Editing Runcorn (section)

===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.