Editing Runcorn (section)

==History==

===Early history===
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 language|Old English]] words "rúm" ("wide" or "broad") and "cofa" ("cave" or "cove"). Other historical spellings of Runcorn include "Rumcoven", "Ronchestorn", "Runckhorne", and "Runcorne".<ref>{{Harvnb|Nickson|1887|p=5.}} and {{Harvnb|Starkey|1990|p=4.}}</ref>

Little is known about the early history of the settlement but isolated findings of objects from the [[Stone Age|Stone]], [[Bronze Age|Bronze]], and [[Iron Age]]s have been made and there is evidence of a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] presence in the area.<ref>{{Harvnb|Starkey|1990|pp=1–4.}}</ref>

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 [[Viking]]s in 915. The fort was built on Castle Rock overlooking the River Mersey at Runcorn Gap.<ref>{{Harvnb|Nickson|1887|pp=6–13.}} The foundations of the fort were discovered during the building of the railway bridge but were covered by an abutment of the bridge.</ref>

===Medieval===
[[File:Runcorn church 1846.jpg|thumb|Runcorn's medieval parish church, demolished and rebuilt 1847–1849 as [[All Saints' Church, Runcorn|All Saints' Church]]]]
Following the [[Norman Conquest]], Runcorn was not mentioned in the 1086 [[Domesday Book|Domesday]] survey, although surrounding settlements were. [[William I of England|William the Conqueror]] granted the [[Earl of Chester|earldom of Chester]] to [[Hugh d'Avranches, 1st Earl of Chester|Hugh d'Avranches]] who granted the barony of Halton to Nigel of Cotentin. It is likely that Nigel erected a [[motte and bailey]] castle on Halton Hill in the 1070s.<ref>{{Harvnb|Starkey|1990|pp=7–8.}}</ref>

In 1115, Nigel's son, [[William fitz Nigel]], founded an [[Augustinian priory]] at [[Runcorn Priory|Runcorn]]. In 1134, the priory was moved to Norton, about {{convert|3+1/2|mi|km|0|abbr=off}} away. In 1391, the priory was raised to the higher status of [[abbey]].<ref name="Greene 1989 1–9"/> In 1536, the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries|monastery was dissolved]], and around nine years later, the buildings and some of the monastic lands were sold to Sir [[Richard Brooke (Norton)|Richard Brooke]] who converted the habitable part of the abbey into a house.<ref>{{Harvnb|Greene|1989|p=151.}} and {{Harvnb|Nickson|1887|p=39.}}</ref>

In 1565, [[Rocksavage]], an Elizabethan Hall, was constructed for Sir John Savage in Clifton, now part of Runcorn.<ref name=ioe>{{NHLE |num=1330365 |desc=Remains of Rock Savage |access-date=4 April 2015|mode=cs2}}</ref>

===English Civil War===
[[File:Halton Castle engraving.jpg|thumb|An engraving of the slighted Halton Castle in the 18th century]]
During the [[English Civil War|Civil War]], [[Halton Castle]] was held for the [[Cavaliers|Royalists]] by [[John Savage, 2nd Earl Rivers]], the [[Steward (office)|Steward]] of Halton. It fell twice to Parliamentarian [[Roundheads]]. The first siege was led by [[Sir William Brereton, 1st Baronet|Sir William Brereton]] in 1643; the second 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 [[Slighting|slighted]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Starkey|1990|pp=57–58.}}</ref>

In 1656, Runcorn was described as being "nothing but a fair parish church, a parsonage and a few scattered tenements".<ref>King, Daniel, ''The Vale Royal of England'', 1656 (quoted in {{Harvnb|Starkey|1990|p=73.}}).</ref> 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 the north bank of the River Mersey.

===Industrialisation===
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.<ref name="Starkey 1983 19–24"/>

Later came the [[Runcorn to Latchford Canal]] linking with the Mersey and Irwell Navigation, and the Weston Canal which gave better access to the [[River Weaver|Weaver Navigation]] system.<ref>{{Harvnb|Starkey|1990|p=173.}}</ref>

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, the town was a health resort.<ref name="Starkey 1990 133–137"/>

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".<ref>{{Harvnb|Nickson|1887|pp=176–177.}}</ref> In 1822 the town's first Saltwater Baths opened followed by new visitor accommodation in Belvedere Terrace in 1831.<ref name="1834 visitor's guide">{{cite book |last=Fowler |first=G. |title=The Visitor's Guide to Runcorn and its Vicinity |publisher=W. Walker |date=1834 |page=45 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7pZYAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA45}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Nickson|1887|p=176.}}</ref>

[[File:St Paul's (drawing).jpg|thumb|St Paul's Methodist Chapel, since demolished]]
In the middle of the century, the growing wealth of the town and its industrialists saw the construction of several new landmarks, including [[Runcorn Town Hall|Halton Grange]], St Paul's Methodist Chapel and [[All Saints' Church, Runcorn|All Saints' Church]].<ref name="vardy">{{cite journal |last=Vardy |first=Peter I. |year=2006 |title=Thomas Hazlehurst and his family: Methodism and the Early Chemical Industry in Runcorn in the Nineteenth Century |journal=Cheshire History |volume=45 |pages=67–82 |issn=0141-8696}}</ref>

For hundreds of years, the only means of crossing the River Mersey at this point had been by the Runcorn ferry. [[Thomas Telford]] proposed a {{cvt|1000|ft|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.<ref>{{Harvnb|Nickson|1887|p=206.}}</ref>

Runcorn 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.<ref>{{Harvnb|Starkey|1990|pp=160–162.}}</ref>

In 1894 the [[Manchester Ship Canal]] was opened throughout its length.<ref>{{Harvnb|Starkey|1983|p=184.}}</ref> This allowed ocean-going ships to travel inland as far as [[Salford, Greater Manchester|Salford]], some of them calling at 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.<ref>{{Harvnb|Thompson|2000|p=17.}}</ref> This would not be replaced until 1961 with the construction of Runcorn Road Bridge (since renamed the [[Silver Jubilee Bridge]]) which allowed a more efficient means of road traffic across Runcorn Gap.

During the first half of the 20th&nbsp;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 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.<ref name="ep">{{cite web |url=http://www.ebusinessdirectories.co.uk/BusinessDirectories/Pages/HaltonBD2006/alive.html |title=Halton Business Directory |access-date=1 September 2007 |publisher=Halton Borough Council |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822004655/http://www.ebusinessdirectories.co.uk/BusinessDirectories/Pages/HaltonBD2006/alive.html |archive-date=22 August 2007}}</ref>

===Second World War===
[[File:Type 24 pillbox in Runcorn.jpg|thumb|A Second World War [[Pillbox (military)|pillbox]] fortification near the Rocksavage works.]]
In 1937, [[Imperial Chemical Industries|ICI]] began to build a new factory for [[mustard gas]] production at their Randle plant on [[Wigg Island]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cTLZkBuAZSsC |title=The X Site: Britain's Most Mysterious Government Facility |isbn=9780952275558 |last1=Jones |first1=Tim |year=2000 |publisher=Gwasg Helygain |location=Rhyl}}</ref> The ICI chemical plants at Runcorn featured in the Gestapo [[The Black Book (list)|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.<ref>{{Harvnb|Starkey|1990|p=219.}}</ref>

===New Town development===
[[File:Southgate Estate, Runcorn, August 1989, 2.jpg|thumb|The ill-fated [[Southgate Estate]] in Runcorn New Town]]
In September 1963, the [[Ministry of Housing and Local Government]] published a draft of the Runcorn New Town (Designation) Order which would allocate {{cvt|7750|acre}} in and around Runcorn for development of 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 in the United Kingdom|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.<ref name="RUDI 5. draft designation order 1963">{{cite web |url=http://www.rudi.net/books/3320 |title=Runcorn New Town – 5. Designation Order Material |website=rudi.net |access-date=24 July 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018025423/http://www.rudi.net/books/3320 |archive-date=18 October 2014}}</ref>

Following objections to the draft order, a [[Public inquiry |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 {{cvt|500|acre}} around the village of [[Sutton Weaver]] to the south of the [[Chester to Manchester Line|Chester–Manchester]] and [[Crewe–Liverpool line|Crewe–Liverpool]] railway lines be excluded from the designated area, partly to preserve its highly productive agricultural land. The minister, [[Keith Joseph]], accepted the report's recommendations and the designation order was made on 10 April 1964.<ref name="RUDI 5.3 Minister's letter">{{cite web |url=http://www.rudi.net/books/3322 |title=Runcorn New Town – 5.3 Minister's letter |website=rudi.net |access-date=24 July 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022081437/http://www.rudi.net/books/3322 |archive-date=22 October 2014}}</ref>

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.<ref name="New Town Masterplan" /> The key features of the new town were its unique housing and estate designs, segregated pedestrian pathways, [[Runcorn Busway|Busway]], extensive landscaped green space, separate industrial areas and new town centre.<ref name="50th anniversary of RNT">{{cite web |url=https://www.theplanner.co.uk/opinion/what-happened-to-the-new-towns |title=What happened to the New Towns? |last=Renison |first=Nathan |date=8 April 2014 |publisher=The Planner |access-date=23 July 2020 |archive-date=23 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723160946/https://www.theplanner.co.uk/opinion/what-happened-to-the-new-towns |url-status=live}}</ref>

The new town centre was designated at the geographical heart of the expanded town with [[Runcorn Shopping City|Shopping City]], an American-style enclosed mall, as its focus.<ref name="Tale of Two Centres">{{cite journal |last1=Couch |first1=Chris |last2=Fowles |first2=Steven |date=2006 |title=Britain: Runcorn – A Tale of Two Centres |jstor=23289488 |journal=Built Environment |volume=32 |issue=1 |pages=88–102 |doi=10.2148/benv.32.1.88}}</ref> 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 the Urban District Council and existing traders.<ref name="David Gosling interview">{{cite web |title=The New Towns Record – Planning the New Towns...In their own words |url=http://www.theknowledgeexchange.co.uk/media/5418/New-Towns-Record_FINAL-web-May-2016.pdf |date=May 2016 |publisher=Idox Knowledge Exchange |access-date=23 July 2020 |archive-date=28 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228132353/https://www.theknowledgeexchange.co.uk/media/5418/New-Towns-Record_FINAL-web-May-2016.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> The new Halton site was favoured and Shopping City opened in 1972.<ref name="Tale of Two Centres" />

However, the Urban District Council secured a commitment from the Development Corporation to continue a programme of regeneration which the council had already begun.<ref name="RUDI 7.6 Town centre">{{cite web |url=http://www.rudi.net/books/3322 |title=Runcorn New Town – 7.6 Town centre |website=rudi.net |access-date=24 July 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018044833/http://www.rudi.net/books/3349 |archive-date=18 October 2014}}</ref> In 1971, the Development Corporation published Master Plan Amendment No.1 which focused on the urban renewal of the Old Town centre, now designated 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.<ref name="Masterplan Amendment No.1">{{cite web |url=http://www3.halton.gov.uk/lgnl/pages/86821/86836/89285/151961/159419/159422/10._Area_Specific_Evidence/AS5/Runcorn_New_Town_Masterplan_Amendment_No1_(1971).pdf |date=1971 |title=Runcorn New Town Master Plan Amendment No.1 |publisher=Runcorn Development Corporation |access-date=24 July 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411084056/http://www3.halton.gov.uk/lgnl/pages/86821/86836/89285/151961/159419/159422/10._Area_Specific_Evidence/AS5/Runcorn_New_Town_Masterplan_Amendment_No1_(1971).pdf |archive-date=11 April 2013}}</ref>

The masterplan was amended for the second and final time in 1975. Amendment No.2 extended the expressway further to the east and redesignated land at Sandymoor intended for industrial use to residential.<ref name="Masterplan Amendment No.2">{{cite web |url=http://www3.halton.gov.uk/lgnl/pages/86821/86836/89285/151961/159419/159422/10._Area_Specific_Evidence/AS6/Runcorn_New_Town_Masterplan_Amendment_No2_(1971).pdf |date=1975 |title=Runcorn New Town Master Plan Amendment No.2 |publisher=Runcorn Development Corporation |access-date=24 July 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411084056/http://www3.halton.gov.uk/lgnl/pages/86821/86836/89285/151961/159419/159422/10._Area_Specific_Evidence/AS6/Runcorn_New_Town_Masterplan_Amendment_No2_(1971).pdf |archive-date=11 April 2013}}</ref> The Runcorn Development Corporation merged with Warrington Development Corporation on 1 April 1981 and was wound up on 30 September 1989.<ref name="TCPA factsheet">{{cite web |url=https://www.tcpa.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=bd616ca8-f2bc-4998-966b-a01f8f99c233 |title=Runcorn, Cheshire – 'Mark Two' New Town – Designated 10 April 1964 |publisher=Town and Country Planning Association |access-date=23 July 2020 |archive-date=15 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715054519/https://www.tcpa.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=bd616ca8-f2bc-4998-966b-a01f8f99c233 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Much of the architecture of the new town was innovative, especially the [[Southgate Estate|Southgate development]] designed by [[James Stirling (architect)|Sir James Stirling]] and built between 1970 and 1977. Stirling's housing development was beset with problems and it was demolished in the early 1990s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=430&storycode=3084063&c=2&encCode=00000000012cb5c6 |title=Unhappy customers |access-date=27 July 2007 |date=30 March 2007 |publisher=BD: The Architects' Website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928003054/http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=430&storycode=3084063&c=2&encCode=00000000012cb5c6 |archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref><ref name="Southgate">{{cite web |url=https://flashbak.com/naked-demolished-runcorn-scandalous-tale-james-stirlings-lost-utopia-393320/ |title=Naked and Demolished in Runcorn: The Scandalous Tale of James Stirling's Lost Utopia |author=Hugh Pearman |date=15 January 2015 |website=FLASHBAK |access-date=21 July 2020 |archive-date=21 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721223429/https://flashbak.com/naked-demolished-runcorn-scandalous-tale-james-stirlings-lost-utopia-393320/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name="House of Commons Report 2008">{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmselect/cmcomloc/889/889.pdf |title=New Towns: Follow-Up – Ninth Report of Session 2007–08 |publisher=House of Commons |date=11 July 2008 |access-date=23 July 2020 |archive-date=26 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426202113/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmselect/cmcomloc/889/889.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>