Pictures of Runcorn

About Runcorn

Runcorn is a lively urban town at the side of the great Mersey River. It began in the 10th-century when Alfred the Greats' daughter, Aethelfleda, built a fort at a site along the Mersey, calling it Runckhorn. The Normans settled here, and Runcorn developed into what was then a large town which was to eventually become self-governing.

The full potential of the town was not to be reached until several centuries later when a barge dock was built in the 18th-century, this was at the time of the completion of the newly opened Manchester-Liverpool canal waterway. At this time quarrying gave the town much of it's importance - Runcorn sandstone was used to build the docks of New York.

At the end of the 19th-century chemical factories contributed to the town's stability, and later in the 20th-century Runcorn was designated as a new town. Today whilst still being heavily involved with production industries Runcorn is also a place of business and commerce, it is an attractively laid out town which attracts many visitors.

Amongst the urban sprawl visitors can see some famous sights, these include fabulous riverscapes of the Mersey, graceful Runcorn Bridge, Norton Priory Museum and Gardens - the largest excavated Monastic site in Europe with its giant St.Christopher statue, the Bridgewater Canal and the Manchester Ship canal. The town has a stunning loft War memorial set against an attractive flower decked garden, and is dedicated to the citizens of Runcorn who lost their lives in the 1914-1918 War.

For pleasure there is boating, fishing in Town Park Lake and other places, and Runcorn Hill Nature Reserve offers an abundance of flora and fauna. Also of interest are the 11th-century ruined remains of Halton Castle, these can be found on a hillside overlooking the River Mersey. Whilst the graceful spire of Runcorn's parish church of All Saint's stands stark against a backdrop of industry on the opposite side of the Mersey.

Runcorn has excellent shopping and leisure facilities, good hotels, cafe's, restaurants, and pubs. Its place on the Mersey banks gives visitors the opportunity to explore the Mersey estuary, famous canal waterways and the fine city of Liverpool.