history of Runcorn... 54 A.D. The Romans invade Britain. 84-87 Roman road from Chester to Wilderspool (Warrington) passes through Sutton Weaver and Daresbury 460 Romans leave Britain 915 Fortress built by Ethelfleda, daughter of King Alfred the Great, at Runcorn 1066 Battle of Hastings. The Normans conquer England. William of Normandy becomes King 1066 William devastates the north of England 1070-80 A castle is built on the hill at Halton by Nigel, the 1st. Baron of Halton 1086 Runcorn itself is not mentioned in the Domesday Book but the surrounding villages of Halton, Norton, Weston, Aston and Enley-in-Norton are included. (These named areas still exist, with the exception of Enley.) 1115 Augustinian Priory founded in Runcorn by William FitzNigel, second Baron of Halton 1134 Priory moved to Norton by William FitzWilliam, third Baron 1178 Cistercian Abbey established at Stanlawe (Stanlow) by John FitzRichard, 6th Baron of Halton c.1178 Permanent ferry established across Runcorn Gap 1207 King John reputed to have visited Halton Castle 1215 King John signs Magna Carta at Runnynede 1236 Fire at Norton Priory 1236 Chapel built at Aston by Sir Thomas de Dutton 1262 Prior of Norton granted permission for mass to be said at a manor house in Sutton Weaver c.1265 Chapel of ease at Weston 1279 Stanlow Abbey flooded 1287 Fire at Stanlow Abbey and the tower collapsed 1296 Monks moved from Stanlow Abbey to Whalley near Cltheroe, Lancashire. 1323 King Edward II visited Halton 1348-49 The Black Death decimates the English population 1359 Duke of Lancaster, as 13th. Baron of Halton, claimed the right to have Halton Castle battlemented and to have a prison in the castle 1361 John of Gaunt became 14th Baron of Halton 1391 Norton Priory raised to the status of a mitred abbey 1399 Henry Bolingbroke became 15th, and last, Baron of Halton and the barony passed to the monarchy when he usurps King Richard II and takes the throne to became King Henry IV 1408 After the Battle of Shrewsbury, prisoners are lodged in Halton Castle 1450s New gate tower erected at Halton Castle 1455-85 The War of the Roses 1536 Dissolution of the smaller monasteries by King Henry VIII. 1536 Dissolution of Norton Abbey 1539 Dissolution of the greater monasteries by King Henry VIII. 1545 Manor of Norton and abbey buildings bought by Richard Brooke 1558 Elizabeth I crowned. Parish registers started 1568 Rocksavage Hall complete (Elizabethan building) 1579 Halton Castle becomes a prison for recusants (persons refusing to attend Church of England services). 1617 King James I entertained at Rocksavage by Sir Thomas Savage 1620 Voyage of the Mayflower to America 1635 Consecration of Aston churchyard 1642 Civil War between King Charles I and Parliament starts 1642 Henry Brooke at Norton Priory repelled Royalist attack in civil war 1643 Halton Castle garrisoned for King Charles I 1643-4 Halton Castle, Halton Old Hall and Rocksavage damaged in Civil War 1649 King Charles I executed. The Commonwealth instituted 1662 Restoration of the Monarchy. Charles II crowned King 1662 Henry Brooke made baronet by King Charles II 1697 Chancel of Aston chapel enlarged c1730 Tudor house at Norton Priory replaced by Georgian country house 1733 Chesshyre Library opened in Halton Village 1736 Nave of Aston chapel reconstructed 1738 Halton Castles medieval gatehouse demolished and replaced by a new courthouse 1740 South aisle of Runcorn parish church rebuilt in brick 1746 Battle of Culloden 1757 Sankey canal completed from St.Helens to Widnes. 1773 Runcorn locks opened 1775 Tidal basin completed 1776 American Declaration of Independence 1776 Bridgewater Canal complete between Runcorn and Manchester 1777 Trent and Mersey canal completed 1781-2 John Wesley preached in the neighbourhood 1789 The French Revolution 1789 Party of Methodist preachers expelled from Runcorn 1790 Norton Priory remodelled 1791 New dock for sailing flats opened 1800 Methodist Sunday School opened in a room in the Holloway 1802 Galleries added to parish church 1803 John Johnson opened soapery on south bank of Bridgewater canal. The Runcorn and Weston Volunteer Corps founded. 1804 Runcorn to Latchford (Old Quay) Canal opened, providing another water route to Manchester 1805 Battle of Trafalgar 1806 Plans for building Bridewell in Bridge Street approved. Runcorn Friendly Society established 1810 Weston Canal completed, this extended the Weaver Navigation Canal from Northwich to the Mersey at Weston Point. 1811 Parish (National) school established. Weekly market started 1815 Battle of Waterloo. 1815 Halton Female Friendly Society formed 1816 Thomas Hazlehurst opened soapery on north bank of Bridgewater canal 1817 First Runcorn to Liverpool Steam packet by teh Prince Regent 1818 Small Methodist chapel built in Halton Village. St Johns Congregational chapel opened. Colours of Runcorn and Weston Volunteers Corps deposited in the parish church 1819 Runcorn to Northwich road turnpiked. 1820 Methodist Sunday School moved to Martins Gardens (later Nelson Street). 1822 Salt water baths built 1823 Dennis Brundrit and Philip Whiteway joined in partnership as stone merchants and shipbuilders 1824 Stocks renewed. Halton Methodist Sunday school opened 1825 Dock constructed at Old Quay 1827 Organ presented to parish church E Timmins & Sons, engineers, established at Delph Bridge 1828 New line of locks opened on Bridgewater Canal down to the Mersey Brunswick Wesleyan Methodist chapel opened 1829 Welsh chapel, Back King Street, opened 1830 St Lukes Congregational chapel and schoolroom, Mason Street, opened Liverpool to Manchester Railway opened 1831 Belvedere Terrace built. The Ladies Charity for Poor Mothers commenced. Runcorn Dorcas Society established, Mariners Mission, Irwell Lane opened. 1832 Parish churchyard extended. Town Offices and Police Station opened. Cholera epidemic. 1833 National school replaced by a new parish school. Dennis Kennedy & Thomas Maguire built soap and chemical works at Weston. Sankey canal extended to Widnes. 1835 Bethesda Congregational chapel and schoolroom, High Street, opened c1835 Runcorn Literary Institute established 1836 Hazlehursts chimney built. Foresters Hall, Devonshire Place, opened. Kennedy & Maguire sold soapworks to Johnsons 1837 Runcorn Gas Company formed. Crewe to Warrington Railway built with stations at Preston Brooke and Moore. 1838 Holy Trinity church consecrated. Primitive Methodist chapel, Regent Street, opened. 1841 Christ Church, Weston Point, consecrated. 1846 Catholic Chapel (St. Edwards) opened on Windmill Brow. Old Parish Church demolished. 1849 New Runcorn Parish Church consecrated. 1851 St.Marys Church, Halton, built. Chester to Warrington Railway built with staions at Runcorn Road (later Halton), Norton and Daresbury. 1862 Town now governed by an elected Board of Improvement Commissioners. 1853 Ragged School, Mill Brow, built. Railway branch line built from Chester-Warrington line at Norton to Bridgewater Canal at Preston Brook 1856 Welsh chapel built in Rutland Street. Market hall opened. 1857 Fountain erected outside town hall. Dutton workhouse opened. Fire engine purchased. 1858 Public library opened in High Street. Methodist Sunday school held in converted cottage, Gilbert Street. 1859 Runcorn Penny Bank opened. Freemasonry started in Runcorn with the formation of Ellesmere Lodge. Runcorn and Weston canal completed, joining the Weaver navigation canal to the Bridgewater canal. William Collier established works in Weston. 1860 Halton became separate parish. Charles Wigg, Neil Matheson & Duncan McKecknie set up Old Quay Works. Alfred Dock completed. Cemetery opened off Greeenway Road. Public Hall built. 1861 Aston became separate parish Camden Wesleyan Methodist chapel, Lowlands Road, opened. 1862 Runcorn Industrial Cooperative Society opened shop in Devonshire Square. Runcorn again became an independent customs port. Runcorn Guardian newspaper launched. William Collier sold his works to Johnsons. 1863 Church of England school opened in Weston (also served as mission church) 1864 Weston Penny Bank opened. First stone of railway bridge laid by Philip Whiteway. Foundation stone of St Pauls chapel laid. 1865 Day school opened by Runcorn locks for migratory boat children. Johnsons ships sunk at Charleston, South Carolina, during the American Civil War Johnsons became the Runcorn Soap & Alkali Company. Runcorn Ferry leased to the London and Liverpool Railway. 1866 St Pauls Wesleyan Methodist chapel, High Street, opened. Roman Catholic day school opened in St Edwards church. 1867 Day school opened in former Brunswick chapel. 1868 Large entrance porch added to Norton Priory. Newtown Mission and St Michaels, Shaw Street, school opened. Runcorn railway bridge and its footpath opened. Waterworks commenced operation. 1869 Theatre Royal built in Duke Street. Widnes separated from Runcorn Methodist District. 1870 Thelwall made into a separate parish from Runcorn. Runcorn and Widnes Examiner first appeared. Camden school enlarged 1871 Halton Road Wesleyan Methodist chapel opened. Greenway Road Primitive Methodist chapel and schoolroom opened 1872 St Peters Mission, Dukesfield, closed. Weston Methodist day school opened. Bridgewater Navigation Company bought Bridgewater Canal and Irwell Navigation. Weston Point Wesleyan Methodist chapel opened 1874 Runcorn School Board formed. 1875 Seamens Mission founded. Trinity Wesleyan Methodist chapel, Halton Village, opened. Fenton Dock opened. Runcorn branch of Young Mens Christian Association formed. Brunswick school enlarged. 1876 Upper Mersey Navigation Commission constituted, Runcorn Weekly News launched Runcorn and Weston Canal opened. 1879 Strike of dock workers of Bridgewater Company 1880 Daresbury became separate parish. First board school opened in old ragged school, Mill Brow. Methodist Sunday school restarted in Nelson Street 1882 Runcorn Free Public Library opened. Bethesda Board School opened 1883 Runcorn Old Hall demolished 1884 Waterloo House became new Town Hall 1886 Greenway Road Board School opened (later Victoria Road) 1887 St Michaels church, Greenway Road, opened. Building of Manchester Ship Canal started. Manchester Ship Canal Company purchased the Bridgewater Canal Company. 1888 Marble reredos given to Parish Church. Roman Catholic church opened in Irwell Lane. Weston School (Catholic) opened Salt Union formed 1890 United Alkali Company formed 1891 Seamens Institute, Station Road, opened. Serious fire at Bethesda Congregational chapel. Congregational school opened adjacent to the chapel. 1892 Norton water tower built. Ship Canal complete to Weston Mersey Lock. Runcorn end of the Old Quay canal destroyed due to Ship canal construction work. 1893 Welsh Presbyterian schoolroom opened in Victoria Road. Waterworks company sold to the town. 1894 Mill Brow quarry ceased production. Customs port of Runcorn abolished; became part of Port of Manchester. Manchester Ship Canal opened completely. Technical Institute, Waterloo Road, opened. Runcorn Urban District Council formed. 1895 Runcorn rugby club left the Union to form the Rugby League. Granville Street school transferred to Runcorn School Board 1897 The Castner-Kellner Alkali Company established in Weston Point. Weston Cross restored. 1898 St Johns church, Weston, opened. Brunswick school for boys closed 1899 Runcorn & Widnes Transporter Bridge Company formed 1900 Parish church altar rails replaced and further windows added to chancel. Runcorn Hill quarry closed. 1902 The original Weston (Catholic) school closed and became the village hall. Technical Institute also accommodated Runcorn County Secondary School. 1903 Victoria Memorial Hospital opened 1904 St Johns Welsh Presbyterian chapel, Victoria Road, opened. 1905 Transporter Bridge opened 1906 Theatre Royal destroyed by fire. New Public Library, paid for by Andrew Carnegie 1911 Curve of Ship Canal to west of railway bridge increased 1912 New vicarage for Parish Church built 1914-18 First World War, (the Great War) 1914 Hazlehurst & Sons soapworks closed; became Camden Tannery 1916 Private T.A.Jones gained the Victoria Cross at Morval Castner-Kellner company merged with Brunner-Mond 1920 War memorial, Moughland Lane, unveiled 1921 Brooke family left Norton Priory. Castner-Kellner Alkali Company started building houses in Weston Point 1923 Runcorn Soap & Alkali factory in town centre closed 1924 Mersey Road constructed 1926 ICI formed 1928 Norton Priory demolished 1930 St Johns(Weston) and St Michaels became separate parishes. 1931 Weston Works (formerly Johnsons) closed. This later became the site of Rocksavage Works ( ICI and now INEOSFLUOR) 1932 Halton Grange acquired and became Runcorn Town Hall 1937 Salt Union merged with ICI 1939-45 Second World War. 1940 Aston church damaged by a bomb 1942 Weston quarry abandoned 1950 Parliamentary constituency of Runcorn created 1952 End of Commercial traffic on the Bridgewater Canal 1956 St Edwards Roman Catholic church, Ivy Street, opened. Construction of new road bridge over the Mersey commenced 1958 Camden Tannery closed. Church Street redevelopment scheme commenced. 1959 The first part of the ICI The Heath offices were opened. 1960 Weston Cross restored again 1961 New single-arch Road Bridge to Widnes opened and the Transporter bridge closed. London to Liverpool railway line electtrified. New Market Hall and Bus Station opened. 1964 Puritan and Astmoor Tanneries closed. Runcorn New Town designated Railway bridge footpath closed 1967 Highfield Tannery closed 1971 Excavations began on the site of Norton Priory 1972 The Queen opens the new shopping centre in Runcorn New Town, (Shopping City) 1974 Runcorn Urban District Council merged with Borough of Widnes to form the Borough of Halton 1975 Norton Priory Museum established 1977 Halton Borough Council leases Halton Castle from the Duchy of Lancaster. 1981 Runcorn Development Corporation merged with Warrington New Town Corporation 1982 New museum building opened at Norton Priory by the Duke of Gloucester. Sir Richard Brooke also present. 1998 The Queen opens the Rocksavage Power Station, and the renovated first Town Hall in Bridge Street. 2001 ICI sell the Castner Kellner and Rocksavage chemical works to INEOS. 2004 The Brindley arts centre opens. It has a 400+ seat auditorium plus workshop and display areas.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 01:11:59 +0000
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