Runcorn
Template:Infobox England place with map UA Runcorn is an industrial town in the unitary authority of Halton, Cheshire, England on the southern banks of the River Mersey at the site of the river's first bridge crossing. The name came from Saxon Rumcofan = "wide bay or creek". At nearby Norton Priory, there are old maps showing a settlement with the name Wronkhorne.
History
Ruler of Mercia, Aethelflaed had a fortification built at Runcorn to protect the northern frontier of her kingdom against the Vikings. Her visitation to the fort site at Castle Rock near the riverside (where the railway bridge now stands), in AD 915 is the first mention of Runcorn in recorded history.
Runcorn was not mentioned in the 1086 Domesday survey, though surrounding villages of Halton, Weston, Aston, Sutton and Stockham were. Runcorn could have been integrated into Halton at that time (today Halton village is part of Runcorn) or may have been harried to worthlessness by William the Conqueror.
In Norman Cheshire, the first Earl of Chester, Hugh d'Avranches split his estate into baronies. The Halton barony held precedent over all others and Nigel, the constable of Chester (Cheshire) became its first baron. Nigel erected a motte and bailey castle on Halton Hill around 1071 to keep watch over the Lancashire and Cheshire plains and the river estuary. The stone structured castle, as is seen remained today, would have started development in the later half of the 12th century; being gradually built upon, with each of the early barons undertaking various projects and adding to the work of his predecessor.
In 1115, Nigel's son, William Fitznigel, founded an Augustinian Priory at Runcorn. In 1134 the monks moved the priory to Norton, about three and a half miles away. The barons of Halton provided Norton Priory with substantial amounts of money until 1200. In 1391 the priory was raised to the higher status of abbey. In 1536 the monastery was dissolved, and a few 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.
During the Civil War the castle was held for The Crown by 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.
According to a writer in 1656, Runcorn was "nothing but a fair parish church, a parsonage and a few scattered tenements".
Runcorn today
Today, Runcorn is one of the most industrial parts of the UK with the Runcorn Ineos Chlor chemical plant (previously owned by ICI) and many other industrial buildings.
Runcorn consists of the 'old town' which began expansion on farmland during the Industrial Revolution brought by the Bridgewater Canal and Runcorn New Town which was designated in 1964, in the second-wave of new towns. This housed overspill population from Liverpool. Unfortunately there was insufficent employment for the additional population which has caused social problems.
Runcorn new town was the first to pioneer the use of bus-only roads over a large scale.
The town also retains ruins of the 12th-century castle and the remains of the priory. Large chemical works are found at the furthest edge of the western part of the old town. This is offset by the vast greenery of the new town to the east. The Catalyst Museum in neighbouring Widnes recognises the contribution of the chemical industry as it has developed around the North West.
The remains of Norton Priory, including its museum and walled garden are the main tourist attraction of the town. There is also a dry ski slope, and a shopping centre (Halton Lea). Although the shopping centre was the first indoor shopping plaza in Europe, lack of investment has led to a decline in the centre, though numerous other projects mean the town is still well served.
The town has a recreation centre which is used by many local residents called Brookvale Recreation Centre and a second swimming pool (Runcorn Swimming Pool) in the Old Town.
Runcorn also has an award winning arts centre called "The Brindley" which opened in autumn 2004 to great success [1].
Transport
Runcorn is well served by roads (the M56 motorway passes to the south of the town, and fast Expressways run round and through the new town), railways (Runcorn station on the Liverpool to Crewe line and Runcorn East of the Chester to Warrington line) and is within 15 minutes drive of Liverpool John Lennon Airport. It is connected to Widnes across the Mersey by a rail bridge. Road transport went by ferry until the 1890s when a transporter bridge was built. This was replaced in 1962 by a steel arched bridge imitating a miniature less attractive version of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Runcorn Bridge as it is known has become a notorious traffic bottleneck. To alleviate this, an additional crossing between Runcorn and Widnes is planned. [2] The Manchester Ship Canal passes alongside Runcorn and under both bridges. Buses in Runcorn use dedicated "busways", a rarity in the United Kingdom.
Visitors to Runcorn are often confused by the road network as there are no direct routes between the various districts. Instead, motorists should use the extensive network of Expressways which allow quick access to all Runcorn areas, having been conceived to keep the bulk or traffic safely away from residential neighbourhoods.
Recognition
Runcorn was part of an amusing segment on Danny Baker's "Football Nightmares" video. Runcorn's football support consisted of three small children cheering wildly on the touchline in plastic macs and hats. This was to portray according to the commentator "a crowd going absolutely berserk". Mentioned several times throughout the video.
The town's own football club, Runcorn FC Halton, played in nearby Widnes and Prescot in recent years. The club folded in 2006, and is to be replaced by a new club, Runcorn Linnets F.C., playing in the North West Counties League.
the Linnets Football ground is no longer there its been knocked down and now the area is a housing estate built 2003/2004.
The BBC sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps was set in Runcorn.
Drop Dead Gorgeous, a new series on BBC Three, is also set in Runcorn. It tells the story of 15-year-old geeky goddess Ashley, whose life is turned upside-down when she is approached by a spotter from a local modelling agency. Events move at lightning speed and the whole family, including beautiful twin sister Jade, are affected.
{traveling man} their was also a tv series back in the late 80's called the traveling man all about a detective who lived on a boat , it was filmed in various parts but the runcorn shots were on the bridgewater canal at preston book, and the top canal heading towards warrington the 3 story white house by the preston brook marina were also shown in some detail
{ there has also been other programs
a program was broadcast in 2005 , all about paiting, it featured a artist and a presenter , on a boat as they travelled from liverpool to manchester salford quays via runcorn , it showed runcorn bridge , and norton priory museum Broadcast on ITV1 he painted the areas in question along his journey .
(lost treasures) broadcast in 2006 and presented by Mark Olly,it was a program all about history, starting off in widnes and runcorn , a total of 3 epsiodes were with reference to runcorn and widnes , it showed spike island , the bridge the castle and a few other places broadcast on itv1 2006 http://www.lost-treasures.co.uk
( locks & quays )fred talbot the weather man also visited the area for his itv show "Locks & quays "
The programmes follow a route from Liverpool, along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Ribble Link and Lancaster Canal, including the Northern Reaches and Glasson Dock. It also features Wigan, Rochdale, Salford Quays, the Manchester Ship Canal, Anderton Lift, the Peak Forest, Bridgewater and Llangollen Canals, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, fred also visited the 2005 IWA "inland water ways boat festival " where some of his footage was taken for his locks and quays program . broadcaston itv1 2006 (9 epsiodes )http://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/news32.htm
{truckers) a tv program called Truckers was also shot in the area 80/90s, mainly in the part of the town , and the areas sourrounding the south bank public house.
(Merseybeat) BBC Cop show, shown 2004/2005 recorded in widnes and runcorn, and surrounding areas also believed various places in frodsham and speak liverpool, although the latter two unconfirmed. http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/merseybeat/