Runcorn
237-665: A Trust. In 1872, the navigation part of the trust was sold to the Bridgewater Navigation Company at a cost of £1,115,000. This consisted of the Bridgewater Canal and the Mersey and Irwell Navigations, together with their docks and warehouses. The company developed further improvements including a new dock, the Fenton Dock (named after the chairman of the company), which was completed in 1875 at
316-540: A classical quotation from Juvenal . The earliest written reference to the town is in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle , where it is spelled "Rumcofan", literally meaning "a wide cove or bay". This word is derived from the Old English words "rúm" ("wide" or "broad") and "cofa" ("cave" or "cove"). Other historical spellings of Runcorn include "Rumcoven", "Ronchestorn", "Runckhorne", and "Runcorne". Little
395-602: A cost of £50,000. This was equipped with hydraulic cranes and served by high level tramways and railway sidings. Meanwhile, the Weaver Trustees were developing their trade, having built the Delamere Dock in 1870. The engineer for this dock was Edward Leader Williams who later became the engineer for the Manchester Ship Canal. There were no further large scale developments at the port until
474-476: A deepwater berth of 168m. It has pipelines handling chemical and other liquid cargoes connecting to adjacent storage facilities and to the Ineos Chlor network. Citations Sources Cavaliers The term Cavalier ( / ˌ k æ v ə ˈ l ɪər / ) was first used by Roundheads as a term of abuse for the wealthier royalist supporters of Charles I of England and his son Charles II during
553-649: A fortification to guard against Viking invasion at a narrowing of the River Mersey. Under Norman rule, Runcorn fell under the Barony of Halton and an Augustinian abbey was established here in 1115. It remained a small, isolated settlement until the Industrial Revolution when the extension of the Bridgewater Canal to Runcorn in 1776 established it as a port which would link Liverpool with inland Manchester and Staffordshire. The docks enabled
632-618: A new town under the New Towns Act 1946 . The ministry cited the urgent need for more housing to reduce overcrowding in Liverpool and to increase the rate of slum clearance there. Runcorn was chosen because of its strong road, rail and canal connections, ample water supply, convenient location on the Mersey Estuary for the disposal of effluent, established industry and the availability of land for more. Following objections to
711-493: A smaller 'district centre'. The plan sought to increase public open space, reduce shopping provision, rationalise roads and renew housing stock. It also included plans to widen the Runcorn-Widnes Bridge from two to four lanes and create a new system of junctions between the bridge and the expressway. The masterplan was amended for the second and final time in 1975. Amendment No.2 extended the expressway further to
790-529: A suggestion of stylishness. Cavalier remained in use as a description for members of the party that supported the monarchy up until the Exclusion Crisis of 1678–1681 when the term was superseded by "Tory" which was another term initially with pejorative connotations. Likewise, during the Exclusion Bill crisis, the term Roundhead was replaced with " Whig ", a term introduced by the opponents of
869-552: A tee. Of another Cavalier, George Goring, Lord Goring , a general in the Royalist army, the principal advisor to Charles II , Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon , said: [He] would, without hesitation, have broken any trust, or done any act of treachery to have satisfied an ordinary passion or appetite; and in truth wanted nothing but industry (for he had wit, and courage, and understanding and ambition, uncontrolled by any fear of God or man) to have been as eminent and successful in
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#1732773347022948-756: A temporary port called Saltport was established at the mouth of the River Weaver. By 1893, the ship canal was opened as far as the Old Quay Dock. In order to allow direct access to the Port of Runcorn and the Weaver Navigation, four locks were built. Weston Marsh lock at the mouth of the Weaver allowed access to the Weaver Navigation; Weston Mersey lock enabled entrance to the Weaver Docks;
1027-585: Is Halton Borough Council for which the town is divided into nine electoral wards , each electing three councillors. At the time of the Domesday survey, Runcorn was in the hundred of Tunendune, but later, and until the early 19th century, Runcorn was part of the Bucklow hundred. Under the Runcorn Improvement Act 1852, a board of Improvement Commissioners was established to administer
1106-539: Is Sherwood Sandstone and pebbly sandstone. To the south there is a transition to siltstone, sandstone and predominantly Mercia Mudstone . The primary sedimentary rock is New Red Sandstone . The superficial geology is varied with pockets of sand and diamicton along the lower-lying land adjacent to the Mersey and through Runcorn. Sand and gravel becomes common on the southern fringes of the town and elsewhere there are small pockets of clay, silt, sand and gravel. There are two Sites of Special Scientific Interest within
1185-669: Is crossed by three bridges: Runcorn Railway Bridge (which carries the Liverpool branch of the West Coast Main Line), the Silver Jubilee Bridge and the Mersey Gateway which carries the A533 . A system of dual carriageways called 'expressways' form a figure of 8 around the town. The Central Expressway runs through the centre of the town in a north–south direction and is the main through-road. It connects to
1264-416: Is generally high, but there are open green areas, in particular heathland on Runcorn Hill and the extensive Town Park created as part of the new town. Housing is typically situated within the expressways and industry outside. The Runcorn area drains into the River Mersey to the north and the River Weaver to the south. The bedrock geology of the River Mersey and the northern and western fringes of Runcorn
1343-506: Is known about the early history of the settlement but isolated findings of objects from the Stone , Bronze , and Iron Ages have been made and there is evidence of a Roman presence in the area. The first recorded event in its history is the building by Æthelflæd of a fortification at Runcorn to protect the northern frontier of her kingdom of Mercia against the Vikings in 915. The fort
1422-760: Is often considered to be an archetypal Cavalier. Cavalier derives from the same Latin root as the Italian word cavaliere , the French word chevalier , and the Spanish word caballero , the Vulgar Latin word caballarius , meaning 'horseman'. Shakespeare used the word cavaleros to describe an overbearing swashbuckler or swaggering gallant in Henry IV, Part 2 (c. 1596–1599), in which Robert Shallow says, "I'll drink to Master Bardolph, and to all
1501-492: Is operated by Peel Ports and handles bulk and project cargo. It is possible that a small Roman port existed on the River Mersey at Runcorn. But the development of a port of any significance did not start until the Bridgewater Canal was extended to Runcorn in 1776. A line of ten locks was built from 1771–1773 to connect the Runcorn basin of the canal at 21.3m AOD with the River Mersey at 3.7m AOD. Close to this point,
1580-679: The Diocese of Chester and the Deanery of Frodsham. The parish church is All Saints Church , and there are 10 other Anglican churches in the town. Five Catholic churches can be found in Runcorn and are administered by the Diocese of Shrewsbury . Runcorn Docks Runcorn Docks , originally the Bridgewater Docks , is an inland port on the Manchester Ship Canal in the town of Runcorn , Cheshire , England. It
1659-522: The Duke of Bridgewater built Bridgewater House from which to supervise the work. To the west of this area he built a dock ('Old Dock'), which opened in 1791. By 1825, a second flight of locks was constructed to deal with the volume of traffic. Together, this complex was known as the Bridgewater Docks. Two further docks were developed on neighbouring Runcorn waterways: Weston Point Docks on
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#17327733470221738-671: The English Civil War , the Interregnum , and the Restoration (1642 – c. 1679 ). It was later adopted by the Royalists themselves. Although it referred originally to political and social attitudes and behaviour, of which clothing was a very small part, it has subsequently become strongly identified with the fashionable clothing of the court at the time. Prince Rupert , commander of much of Charles I's cavalry,
1817-666: The M56 motorway which cuts into the south of the town. To the west of the Central Expressway lies the Old Town of Runcorn, Higher Runcorn, Weston , Weston Point and Clifton (formerly Rocksavage), and the new town estates of Halton Brook and Halton Lodge. To the east are the formerly separate villages of Halton and Norton , and the new town estates of Castlefields, Palacefields, Windmill Hill, Murdishaw, Brookvale, Hallwood Park, Beechwood and Sandymoor . The density of housing
1896-653: The Reform Act 1832 , Runcorn was in the constituency of Cheshire which was represented by two Members of Parliament . Following the Reform Act, the town was placed in the North Cheshire constituency and from 1868 in the Mid Cheshire constituency. From 1885 to 1950 the town was in the constituency of Northwich . The constituency of Runcorn was created by a 1948 Act of Parliament and Dennis Vosper
1975-527: The Runcorn to Latchford Canal linking with the Mersey and Irwell Navigation, and the Weston Canal which gave better access to the Weaver Navigation system. Industries began to develop within and around the town, in particular shipbuilding, engineering, chemical manufacturing, tanning, and sandstone quarrying. Towards the end of the 18th century and in the early years of the 19th century,
2054-483: The Silver Jubilee Bridge ) which allowed a more efficient means of road traffic across Runcorn Gap. During the first half of the 20th century, the industry of the town continued to be dominated by chemicals and tanning. This growth was largely due to government fixed-priced cost contracts for tanned hides. In 1926, four chemical companies merged to form Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). During
2133-642: The Weston Canal in 1810, and Old Quay Docks on the Runcorn to Latchford Canal in 1826. Thus the port of Runcorn comprised three separate companies: the Bridgewater Trustees , the Mersey and Irwell Company, and the Weaver Trustees. In the early years of the 19th century, the amount of cargo passing through the docks steadily increased. From 1816 to 1834, the Bridgewater Dock increased its trade from 76,000 tons to 118,000 tons, and
2212-404: The 1070s. In 1115, Nigel's son, William Fitznigel, founded an Augustinian Priory at Runcorn . In 1134, the priory was moved to Norton, about 3.5 mi (6 km) away. In 1391, the priory was raised to the higher status of abbey . In 1536, the monastery was dissolved , and around nine years later, the buildings and some of the monastic lands were sold to Sir Richard Brooke who converted
2291-566: The Bridgewater Canal was disused by the late 1930s. They were closed and filled in under the Ship Canal Act 1949. The Ship Canal Act of 1966 allowed the closure of the new line of locks, the old dock area and the Francis and Arnold Docks. The former Tidal Basin of the Bridgewater Docks assumed the name Francis Dock after the latter was filled in. The Runcorn and Weston Canal was filled in to provide additional quay space for modern docks and
2370-539: The Bridgewater Trustees' offices in Manchester and their dock in Liverpool. From around this time, there was a considerable increase in trade. In April of that year, over 110 vessels entered the port, which was more than could be conveniently accommodated. In order to deal with the increased trade, the Bridgewater Trustees began to build a new dock in 1867 and to remove obstructions from the river. It
2449-582: The Bridgewater docks were served by the Bridgewater lock; and the Old Quay dock by the Runcorn Old Quay lock. The ship canal was opened throughout its length in 1894. Saltport was bypassed and a few years later it was dismantled. To the east of the Bridgewater Dock, the ship canal passes under Runcorn Railway Bridge which has a clearance of 75 feet (23 m) above the high water mark of
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2528-645: The Gestapo Black Book as a company of special interest but although the works at Weston Point were discussed at Luftwaffe briefings in 1940, the town was never deliberately targeted and was subject only to very limited bombing. In September 1963, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government published a draft of the Runcorn New Town (Designation) Order which would allocate 7,750 acres (3,140 ha) in and around Runcorn for development of
2607-694: The King; some whereof, under the name of Cavaliers, without having respect to the Laws of the Land, or any fear either of God or Man, were ready to commit all manner of Outrage and Violence. 1642 Petition Lords & Com. 17 June in Rushw. Coll. III. (1721) I. 631 That your Majesty..would please to dismiss your extraordinary Guards, and the Cavaliers and others of that Quality, who seem to have little Interest or Affection to
2686-533: The Mersey and Irwell from 90,000 tons to 135,000 tons. To cope with this increased business, the Bridgewater Trustees built a new dock, Francis Dock, which opened in 1843. In 1844, the Mersey and Irwell Company was purchased by the Trustees of the Bridgewater Canal. Throughout this time, the port of Runcorn was part of the Port of Liverpool . The growing importance of Runcorn was recognised on 5 April 1847 when it
2765-643: The Mersey and entered the docks through the locks. From the opening of the ship canal there was a temporary improvement in trade for the Runcorn docks but a decline set in from the turn of the century. There was a short revival after the First World War but this was not maintained. Improvements were made to Bridgewater Docks in 1935 but by 1950 the docks were "virtually moribund". Trade at Runcorn Docks declined from 124,428 tons in 1925 to 32,881 tons in 1951, and at Weston Point Docks from 200,000 tons in 1938 to 40,000 tons in 1954. The old line of locks from
2844-422: The Mersey. This meant that the larger of the tall ships could not pass under the bridge. A lay-by was therefore built for these ships to discharge their cargo, which was carried onwards by a lighter to its destination. The lay-by was big enough to accommodate the largest merchant vessels of the day. While the larger vessels approached the Runcorn docks by way of the ship canal, the smaller vessels sailed up
2923-401: The River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal at Runcorn: the Silver Jubilee Bridge , Mersey Gateway , and Runcorn Railway Bridge . Its location between Liverpool and Manchester and its links to the rail, motorway and canal networks have made it a centre for manufacturing, logistics, and wholesale and retail. The town's motto is Navem Mercibus Implere (Latin for "fill the ship with goods"),
3002-719: The Royalist field officers were typically in their early thirties, married with rural estates which had to be managed. Although they did not share the same outlook on how to worship God as the English Independents of the New Model Army , God was often central to their lives. This type of Cavalier was personified by Jacob Astley, 1st Baron Astley of Reading , whose prayer at the start of the Battle of Edgehill has become famous "O Lord, Thou knowest how busy I must be this day. If I forget Thee, do not forget me". At
3081-428: The Royalist side – capricious men who cared more for vanity than the nation at large. The chaplain to King Charles I, Edward Simmons described a Cavalier as "a Child of Honour, a Gentleman well borne and bred, that loves his king for conscience sake, of a clearer countenance, and bolder look than other men, because of a more loyal Heart". There were many men in the Royalist armies who fit this description since most of
3160-476: The Tollemache Dock was opened at Weston Point in 1885. From about 1877, the silting of the channels started to improve and trade improved again. The improvement continued until 1889 when the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal caused problems. Trade declined again, and in 1894 the independent customs Port of Runcorn was abolished and incorporated into the Port of Manchester . Construction of
3239-583: The Urban District Council and existing traders. The new Halton site was favoured and Shopping City opened in 1972. However, the Urban District Council secured a commitment from the Development Corporation to continue a programme of regeneration which the council had already begun. In 1971, the Development Corporation published Master Plan Amendment No.1 which focused on the urban renewal of the Old Town centre, now designated
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3318-668: The West Bank area of Widnes; together these form Runcorn Gap, a narrowing of the River Mersey. The town is bounded to the southwest by the Weaver Navigation ; to the south by the Chester–Manchester and Crewe–Liverpool railway lines; and to the east by the West Coast Main Line until the village of Moore . A series of valleys is formed by high points at Runcorn Hill (75m AOD ), Halton Castle (75m AOD), Windmill Hill (70m AOD) and Keckwick Hill (75m AOD). Runcorn Gap
3397-406: The archetypal recorder of the Cavalier image, all took the Parliamentary side in the Civil War. Probably the most famous image identified as of a "cavalier", Frans Hals ' Laughing Cavalier , shows a gentleman from the strongly Calvinist Dutch town of Haarlem , and is dated 1624. These derogatory terms (for at the time they were so intended) also showed what the typical Parliamentarian thought of
3476-557: The cavaleros about London". Shallow returns in The Merry Wives of Windsor (c. 1597), where he is called "Cavaleiro Justice" (knightly judge) and "bully rook", a term meaning "blustering cheat". "Cavalier" is chiefly associated with the Royalist supporters of King Charles I in his struggle with Parliament in the English Civil War. It first appears as a term of reproach and contempt, applied to Charles' followers in June 1642: 1642 (June 10) Propositions of Parlt . in Clarendon v. (1702) I. 504 Several sorts of malignant Men, who were about
3555-406: The civil government of the town. By the Local Government Act 1894 , the administration of the town and the surrounding areas was divided into Runcorn Urban District and Runcorn Rural District . Initially the urban district consisted of only the built-up area of Runcorn itself. By 1937, this area had been extended to include the communities of Weston and Weston Point to the south. In 1964, Runcorn
3634-449: The docks. Trade increased so much that the Bridgewater Trustees were having difficulty in coping with the increased trade. In 1853, an act promoted by the Earl of Ellesmere led to the construction of a short canal, the Runcorn and Weston Canal , which connected the Bridgewater Docks to the Weston Canal and Weston Point Docks. This opened for traffic on 25 February 1860. In the same year, the Bridgewater Trustees opened Alfred Dock, which
3713-494: The draft order, a public Local Inquiry was held at Runcorn from 10 to 12 December 1963. The subsequent report accepted the location in principle and the proposed population of 90,000. It did, however, recommend that 500 acres (200 ha) around the village of Sutton Weaver to the south of the Chester–Manchester and Crewe–Liverpool railway lines be excluded from the designated area, partly to preserve its highly productive agricultural land. The minister, Keith Joseph , accepted
3792-447: The dress of at least the most extreme Roundhead supporters of Parliament , with their preference for shorter hair and plainer dress, although neither side conformed to the stereotypical images entirely. Most Parliamentarian generals wore their hair at much the same length as their Royalist counterparts, though Cromwell was something of an exception. The best patrons in the nobility of Charles I's court painter Sir Anthony van Dyck ,
3871-420: The east and redesignated land at Sandymoor intended for industrial use to residential. The Runcorn Development Corporation merged with Warrington Development Corporation on 1 April 1981 and was wound up on 30 September 1989. Much of the architecture of the new town was innovative, especially the Southgate development designed by Sir James Stirling and built between 1970 and 1977. Stirling's housing development
3950-520: The end of the First Civil War , Astley gave his word that he would not take up arms again against Parliament and having given his word he felt duty bound to refuse to help the Royalist cause in the Second Civil War ; however, the word was coined by the Roundheads as a pejorative propaganda image of a licentious, hard drinking and frivolous man, who rarely, if ever, thought of God. It is this image which has survived and many Royalists, for example Henry Wilmot, 1st Earl of Rochester , fitted this description to
4029-399: The growth of industry, initially shipwrights and sandstone quarries. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, it was a spa and health resort but this ended with the growth of polluting industries, especially soap and chemical works. In 1964, Runcorn was designated a new town and expanded eastward, swallowing neighbouring settlements and more than doubling its population. Three bridges span
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#17327733470224108-406: The habitable part of the abbey into a house. In 1565, Rocksavage , an Elizabethan Hall, was constructed for Sir John Savage in Clifton, now part of Runcorn. During the Civil War , Halton Castle was held for the Royalists by John Savage, 2nd Earl Rivers , the Steward of Halton. It fell twice to Parliamentarian Roundheads . The first siege was led by Sir William Brereton in 1643; the second
4187-404: The highest attempt of wickedness as any man in the age he lived in or before. Of all his qualifications dissimulation was his masterpiece; in which he so much excelled, that men were not ordinarily ashamed, or out of countenance, with being deceived but twice by him. This sense has developed into the modern English use of "cavalier" to describe a recklessly nonchalant attitude, although still with
4266-431: The last quarter of a century. Runcorn Docks is owned by the Manchester Ship Canal Company which is part of the Peel Ports Group . It comprises Francis Dock (formerly the Tidal Basin, now berths No. 1–2), Alfred Dock (berths No. 3–5), and Fenton Dock (berths No. 6–9). It can take ships with cargoes up to 5000 tonnes with a maximum length of 350 feet (107m) and maximum draught of 7 metres. The adjacent canal lay-by has
4345-485: The north bank of the Mersey, West Bank Dock at Widnes was busy especially with importing raw materials and exporting chemicals and fertilisers. The other major materials passing through the port were raw cotton, potter's clay, salt, coal and soap. During the 1870s, the business of the port was beginning to decline because of the progressive silting of the shipping channels. When the Duke of Bridgewater died in 1803, he left his coal mining and canal businesses to be run by
4424-427: The north bank of the River Mersey. During the 18th century, water transport had been improved in the area by the Mersey and Irwell Navigation , the Bridgewater Canal and the Trent and Mersey Canal . This gave Runcorn waterway connections with most of the interior of England through the canal system and with the sea along the River Mersey, thus forming the basis for the development of the Port of Runcorn. Later came
4503-426: The old warehouses were demolished. With the construction of the Silver Jubilee Bridge in 1961, communications to the docks were improved and trade began to recover. The dock entrance to the ship canal was widened and the docks deepened. Trade increased from 50,000 tons in 1957 to 773,000 tons in 1973. In the month of December 2014, the Docks saw 50,126 tons of cargo in trade, the highest monthly tonnage recorded in
4582-400: The only means of crossing the River Mersey at this point had been by the Runcorn ferry. Thomas Telford proposed a 1,000 ft (300 m) single span suspension bridge as early as 1817, but it was not until 1868 that the first bridge, Runcorn Railway Bridge , was opened across the Mersey at Runcorn. This gave the town direct rail links with Liverpool and the rest of the country. Runcorn
4661-406: The port of Runcorn. The rise in population between 1881 and 1891 and the drop by 1901 is explained by the number of people involved in constructing the ship canal. In 1905, the Widnes–Runcorn Transporter Bridge opened, giving a direct link for vehicular traffic for the first time between the two towns. This would not be replaced until 1961 with the construction of Runcorn Road Bridge (since renamed
4740-425: The publick Good, their Language and Behaviour speaking nothing but Division and War. Charles, in the Answer to the Petition 13 June 1642, speaks of Cavaliers as a "word by what mistake soever it seemes much in disfavour". It was soon reappropriated as a title of honour by the king's party, who in return applied Roundhead to their opponents. At the Restoration, the court party preserved the name, which survived until
4819-468: The report's recommendations and the designation order was made on 10 April 1964. The new town masterplan of 1967 more than doubled the population as it encompassed neighbouring settlements and created new housing estates to the south and east. The key features of the new town were its unique housing and estate designs, segregated pedestrian pathways, Busway , extensive landscaped green space, separate industrial areas and new town centre. The new town centre
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#17327733470224898-449: The rise of the term Tory . Cavalier was not understood at the time as primarily a term describing a style of dress, but a whole political and social attitude. However, in modern times the word has become more particularly associated with the court fashions of the period , which included long flowing hair in ringlets, brightly coloured clothing with elaborate trimmings (i.e., lace collars and cuffs), and plumed hats . This contrasted with
4977-413: The second half of the 20th century, the tanneries closed (the last to close was the Highfield Tannery in the late 1960s) and the chemical industry declined. At the same time, light industry developed together with warehouses and distribution centres. In 1937, ICI began to build a new factory for mustard gas production at their Randle plant on Wigg Island . The ICI chemical plants at Runcorn featured in
5056-405: The ship canal began in November 1877. On 3 August 1887, the Manchester Ship Canal Company purchased the Bridgewater Navigation Company for £1,710,000, thus acquiring the Bridgewater Canal and its docks and the Mersey and Irwell system. The ship canal allowed large ocean-going ships to access the Port of Runcorn. The canal was completed from Eastham to Weston Point by 1892, and in July of that year
5135-693: The town include only the areas known now as the Old Town and Higher Runcorn. In 1936, Runcorn Urban District grew to incorporate the neighbouring village of Weston. The present statistical boundaries of Runcorn were defined in the Runcorn New Town (Designation) Order 1964 which greatly expanded the town to the east. The population of Runcorn in 1664 has been estimated as 305. In the 2021 census , 52.5% said they were Christian , down from 70.1% in 2011. 41.5% stated that they had "no religion" and 4.6% made no religious claims. Those stating their religions as Buddhist , Hindu , Jewish , Muslim , Sikh or other amounted to 1.3%. The town's Anglican churches are part of
5214-531: The town was a health resort. The growth of industry did not diminish Runcorn's late 18th and early 19th century reputation as a health resort and the "Montpelier of England". In 1822 the town's first Saltwater Baths opened followed by new visitor accommodation in Belvedere Terrace in 1831. In the middle of the century, the growing wealth of the town and its industrialists saw the construction of several new landmarks, including Halton Grange , St Paul's Methodist Chapel and All Saints' Church . For hundreds of years,
5293-428: The town: Floodbrook Clough and the Mersey Estuary. Floodbrook Clough in Beechwood is an Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland and one of the best examples in Cheshire of clough woodland on keuper marl . There are five Local Nature Reserves designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 : Runcorn Hill, Dorchester Park, Oxmoor Woods, Wigg Island and Murdishaw Valley. Early census statistics for
5372-501: Was becoming an industrialised and highly polluted town. During the later 19th century the town became increasingly dominated by the chemical and tanning industries. In the 1880s a pipeline was opened between Northwich and Weston Point, supplying brine to the salt works and in 1896 the Castner Kellner chemical works was established. In 1894 the Manchester Ship Canal was opened throughout its length. This allowed ocean-going ships to travel inland as far as Salford , some of them calling at
5451-472: Was beset with problems and it was demolished in the early 1990s. In 2002, the Castlefields Partnership (made up of English Partnerships and Halton Borough Council) was created to comprehensively redevelop the Castlefields estate, including the demolition of over 700 deck access flats. Runcorn is unparished with the exception of Sandymoor , and a large part of the Whitehouse Industrial Estate which falls under Preston Brook Parish Council. The local authority
5530-400: Was built on Castle Rock overlooking the River Mersey at Runcorn Gap. Following the Norman conquest , Runcorn was not mentioned in the 1086 Domesday survey, although surrounding settlements were. William the Conqueror granted the earldom of Chester to Hugh d'Avranches who granted the barony of Halton to Nigel. It is likely that Nigel erected a motte and bailey castle on Halton Hill in
5609-453: Was built to mark the event. Runcorn's status as an independent customs port was not a success. Few large ships were registered in the port or transferred from the Liverpool register, and on 12 April 1850 it returned to the Port of Liverpool. However, the port's prospects improved with the abolition of the Navigation Acts (which had restricted the use of foreign shipping) in 1849, and an increasing number of foreign vessels began to arrive at
5688-593: Was designated as a New Town and greatly expanded so that by 1971 it had grown to incorporate the village of Halton. Runcorn Urban District was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 when it merged with the Municipal Borough of Widnes and parts of Runcorn Rural District and Whiston Rural District to form the Borough of Halton under Halton Borough Council and Cheshire County Council . In 1998, Halton Borough Council became
5767-548: Was designated as an independent customs port. Its boundary extended on both sides of the Mersey, from Warrington Bridge in the east to a point on a line stretching from Eastham church in Cheshire to Chapel Farm House in Lancashire. It included the waters of the River Weaver up to Frodsham Bridge. On the north bank of the Mersey, it included Widnes Dock ; the world's first purpose-built railway dock. A new customs house
5846-417: Was designated at the geographical heart of the expanded town with Shopping City , an American style enclosed mall, as its focus. This was a source of conflict between Arthur Ling , the new town Master Planner, and Fred Roche , Chief Architect. Whereas Ling envisaged a centre reminiscent of a citadel or acropolis at the base of Halton Castle, Roche preferred to expand the existing town centre, partly to placate
5925-476: Was during the following year. Following this, a "Council of War" was held in Warrington in 1646 at which it was decided that the castle should be slighted . In 1656, Runcorn was described as being "nothing but a fair parish church, a parsonage and a few scattered tenements". And so it remained for over a century, an isolated and poor hamlet. The only through traffic used the ferry which crossed from Runcorn to
6004-473: Was fitted with hydraulic cranes. At this time, the Runcorn docks were coming under increasing competition from the railways, especially from the St Helens Canal and Railway Company which opened Garston Dock downstream on the north bank of the Mersey. Runcorn was appointed again as an independent customs port on 1 January 1862. In 1862, a telegraph line was installed which linked the dock with
6083-464: Was named Arnold Dock and opened in 1870. Before the repeal of the Navigation Acts, most of the trade had been coastal, with virtually no foreign trade in 1845. Whereas in 1871, the export trade amounted to 43,000 tons and the imports more than 30,000. The Mersey and Irwell docks were not as successful as there were no major dock improvements after 1829 and the approach channels silted up. On
6162-459: Was split between the two constituencies of Weaver Vale and Halton . Prior to their abolition, those seats were held by Mike Amesbury and Derek Twigg respectively, both of the Labour Party . While Halton was a safe Labour seat since its creation in 1983, Weaver Vale was a marginal seat and switched between the Labour and Conservative parties several times since its creation in 1997. Before
6241-418: Was the first to be elected to the seat in 1950. In 1964, he was succeeded by Mark Carlisle who held the seat until the constituency of Runcorn was abolished in 1983 and split between the constituencies of Halton and Warrington South . Runcorn is situated on a spur projecting into the River Mersey, which flows to the north and then to the west of the town. On the north bank of the river is another spur forming
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