Runcorn

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Runcorn
Coordinates: 53.3284° N 2.7125° W
Population	59,360[1]
OS grid reference	SJ525815
- London	167 miles (269 km) SE
Unitary authority	Halton
Ceremonial county	Cheshire
Region	North West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	RUNCORN
Postcode district	WA7
Dial code	01928
Police	Cheshire
Fire	Cheshire
Ambulance	North West
UK Parliament	Halton
European Parliament	North West England
List of places: UK • England • Cheshire

Runcorn is an industrial town within the borough of Halton, in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. With a population of 59,360,^[1] Runcorn is located on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north across the Mersey is the town of Widnes. Upstream and eight miles (13 km) to the east is the town of Warrington, and downstream sixteen miles (22.5 km) to the west is the city of Liverpool.

Runcorn lies on the West Coast Main Line and the A533 road. The Manchester Ship Canal runs between the town and the River Mersey and the Bridgewater Canal passes through and ends in the town at its junction with the Manchester Ship Canal.

Runcorn was a small isolated village until the coming of the Industrial Revolution. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries it was a health resort.^[2] During the 19th century various industries developed, in particular the manufacture of soap and alkali, quarrying, shipbuilding and tanning. In the early 20th century the prime industries were those of chemicals and tanning. The original village had grown to include the outlying villages of Halton, Weston, Weston Point, Norton and Clifton (formerly Rocksavage). The arrival of the New Town to the east of the existing town led to a doubling of the population from around 30,000 to its present level, and to a diversification of its industries.

Contents 1 Geography 1.1 Physical geography 1.2 Geology 1.3 Climate 2 Government 2.1 Civic history 2.2 Political representation 3 History 3.1 Etymology 3.2 Early history 3.3 Civil War 3.4 Industrial Revolution 3.5 Recent history 4 Landmarks and places of interest 5 Demographics 6 Economy 7 Culture 7.1 Theatre and cinema 7.2 Filmography 8 Communal facilities 8.1 Libraries 8.2 Parks and nature reserves 8.3 Sports and leisure venues 8.4 Health 9 Transport 9.1 Rail 9.2 Bus 9.3 Roads 9.4 Cycling 9.5 Air 10 Education 11 Sport 12 Notable people 13 See also 14 Notes 15 References 16 Further reading 17 External links

[edit] Geography

[edit] Physical geography

Runcorn is situated on a spur projecting into the River Mersey which flows to the north of the town and then to its west. On the north back of the river is another spur which forms the West Bank area of Widnes; together these form Runcorn Gap, a narrowing of the River Mersey. Runcorn Gap is crossed by Runcorn Railway Bridge, carrying the Liverpool branch of the West Coast Main Line, and the Silver Jubilee Bridge, carrying the A533 road. To the south of the town is the River Weaver and the Weston Canal which open into the Ship Canal. To the south-east of the town run the M56 motorway, the Chester-Manchester railway line and the main branch of the West Coast Main Line. The town has a system of expressways, roads which divert the through traffic from the residential areas of the town. The Central Expressway runs through the centre of the area now comprising Runcorn in a north-south direction. To the west of it lie most of the former settlements which formed the older part of the town, namely Runcorn, Higher Runcorn, Weston, Weston Point and Clifton (formerly Rocksavage), and the New Town areas of Halton Brook and Halton Lodge. To the east are the village of Halton, the old settlements of Norton and Stockham and the New Town areas of Castlefields, Palacefields, Windmill Hill, Murdishaw, Brookvale and Hallwood Park.^[3]

The density of housing is generally high but there are open green areas, in particular heathland on Runcorn Hill and an extensive Town Park which was created as part of the New Town. The older industries, particularly the remaining chemical factories, are concentrated mainly to the south-west of the town bordering the Mersey while newer industries, including warehousing are to the north-east and south-east. A second crossing of the Mersey is planned, to be known as the Mersey Gateway.^[4]

[edit] Geology

Drainage of the Runcorn area is into the Mersey to the north and into the Weaver to the south. The bedrock of the western and north-eastern parts of the town is comprised of rock from the Sherwood sandstone group; in the other areas the bedrock is from the Mercia mudstone group. In places there are prominent outcrops of sandstone, particularly at Runcorn Hill and Halton Hill, which provide extensive views in all directions. Elsewhere the bedrock is covered by drift. At the north-west periphery of the town there is recent blown sand, further to the east and bordering the Mersey is recent alluvium and elsewhere the drift consists of till.^[5]

[edit] Climate

Being close to the west coast and the Irish Sea, the climate is generally temperate with few extremes of temperature or weather. The mean average temperature is slightly above average for the United Kingdom^[6] as is the average amount of sunshine.^[7] The average annual rainfall is slightly below the average for the UK.^[8] There are very few days when snow is lying on the ground^[9] and days of air frost are also few^[10]

[edit] Government

[edit] Civic history

At the time of the Domesday survey Runcorn was in the hundred of Tunendune^[11] but later, and until the early 19th century, Runcorn was part of the Bucklow hundred.^[12] Under the Runcorn Improvement Act of 1852 a board of Improvement Commissioners was established to administer the civil government of the town.^[13] By the Local Government Act 1894 the administration of the town and the surrounding areas were 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 the area had been extended to include the communities of Weston and Weston Point to the west and by 1971 it had been further extended to the east to incorporate the village of Halton.^[14]

In 1964 Runcorn was designated as a New Town. In 1974, as part of the Local Government Act 1972, Runcorn Urban District was abolished and its territory amalgamated with Widnes to form the borough of Halton which is a unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Cheshire.

[edit] Political representation

Following the Reform Act 1832 Runcorn was placed in the Northern Division of the Cheshire parliamentary constituency and from 1868 in the Mid-Cheshire constituency. From 1885 to 1950 the town was in the constituency of Northwich.^[15] By an act of Parliament in 1948 the constituency of Runcorn was created and in 1950 Runcorn's first Member of Parliament, Dennis Vosper, was elected.^[16] He continued to represent the constituency until 1964 when he was succeeded by Mark Carlisle.

Runcorn is now in the European parliamentary constituency of North West England. The UK parliamentary constituency is Halton and the current Member of Parliament is Derek Twigg.^[17] The local authority is the borough of Halton and the town is divided into ten electoral wards.^[18]

[edit] History

[edit] Etymology

The earliest reference is in the Saxon Chronicle where the name is Rumcofan. This name derives from the Anglo-Saxon words rúm, meaning wide or broad, and cofa, meaning cave or cove, the whole meaning a wide cove or bay. Subsequent spellings have been Rumcoven, Ronchestorn, Runckhorne and Runcorne, finally becoming the modern name of Runcorn.^[19]

[edit] Early history

Little 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.^[20] The earliest recorded event in its history is the building by Ethelfleda, daughter of Alfred the Great, of a fortification at Runcorn to protect the northern frontier of her kingdom against the Vikings in 915. The fort was built on Castle Rock overlooking the river at Runcorn Gap.^[21]

Following the Norman conquest, Runcorn was not mentioned in the 1086 Domesday survey, though the surrounding settlements of Halton, Weston, Aston, Norton and Eanley were. William the Conqueror granted the earldom of Chester to Hugh d'Avranches who in turn granted the barony of Halton to Nigel. It is likely that Nigel erected a motte and bailey castle on Halton Hill in the 1070s.^[22]

In 1115, Nigel's son, William Fitznigel, founded an Augustinian Priory at Runcorn. In 1134 the monks moved the priory to Norton, about 3.5 miles (5.5 km) away. The barons of Halton provided Norton Priory with substantial amounts of money until around 1200. In 1391 the priory was raised to the higher status of abbey.^[23] 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 the habitable part of the abbey into a home for himself and his family.^[24]

[edit] Civil War

During the Civil War Halton Castle was held for the crown 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 a year later. Stone blocks removed from the castle would have been used to build many of the still existing houses in Halton village. Following the Civil War, the castle was purchased by Colonel Henry Brooke of Norton Priory. However, it was only held by the Brooke family for a short period of time, as it was returned to the Duchy after the Restoration in 1660.^[25]

According to a writer in 1656, Runcorn was "nothing but a fair parish church, a parsonage and a few scattered tenements".^[26] And so it remained for over a century, an isolated and poor hamlet. The only through traffic was the ferry which crossed from Runcorn to the north bank of the River Mersey. Towards the end of the 18th century and in the early years of the 19th century the town was renowned as a health resort where invalids came to take the air and to convalesce from illness. This was all to change with the coming of the Industrial Revolution.

[edit] Industrial Revolution

Population

Year	Total
1801	1,397
1811	2,060
1821	3,103
1831	5.035
1841	6.950
1851	8,688
1861	10,141
1871	12,444
1881	15,133
1891	20,050
1901	16,491

During the 18th century water transport had been improved in the area by the Mersey and Irwell Navigation between Manchester and Warrington. By 1773 the Bridgewater Canal linking Runcorn with Manchester was open throughout its length. In 1777 a link was made with the Trent and Mersey Canal at Preston Brook. 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. In 1804 the Runcorn to Latchford canal (popularly known as the Old Quay canal) was completed which provided an improved link with the Mersey and Irwell Navigation.^[27] Then in 1810 the Weston Canal was completed which provided access from the River Weaver to the Mersey avoiding the difficult entrance at the mouth of the Weaver. This navigation system led to Northwich and Winsford and so provided easier access to the salt fields of central Cheshire.^[28]

Various industries began to develop within and around the town, in particular quarrying for Runcorn sandstone, shipbuilding, the manufacture of soap and chemicals and tanning. The major soap manufacturers in the town were the John & Thomas Johnson and Hazlehurst & Sons.^[29] Both were making alkali using the Leblanc process by 1830 and in the 1830s both businesses were in the top 20 of the soap making firms in the United Kingdom.^[30] Runcorn was becoming an industrialised and highly polluted town.

During the 19th century the town became increasingly dominated by the chemical and tanning industries. In 1868 the Runcorn Railway Bridge was opened across the Mersey, giving Runcorn direct rail links with Liverpool and the rest of the country via Crewe.^[31] In the 1880s a brine pipeline was opened between Northwich and Weston Point, supplying the salt works and nearby chemical works.^[32] Soon after followed the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal which was opened throughout its length in 1894.^[33] This allowed ocean-going ships to travel inland as far as Salford, some of them calling at the port of Runcorn. The large rise in population between 1881 and 1891 and the subsequent drop by 1901 is explained by the enormous number of people involved in constructing the ship canal at that time. In 1905 the Widnes-Runcorn Transporter Bridge opened, giving a direct link for vehicular traffic for the first time between the two towns.^[34]

[edit] Recent history

During the first half of the 20th century the industry of the town continued to be dominated by chemicals and tanning. In 1926 a number of chemical companies merged to form Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). As the century progressed there was a degree of diversification of industry. In 1961 the Transporter Bridge was replaced by Runcorn Bridge (also known as the Silver Jubilee Bridge) which allowed a more efficient means of road traffic across Runcorn Gap.

Major changes were to come with the designation of Runcorn New Town in 1964. The tanneries had been declining for a long time and the last one (Highfield) closed in 1968.^[35] The chemical industry has also declined in the town while there has been a development of many types of light industry in the area of the Old Town and around the outskirts of the New Town. In 1964 Runcorn New Town was designated. In 1974 Runcorn Urban District merged with the Borough of Widnes to form the Borough of Halton.

[edit] Landmarks and places of interest

The major landmark in the town is Halton Castle which stands on the top of Halton Hill near to the centre of the present town. Only ruins are now present but there are widespread views from the top of the hill. The interior of the castle grounds are open at advertised times.^[36] Incorporated in the castle walls is the Castle Hotel which at one time incorporated a courthouse on the first floor. Another prominent landmark is Norton water tower, a structure built of Runcorn sandstone, 34 metres high, which holds 672,000 gallons of water and which is involved in the supply of water to Liverpool.^[37]

An important historical site and the major visitor centre in the town is Norton Priory which is now run as a museum. The site contains the remains of the priory with adjacent gardens which used to be those of the country house. Nearby are a walled garden which includes the national collection of tree quinces and an ice house.^[38][39]

Much of the architecture of the town is undistinguished but there are a number of listed buildings, many of them in Halton village and others are scattered throughout the town. The major churches are All Saints Parish Church and Holy Trinity Church in the Old Town centre, St Mary's in Halton village, St John's in Weston and Christ Church in Weston Point. The oldest existing houses are the Seneschal's house, Halton village (1598), Weston Old Hall (1607), Brookfield Farmhouse (1691) and Halton Old Hall (1693). Other outstanding houses include Runcorn Town Hall (formerly Halton Grange), Camden House and Cottage in High Street, and Bridgewater House near the Ship Canal.^[40]

The war memorial to the men who served in both world wars is sited at the top of Greenway Road. There is also a memorial in Castle Road, Halton village, commemorating residents of the village who served in the Boer War.

There is some public sculpture in the town. In High Street in the Old Town centre is Runcorn Spire, a metal structure which represents many of the features of the history of the town. In Mersey Road, overlooking the Ship Canal, is a boat-shaped sculpture with the head of Ethelfreda as its figurehead. On the top of the new market hall in the Old Town centre is Runcorn Dome which represents the old shipping and chemical industries. Although it is not a sculpture, a large erratic boulder which was left by the retreat of the glaciers in the Ice Age is used as a decorative feature in the New Town.^[41]

[edit] Demographics

Separate statistics are not published for the town of Runcorn but are incorporated in the total figures for the unitary authority of Halton.

[edit] Economy

Traditionally the industries of Runcorn were chemicals, tanning, quarrying, engineering and ship building. All but the chemical industry have disappeared. The chemical industry was dominated by ICI but this has now been taken over by Ineos. In Runcorn this company manufactures many chemicals including chlorine and chlorine-containing compounds including vinyl chloride, heavy chemicals including alkalis and flourine containing compounds. A separate business within the same company manufactures salt from brine transported by pipeline from the saltfields of central Cheshire.^[42] The former ICI offices and laboratories now comprise The Heath Business and Technical Park which provides office, laboratory, conference and leisure facilities.^[43] To the east of the town many diverse industries have been developed including, because of the proximity to the motorway system, a number of warehouses and distribution centres.

Somewhat unusually, Runcorn has two shopping centres. Historically the shopping area was in what is now the Old Town centre and was based in High Street, Regent Street and Church Street. This continues to exist, but with the coming of the New Town, has considerably diminished. There is a small supermarket and there are some specialist shops but a higher than average proportion of charity shops and take-away food outlets. Halton Lea (formerly called Shopping City) is an enclosed shopping mall with an attached bus station. Adjacent to it is Trident Park containing more shopping outlets and a cinema and a little further away is an ASDA supermarket.

[edit] Culture

[edit] Theatre and cinema

The Brindley is a modern theatre and arts centre situated in the Old Town Centre named after James Brindley, engineer of the adjacent Bridgewater Canal. It contains a proscenium theatre seating 420 and a smaller multi-purpose theatre seating 108, The Studio, which doubles as a cinema. There is an exhibition space for art installations, a small café and a number of separate rooms for different purposes. The theatre is owned and administered by Halton Borough Council and in addition to theatre, cinema and art the council runs a large number of community events in the building.^[44]

A multiplex cinema run by Cineworld is sited in Trident Park, adjacent to Halton Lea.

[edit] Filmography

Runcorn has been used frequently for the shooting of films and television programmes. Some of the sequences of the first two series of the BBC police drama Merseybeat were filmed in and around the town.^[45] The BBC situation comedy Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps is set in Runcorn. External shots of the Waterloo Hotel in the area of High Street known as Top Locks (which is known in the show as The Archer) appear in that show and the opening credits show the Silver Jubilee Bridge and Halton Castle.^[46] Drop Dead Gorgeous, a four-part comedy drama on BBC Three, was also set in Runcorn.^[47] The interior of the Undercroft at Norton Priory has been used to depict various locations in a number of films.^[39]

[edit] Communal facilities

[edit] Libraries

The main library is at Halton Lea with a branch library in Egerton Street in the Old Town centre (which includes the archives of the Runcorn & District Historical Society).^[48]

[edit] Parks and nature reserves

Runcorn Hill Local Nature Reserve has been developed on the site of a former quarry and now consists of heathland. Adjacent to it is a formal park which includes a bandstand, boating lake and sports facilities. Wigg Island is a nature reserve which has been developed on a site previously occupied by industry. It lies on an island between the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey and consists of open spaces and woodland with paths for walking and bird hides. Murdishaw Valley is an area of ancient woodland to the east of the town between the Murdishaw housing development and the M56. Rock Park has also been developed on the site of a former quarry in the Old Town area and includes sports facilities. Town Park is in the centre of the New Town development and links to the north with Norton Priory.^[49] Some of the open areas of Runcorn form part of Mersey Forest which is one of Britain's community forests.^[50]

[edit] Sports and leisure venues

Runcorn Sports Club is a privately run sports club in Moughland Lane and provides facilities and coaching for cricket and hockey. Halton Sports Club is in Murdishaw Avenue. There is a privately run swimming pool in Beechwood local centre and another at Stockham Lodge Raquet and Health Club. Adjacent to the latter is are two artificial ski slopes administered by Runcorn Ski Centre.^[51] Runcorn Rowing Club rows on the River Weaver Navigation near Clifton Village.^[52] Centres run by the local authority include Brookvale Recreation Centre which has a range of indoor sporting facilities, Phoenix Park which has a wide range of outdoor sporting facilities and Runcorn Swimming Pool.^[53]

When the approach roads to the Silver Link Bridge were built, the link between the terminus of the Bridgewater canal and the line of locks which used to connect it to the Ship Canal was severed. It is hoped that if the building of the second road bridge crossing the Mersey, the Mersey Gateway, goes ahead, it will be feasible to reopen this link and to restore the locks. This would open the possibility of a second "Cheshire Ring" linking the Bridgewater canal to the Manchester Ship Canal, then via the Weaver Navigation to Anderton. Here the boats would be raised by the Anderton Boat Lift to the Trent and Mersey canal which would take them back to Bridgewater canal.^[54]

[edit] Health

Runcorn's hospital is Halton Hospital which is administered by the North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust. This hospital is currently undergoing considerable change. Originally planned as a District General Hospital, it was never large enough to provide a full range of services. Acute medical services have been transferred to Warrington Hospital and it is planned to provide non-emergency surgery and rehabilitation at Halton Hospital.^[55]

Primary care services are provided by the Halton and St Helens Primary Care Trust. This is also in a state of change following the recent merger of the Halton and the St Helens Primary Care Trusts. In Runcorn general practitioner services are provided in five health centres and in one separate medical practice in Heath Road. There are dental practices providing a mixture of National Health Service and private dental care.^[56]

[edit] Transport

[edit] Rail

There are two railway stations. Runcorn (mainline) station is on the Liverpool branch of the West Coast Main Line. From this station Virgin Trains run 15 trains daily on weekdays between Liverpool and London and Central Trains run frequent services between Liverpool and Birmingham. Runcorn East station is on the Chester to Manchester line. Arriva Trains Wales and Northern Rail run an hourly service to Chester, Warrington and Manchester.^[57]

[edit] Bus

Runcorn is unusual in that in addition to using the normal roads, special busways are also available to be used by buses and no other form of transport other than emergency vehicles. There are two bus stations, one in the Old Town centre and the other at Halton Lea. Two companies provide local public transport services, Halton Transport and Arriva. Express coach services calling at Runcorn are provided between Hoylake via Liverpool and London and between Southport and Cambridge by National Express.^[58]

In addition coach services are provided by Selwyns and Anthony's Travel.

[edit] Roads

Runcorn has a system of expressways diverting through traffic from local roads. This system links to the north by the A533 over the Silver Jubilee Bridge to Widnes and south Lancashire, to the north-east to Warrington by the A56, to the east to Northwich and north Cheshire by the A533, and to the south-east by the A557 to the M56 and to Frodsham. The M56 links to the M6 and, to the north of Widnes, the A557 links to the M62.^[59]

[edit] Cycling

Runcorn has a network of dedicated cycleways.^[60]

[edit] Air

Runcorn is 8 miles (13 km) from Liverpool John Lennon Airport and 22 miles (35.5 km) from Manchester Airport.

[edit] Education

There are twenty-nine primary schools in the town and one nursery school which is at The Grange. The four secondary schools are Halton High, St. Chad's Catholic High, The Grange and The Heath. The former colleges, Halton College and Runcorn Sixth Form College, merged in 2006 to form the single Riverside College Halton. There is one special school in the town, Cavendish School.

There are opportunities for adult education at the Acorn Lifelong Learning Centre and at the Grange City Learning Centre which shares its attached school's information technology training with adults. Other courses for adults are held at various venues in the town.^[61]

[edit] Sport

Runcorn's main football club is Runcorn Linnets F. C.. This club has had a complicated history. For many years Runcorn F. C. played in their ground at Canal Street, Runcorn. When this land was sold for housing in 2000 the team played at grounds outside the town and was renamed Runcorn F.C. Halton. In 2006 there was a change of management and team's name was changed again. The club is in the North West Counties League Division 2 and their "home" ground is shared with Witton Albion F.C. at Wincham Park Stadium in Northwich.^[62] There are a number of smaller football clubs in the town for adults and children.

Runcorn Cricket Club is based at Runcorn Sports Club in Moughland Lane. Runcorn Rugby Union F. C. is based at Halton Sports Club in Murdishaw. Facilities for many other sports are also available.^[53]

[edit] Notable people

• Sir John Chesshyre (1662-1738) prominent lawyer
• Nathan Alcock (1707-1779) noted physician
• Rev. Thomas Alcock (1709-1798) Vicar of Runcorn, brother of the above
• Thomas Hazlehurst (1779-1842) founder of the soap and alkali manufacturing business of Hazlehurst & Sons
• Thomas Hazlehurst (1816-1876) son of the above, a Methodist who paid for the building of some 12 chapels and 3 schools in the area
• Edward John Smith, (1850-1912) Captain of the Titanic purchased a home in which to retire after the maiden voyage in Higher Runcorn, however, the Titanic struck an iceberg on the way to New York and subsequently sank.
• Thomas Henry Hall Caine, (1853-1876) novelist and playwright was born in Runcorn
• Thomas Alfred Jones (1880-1856) VC DCM
• Kym Marsh (1976- ) and Jack Ryder (1981- ) often spend their weekends in Runcorn with Marsh's family. [1]
• Robin Reid (1971- ) Boxer, attended secondary school in Runcorn.
• Nicola Roberts (1985- ) from British girl band, 'Girls Aloud'

[edit] See also

• Port of Runcorn
• Listed buildings in Runcorn

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Greene, Patrick. Norton Priory: The archaeology of a medieval religious house, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1989 ISBN 0-521-33054-8
• Nickson, Charles History of Runcorn, Mackie & Co., London and Warrington, 1887.
• Phillips, A.D.M. and Phillips, C.B. A New Historical Atlas of Cheshire, Cheshire County Council, Chester, 2002. ISBN 0-904532-46-1
• Starkey, H.F. Schooner Port: Two Centuries of Upper Mersey Sail, G. W. & A. Hesketh, Ormskirk, 1983. ISBN 0-905777-34-4
• Starkey, H.F. Old Runcorn, Halton Borough Council, 1990.
• Thompson, Dave. Bridging the Years: The Story of Runcorn-Widnes Transporter Bridge, Dave Thompson, 2000.

[edit] Further reading

• Starkey, H. F. Runcorn in Times Past, Countryside Publications, Chorley, 1980. ISBN 0-86157-032-4
• Starkey, H. F. The Old Photographs Series: Runcorn, Alan Sutton, Bath, 1994. ISBN 0-7524-0025-8
• Starkey, H. F. The Old Photographs Series: Runcorn- The Second Selection, Tempus, Stroud, 1999. ISBN 0-7524-1826-2
• Starkey, H. F. Images of England - Runcorn: A Century of Change, Tempus, Stroud, 2005. ISBN 0-7524-3617-1
• Howard, Liz. The Way We Were - Runcorn Remembered: A Social History, Aurora, 1993. ISBN 1-85926-031-4
• Howard, Liz. Runcorn in Old Picture Postcards, European Library, Zaltbommel, 1995. ISBN 90-288-6124-6
• Whimperley, Arthur. Halton Castle: An Introduction & Visitors' Handbook, 1981.
• Whimperley, Arthur. The Barons of Halton, MailBook Publishing, Widnes, 1986.
• The Bridging of Runcorn Gap, Halton Borough Council, 1978
• Cowan, C. A. Runcorn Town Hall: A History and Description, Halton Borough Council, 1990.
• Cowan, C. A. Crossing the Runcorn Gap, Vol. 1: Runcorn Ferry and Hale Ford, Halton Borough Council, 1990.
• Cowan, C. A. Crossing the Runcorn Gap, Vol. 2: Early Bridging Proposals, Halton Borough Council, 1992.
• Cowan, C. A. Crossing the Runcorn Gap, Vol. 3: Runcorn Railway Bridge, Halton Borough Council, 1990.
• Thompson, Dave. Bridging the Mersey: A Pictorial History, European Library, Zaltbommel, 2000.
• Thompson, Dave. Over the Hill: An Historical Look at Runcorn Hill and its Locality, Dave Thompson, 2000.
• Thompson, Dave. Bridging Us Together: The Story of Runcorn-Widnes Bridge, Dave Thompson, 2001.
• Thompson, Dave. I Laughed Like Blazes: The Life of Private Thomas 'Todger' Jones, VC, DCM Dave Thompson, 2002.
• Thompson, Dave. Britain in Old Photographs: The Changing Face of Runcorn, Sutton, Stroud, 2004. ISBN 0-7509-3507-3
• Nowell, Diane. The Time of Your Life: 100 Years Recalled, Mike Price, 1998. ISBN 0-9533216-0-6
• Nicolle, Dorothy. Widnes and Runcorn: Photographic Memories, Frith Book Company, Salisbury, 2004. ISBN 1-85937-854-4
• Helsby, Betty. Memory Lane, n.d.

[edit] External links

• Halton Borough Council
• Runcorn & District Historical Society
• Runcorn Round Table

The Borough of Halton, Cheshire
Principal Settlements	Runcorn • Widnes
Civil Parishes	Daresbury • Hale • Moore • Preston Brook
Unparished Areas	Runcorn • Widnes