| Runcorn | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
.jpg) TheSilver Jubilee Bridge in Runcorn | |
  Runcorn Location withinCheshire | |
| Population | 61,145 (Built-up area, 2021)[1] |
| Demonym | Runcornian |
| OS grid reference | SJ 5140 8300 |
| • London | 167 mi (269 km)[2] SE |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | RUNCORN |
| Postcode district | WA7 |
| Dialling code | 01928 |
| Police | Cheshire |
| Fire | Cheshire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| UK Parliament | |
| 53°20′30″N2°43′53″W / 53.3417°N 2.7313°W /53.3417; -2.7313 | |
Runcorn is an industrial town andcargo port within theBorough of Halton inCheshire, England. It lies on the south bank of theRiver Mersey, where the estuary narrows to form theRuncorn Gap, and is located approximately 15 miles (24 km) southeast ofLiverpool and 29 miles (47 km) southwest ofManchester.[3] The Runcorn built-up area had a population of 61,145 at the2021 census.
Runcorn was founded byÆthelflæd of Mercia in 915 AD as a fortification against theViking invasion at a narrowing of the River Mersey.[4] UnderNorman rule, Runcorn fell under theBarony of Halton and anAugustinian abbey was established there in 1115.[5] It remained a small and isolated settlement until theIndustrial Revolution, when the 1776 extension of theBridgewater Canal to Runcorn established it as a port linking coastal Liverpool with inland Manchester andStaffordshire.[6] The docks enabled the growth of industry, initially shipwrights and sandstone quarries; in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, it was a spa and health resort, but this ended with the growth of polluting industries, especially soap and chemical works.[7] In 1964, Runcorn was designated anew town and expanded eastward, absorbing neighbouring settlements and more than doubling its population.[8]
TheSilver Jubilee Bridge,Mersey Gateway, andRuncorn Railway Bridge span the River Mersey and theManchester Ship Canal in Runcorn. Its location between Liverpool and Manchester and its links to the rail, motorway, and canal networks have made it a major centre for the manufacturing, logistics, and wholesale and retail industries.[9]
The earliest written reference to the town is in theAnglo-Saxon Chronicle, where it is spelled "Rumcofan", literally meaning "a wide cove or bay". This word is derived from theOld English words "rúm" ("wide" or "broad") and "cofa" ("cave" or "cove"). Other historical spellings of Runcorn include "Rumcoven", "Ronchestorn", "Runckhorne", and "Runcorne".[10]
Little is known about the early history of the settlement but isolated findings of objects from theStone,Bronze, andIron Ages have been made and there is evidence of aRoman presence in the area.[11]
The first recorded event in its history is the building byÆthelflæd of a fortification at Runcorn to protect the northern frontier of her kingdom ofMercia against theVikings in 915. The fort was built on Castle Rock overlooking the River Mersey at Runcorn Gap.[12]
Following theNorman Conquest, Runcorn was not mentioned in the 1086Domesday survey, although surrounding settlements were.William the Conqueror granted theearldom of Chester toHugh d'Avranches, who granted the barony of Halton to Nigel of Cotentin. It is likely that Nigel erected amotte and bailey castle on Halton Hill in the 1070s.[13]
In 1115, Nigel's son,William fitz Nigel, founded anAugustinian priory atRuncorn. In 1134, the priory was moved to Norton, about3+1⁄2 miles (6 kilometres) away. In 1391, the priory was raised to the higher status ofabbey.[5] In 1536, themonastery was dissolved, and around nine years later, the buildings and some of the monastic lands were sold to SirRichard Brooke who converted the habitable part of the abbey into a house.[14]
In 1565,Rocksavage, an Elizabethan Hall, was constructed for Sir John Savage in Clifton, now part of Runcorn.[15]
During theCivil War,Halton Castle was held for theRoyalists byJohn Savage, 2nd Earl Rivers, theSteward of Halton. It fell twice to ParliamentarianRoundheads. The first siege was led bySir William Brereton in 1643; the second was in 1644. Following this, a "Council of War" was held in Warrington in 1646 at which it was decided that the castle should beslighted.[16]
In 1656, Runcorn was described as "nothing but a fair parish church, a parsonage and a few scattered tenements".[17] 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.
During the 18th century, water transport had been improved in the area by theMersey and Irwell Navigation, theBridgewater Canal and theTrent 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.[6] Later came theRuncorn to Latchford Canal linking with the Mersey and Irwell Navigation, and the Weston Canal which gave better access to theWeaver Navigation system.[18] Industries began to develop within and around the town, in particular shipbuilding, engineering, chemical manufacturing, tanning, andsandstone quarrying.
Towards the end of the 18th century and in the early years of the 19th century, the town was a health resort.[7] 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".[19] In 1822 the town's first Saltwater Baths opened followed by new visitor accommodation in Belvedere Terrace in 1831.[20][21] In the middle of the century, the growing wealth of the town and its industrialists saw the construction of several new landmarks, includingHalton Grange, St Paul's Methodist Chapel andAll Saints' Church.[22]
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 betweenNorthwich and Weston Point, supplying brine to the salt works and in 1896 the Castner Kellner chemical works was established.[23] In 1894 theManchester Ship Canal was opened throughout its length.[24] This allowed ocean-going ships to travel inland as far asSalford, 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.
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 1,000 ft (300 m) single span suspension bridge as early as 1817, but not until 1868 did the first bridge,Runcorn Railway Bridge, open across the Mersey at Runcorn. This gave the town direct rail links withLiverpool and the rest of the country.[25] In 1905, theWidnes–Runcorn Transporter Bridge opened, giving a direct link for vehicular traffic for the first time between the two towns.[26] This would not be replaced until 1961 with the construction of Runcorn Road Bridge (since renamed theSilver Jubilee Bridge) which allowed a more efficient means of road traffic across Runcorn Gap.
During the first half of the 20th century, the town's industry 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 formImperial Chemical Industries (ICI). In 1937,ICI began to build a new factory formustard gas production at their Randle plant onWigg Island.[27] The ICI chemical plants at Runcorn featured in the GestapoBlack Book as a company of special interest but although the works at Weston Point were discussed atLuftwaffe briefings in 1940, the town was never deliberately targeted and was subject only to very limited bombing.[28] 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.[29]
In September 1963, theMinistry of Housing and Local Government published a draft of the Runcorn New Town (Designation) Order that allocated 7,750 acres (3,140 ha) in and around Runcorn for development of a new town under theNew Towns Act 1946. The ministry cited the urgent need for more housing to reduce overcrowding in Liverpool and to increase the rate ofslum 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.[30]
Following objections to the draft order, apublic 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. But it recommended that 500 acres (200 ha) around the village ofSutton Weaver to the south of theChester–Manchester andCrewe–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.[31]
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.[8] The new town's key features were its unique housing and estate designs, segregated pedestrian pathways,Busway, extensive landscaped green space, separate industrial areas, and new town centre.[32]
The new town centre was designated at the geographical heart of the expanded town withShopping City, an American-style enclosed mall, as its focus.[33] This was a source of conflict betweenArthur Ling, the new town Master Planner, andFred Roche, Chief Architect. Ling envisaged a centre reminiscent of a citadel or acropolis at the base of Halton Castle, but Roche preferred to expand the existing town centre, partly to placate the Urban District Council and existing traders.[34] The new Halton site was favoured and Shopping City opened in 1972.[33]
However, the Urban District Council secured a commitment from the Development Corporation to continue a programme of regeneration the council had already begun.[35] 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.[36]
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.[37] The Runcorn Development Corporation merged with Warrington Development Corporation on 1 April 1981 and was wound up on 30 September 1989.[38]
Much of the architecture of the new town was innovative, especially theSouthgate development designed bySir James Stirling and built between 1970 and 1977. Stirling's housing development was beset with problems and it was demolished in the early 1990s.[39][40] In 2002, the Castlefields Partnership (made up ofEnglish Partnerships and Halton Borough Council) was created to comprehensively redevelop the Castlefields estate, including the demolition of over 700 deck access flats.[41]
Runcorn is in thelocal authority district of theBorough of Halton. It is administered byHalton Borough Council, aunitary authority which has its main meeting place atRuncorn Town Hall.[42] The council is a member of theLiverpool City Region Combined Authority, led by the directly electedMayor of the Liverpool City Region. Runcorn is anunparished area with the exception ofSandymoor civil parish and part of the Whitehouse Industrial Estate which is in thePreston Brook civil parish.[43]
At the time of theDomesday survey of 1086, Runcorn was in thehundred of Tunendune.[44] Thehundreds of Cheshire were reorganised in the 12th century, and Runcorn became part of theBucklow Hundred.[45] Runcorn was anancient parish. It was subdivided into 20townships:[46][47][48]
The Runcorn township covered the town itself plus a rural area to the south, including the separate hamlet of Higher Runcorn and an area ofheath called Runcorn Heath.[49] From the 17th century onwards, parishes were gradually given various civil functions under thepoor laws, in addition to their original ecclesiastical functions. In some cases, including Runcorn, the civil functions were exercised by each township separately rather than the parish as a whole. In 1866, the legal definition of 'parish' was changed to be the areas used for administering the poor laws, and so the townships also becamecivil parishes, which therefore diverged from theecclesiastical parish.[50]
In 1852 a body ofimprovement commissioners was established to administer the Runcorn township and adjoining parts of Halton township (which were subsequently transferred to Runcorn township in 1883).[51][52] Such commissioners' districts were reconstituted asurban districts under theLocal Government Act 1894.[53] In 1932, Runcorn Urban District Council bought Halton Grange, a large house which had been completed in 1856, to serve as its headquarters and renamed it Runcorn Town Hall.[54][55]
Runcorn Urban District was enlarged on three occasions. In 1936, it took in areas including Weston and the fringes of Halton, including the area around Halton Grange. In 1955, there were minor adjustments to the boundaries with neighbouring parishes. And in 1967, it took in Halton and Norton, plus parts of other neighbouring parishes, to bring all the areas which had been designated for the new town in 1964 into the urban district.[56][57] In 1956, the urban district council was granted acoat of arms with the Latin mottoNavem mercibus implere ("fill the ships with goods"), a classical quotation fromJuvenal.[58]
Runcorn Urban District was abolished in 1974 under theLocal Government Act 1972 when it merged with theMunicipal Borough of Widnes and parts ofRuncorn Rural District andWhiston Rural District to form theBorough of Halton under Halton Borough Council andCheshire County Council. In 1998, Halton Borough Council took over the county council's functions in the borough, making it aunitary authority. Halton remains part of theceremonial county of Cheshire.[59] In April 2014, Halton Borough Council joined five other local authorities inMerseyside to form theLiverpool City Region.
Runcorn is in theRuncorn and Helsby constituency for representation in theHouse of Commons. The seat was held byMike Amesbury of theLabour Party from its creation for the2024 general election.[60] It changed hands whenSarah Pochin ofReform UK won the2025 by-election triggered by Amesbury's resignation after his conviction for assault.[61]
From 1997 to 2024, Runcorn was split between the two constituencies ofWeaver Vale andHalton. Prior to their abolition, those seats were held by Mike Amesbury andDerek Twigg respectively, both of theLabour Party.[62] While Halton was asafe Labour seat since its creation in 1983, Weaver Vale was amarginal seat and switched between the Labour andConservative parties several times since its creation in 1997.
Before theReform Act 1832, Runcorn was in theconstituency of Cheshire which was represented by twoMembers of Parliament.[63] Following the Reform Act, the town was placed in theNorth Cheshire constituency and from 1868 in theMid Cheshire constituency. From 1885 to 1950 the town was in the constituency ofNorthwich.[64] Theconstituency of Runcorn was created by a 1948Act of Parliament andDennis Vosper was the first to be elected to the seat in 1950.[65] In 1964, he was succeeded byMark Carlisle who held the seat until the constituency of Runcorn was abolished in 1983 and split between the constituencies of Halton andWarrington South.[66]
Runcorn is on a spur projecting into the River Mersey, which flows to the north and then to the west of the town. On the river's north bank is another spur forming the West Bank area of Widnes; together these form Runcorn Gap, a narrowing of the River Mersey. The town is bounded to the southwest by theWeaver Navigation; to the south by theChester–Manchester andCrewe–Liverpool railway lines; and to the east by theWest Coast Main Line until the village ofMoore. A series of valleys is formed by high points at Runcorn Hill (75mAOD), Halton Castle (75m AOD), Windmill Hill (70m AOD) and Keckwick Hill (75m AOD).[67]
Runcorn Gap is crossed by three bridges: Runcorn Railway Bridge (which carries the Liverpool branch of the West Coast Main Line), the Silver Jubilee Bridge and the Mersey Gateway which carries theA533. A system of dual carriageways called 'expressways' form a figure of 8 around the town.[68] The Central Expressway runs through the centre of the town in a north–south direction and is the main through-road. It connects to theM56 motorway which cuts into the south of the town.
To the west of the Central Expressway lies the Old Town of Runcorn, Higher Runcorn,Weston, Weston Point and Clifton (formerly Rocksavage), and the new town estates of Halton Brook and Halton Lodge. To the east are the formerly separate villages ofHalton andNorton, and the new town estates of Castlefields, Palacefields, Windmill Hill, Murdishaw, Brookvale, Hallwood Park,Beechwood andSandymoor.[69] The density of housing is generally high, but there are open green areas, in particularheathland on Runcorn Hill and the extensive Town Park created as part of the new town. Housing is typically situated within the expressways and industry outside.[8]
The Runcorn area drains into the River Mersey to the north and the River Weaver to the south.
Thebedrock geology of the River Mersey and the northern and western fringes of Runcorn isSherwood Sandstone and pebbly sandstone. To the south there is a transition to siltstone, sandstone and predominantlyMercia Mudstone. The primary sedimentary rock isNew Red Sandstone.[67]
Thesuperficial geology is varied with pockets of sand anddiamicton along the lower-lying land adjacent to the Mersey and through Runcorn. Sand and gravel becomes common on the southern fringes of the town and elsewhere there are small pockets of clay, silt, sand and gravel.[67]
There are twoSites of Special Scientific Interest within the town:Floodbrook Clough and the Mersey Estuary.[67] Floodbrook Clough in Beechwood is anAncient Semi-Natural Woodland and one of the best examples in Cheshire of clough woodland onkeuper marl.[70]
There are fiveLocal Nature Reserves designated under theNational Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949: Runcorn Hill, Dorchester Park, Oxmoor Woods, Wigg Island and Murdishaw Valley.[67]
Early census statistics for the town include only the areas known now as the Old Town and Higher Runcorn. In 1936, Runcorn Urban District grew to incorporate the neighbouring village of Weston.[57] The present statistical boundaries of Runcorn were defined in the Runcorn New Town (Designation) Order 1964 which greatly expanded the town to the east.
The population of Runcorn in 1664 has been estimated as 305.[71]
| Year | Population | Change as % |
|---|---|---|
| 1801 | 1,379 | — |
| 1811 | 2,060 | +49.4% |
| 1821 | 3,103 | +50.6% |
| 1831 | 5,035 | +62.3% |
| 1841 | 6,951 | +38.1% |
| 1851 | 8,688 | +25.0% |
| 1861 | 10,063 | +15.8% |
| 1871 | 12,066 | +19.9% |
| 1881 | 15,126 | +25.4% |
| 1891 | 20,020 | +32.4% |
| 1901 | 16,491 | −17.6% |
| 1911 | 17,353 | +5.2% |
| 1921 | 18,476 | +6.5% |
| 1931 | 18,127 | −1.9% |
| 1939 | 21,718 | +19.8% |
| 1951 | 23,931 | +10.2% |
| 1961 | 26,035 | +8.8% |
| 1971 | 35,999 | +38.3% |
| 1981 | 64,196 | +78.3% |
| 1991 | 64,952 | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 60,320 | −7.1% |
| 2011 | 61,789 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 61,145 | +0.5% |
In the 2021census, 52.5% said they wereChristian, down from 70.1% in 2011. 41.5% said they had "no religion" and 4.6% made no religious claims. Those stating their religions asBuddhist,Hindu,Jewish,Muslim,Sikh or other amounted to 1.3%.[1][73]
The town'sAnglican churches are part of theDiocese of Chester and the Deanery of Frodsham.[74] The parish church isAll Saints Church, and there are 10 other Anglican churches in the town.[75] FiveCatholic churches can be found in Runcorn and are administered by theDiocese of Shrewsbury.[76]
There are twoMethodist chapels and several shared churches. Wicksten Drive Christian Centre is shared between Anglicans and Methodists. Hallwood Ecumenical Parish inBeechwood and Palace Fields consists of two churches, both recognised by the Church of England, the Methodist Church and theUnited Reformed Church.[75] There is also aPentecostal church, two independentevangelical churches, aChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel, aspiritualist church, and aJehovah's WitnessesKingdom Hall.[75]
In 2013, the former Waterloo Hotel was converted into a Buddhist temple byWat Phra Singh. As of May 2014[update], there are five resident monks.[77]
In the 2021 census, of Runcorn's 61,145 residents, 96.6% identified as White. Mixed/multiple ethnic groups made up 1.5%; Asian/Asian British/Asian Welsh 1.0%; Black/Black British/Black Welsh/Caribbean/African 0.4%; and Other ethnic group 0.6%. 97.4% had English as a first language.[1]
In 2020, theGVA for the Runcorn Built-up Area Sub-division was £2.86 billion.[78]
Runcorn has a higher proportion of people working in manufacturing, logistics, and wholesale and retail than the average for England.[73][9] Chemical manufacturing has been the town's dominant sector since the 19th century, but the local economy has increasingly diversified into other advanced manufacturing sectors, such as aerospace and automotive, as well as services and logistics.[79]
The main industrial areas of the town are Astmoor, Manor Park, Whitehouse, the Heath and Weston Point. Sci-Tech Daresbury is to the southeast of the town. The main retail and leisure area isShopping City in the centre of the town with a smaller district centre at the old town.
| Industry | Runcorn (Resident Jobs) | Runcorn (%) | Halton (%) | England (%) | Runcorn – England Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C Manufacturing | 3,829 | 13.7 | 12.5 | 8.8 | 4.9 |
| H Transport and storage | 2,087 | 7.4 | 6.9 | 5.0 | 2.4 |
| G Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 5,069 | 18.1 | 18.7 | 15.9 | 2.2 |
| N Administrative and support service activities | 1,579 | 5.6 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 0.7 |
| E Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 334 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.5 |
| J Information and communication | 1,247 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 0.3 |
| O Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 1,721 | 6.1 | 6.5 | 5.9 | 0.2 |
| D Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 194 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.1 |
| Q Human health and social work activities | 3,460 | 12.3 | 12.0 | 12.4 | −0.1 |
| B Mining and quarrying | 40 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | −0.1 |
| L Real estate activities | 314 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.5 | −0.4 |
| I Accommodation and food service activities | 1,388 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 5.6 | −0.6 |
| A Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 44 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.8 | −0.6 |
| F Construction | 1,881 | 6.7 | 7.4 | 7.7 | −1.0 |
| R, S, T, U Other | 988 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 5.0 | −1.5 |
| M Professional, scientific and technical activities | 1,305 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 6.7 | −2.0 |
| K Financial and insurance activities | 555 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 4.4 | −2.4 |
| P Education | 1,993 | 7.1 | 7.7 | 9.9 | −2.8 |
The town's chemical industry was dominated for many years byICI's Chlor Chemical division. But since 2001, Inovyn (a wholly owned subsidiary ofIneos) has operated the extensive chemical works in the west of the town, employing 750 people in 2020.[80][81] In Runcorn, Invoyn manufactures chlorine, caustic soda and chlorinated derivatives. It also produces salt, made frombrine transported bypipeline from the saltfields of central Cheshire, and sulphuric acid. Several other chemical manufacturers also have a presence at the site, including Koura (formerlyMexichem Fluor), Industrial Chemicals, Packed Chlorine Limited, VYNOVA and Runcorn MCP Ltd (a joint venture between INOVYN and VYNOVA). The site is considered to be of strategic national importance to the UK.[81] The site includes two independently owned power stations; the 810 MW natural gas firedRocksavage Power Station and the Runcorn Energy Recovery Facility operated by Viridor which also supplies heat to the Inovyn facility.[82][83] ICI's other former site in Runcorn comprising offices and laboratories is now the Heath Business and Technical Park, which provides office, laboratory, conference, and leisure facilities.[84]
Other large employers include advanced manufacturing firms Sigmatex (manufacturer of carbon fibre),Héroux-Devtek (manufacturer of aircraft landing gear),Whitford (manufacturer of speciality coatings),Teva (manufacturer of pharmaceuticals) andFresenius Kabi (manufacturer of medical and pharmaceutical products).[85] Drinks manufacturerDiageo has maintained a packaging plant at Runcorn since 1970 which packagesGuinness,Pimm's,Kilkenny andSmirnoff Ice for distribution in Great Britain.[79]
Sci-Tech Daresbury is a National Science and Innovation Campus to the south east of Runcorn. The campus offers lab space, offices and workshops to rent. It is home to Europe's largest supercomputer and the Virtual Engineering Centre, which works withBentley motor cars,BAE Systems andJaguar Land Rover. The site also housesDaresbury Laboratory, which employs over 300 staff specialising in accelerator science, bio-medicine, physics, chemistry, materials, engineering, and computational science.[86]
Runcorn's position between Liverpool and Manchester airports and its links to the rail, motorway, and canal networks have made it a centre for logistics.[29] There are two ports in the west of the town on the Manchester Ship Canal.Runcorn Docks is owned by the Manchester Ship Canal Company, which is part of thePeel Ports Group.[87]Weston Point Docks is operated by FLX Logistics.[88]
There are several large logistics depots across Runcorn, including Eddie Stobart Group's road haulage site and driver training school in Manor Park, and the Downton haulage depot at the Whitehouse Industrial Estate.[89][90]
There has been a shift in employment from manufacturing to service industries. In 1991, 34% worked in the manufacturing sector and 61% were in the service sector. By 2004, 17% were in manufacturing jobs and 78% were in service jobs.[91] This trend in the local region is demonstrated in this chart which shows the regional "gross value added" of Halton and Warrington at current basic prices, with figures in millions of pounds.[92]
| Year | Regional Gross Value Addedd | Agriculturea | Industryb | Servicesc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 3,636 | 14 | 1,361 | 2,261 |
| 2000 | 4,768 | 10 | 1,433 | 3,324 |
| 2003 | 5,774 | 18 | 1,399 | 4,356 |
Runcorn has two shopping centres. The original shopping area was in the older part of the town on High Street, Regent Street and Church Street.[93] This centre continues to exist, but with the coming of the new town, has declined. In the centre of the new town,Runcorn Shopping City is an enclosedshopping mall with two attached bus stations.[94] Adjacent to it is Trident Retail Park, containing shopping outlets and formerly contained a cinema and nearby is a largeAsdasuperstore that opened in 1989.
The Runcorn New Town Masterplan created three distinct types of road: busways, expressways and local roads.[8] In addition, there is a network of dedicatedcycleways in the town.[95]
TheRuncorn Busway was the world's firstbus rapid transit system.[96] First conceived in the Runcorn New Town Masterplan in 1966, it opened for services in 1971 and all 22 km (14 mi) were operational by 1980.[97] It is a road network for use by buses only and, unlike guided busways or bus lanes, it is a totally separate road system, not running alongside (or down the middle of) existing roads. It was designed so that most residents would be no more than five minutes' walking distance, or 500 yards (460 m), from a bus stop.[8] The central station is at Runcorn Shopping City, where buses arrive on dedicated raised busways to two enclosed stations.[33] Professor Arthur Ling, Runcorn Development Corporation's Master Planner, claimed to have invented the concept while sketching on the back of an envelope.[98] As of 2025, bus services are provided byArriva North West, Anthony's Travel, Howards Travel, Ashcroft Travel, Halton Community Transport andStagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire.[99] Two coach companies operate from the town;Selwyns Travel[100] and Anthony's Travel.[101]
The expressways form a ring road around the town in a figure of eight and are intended to keep all through traffic off the local roads.[8] This system links north toWidnes andLiverpool by the A533 over theMersey Gateway bridge, east toWarrington by theA56, south toNorthwich and north Cheshire by the A533, and west by the A557 to theM56 and toFrodsham. The M56 links to theM6 and, to the north of Widnes, the A557 links to theM62.[102]
There are two railway stations.Runcorn, in the old town, is on the Liverpool branch of theWest Coast Main Line and managed byAvanti West Coast, which provides services betweenLiverpool Lime Street andLondon Euston.West Midlands Trains run a service between Liverpool and Birmingham New Street that calls at the station.Runcorn East station, in the new town's Murdishaw district, is managed byTransport for Wales, and provides services toWarrington,Manchester,Chester andNorth Wales.[103]
Runcorn is 8 mi (13 km) fromLiverpool John Lennon Airport and 22 mi (35 km) fromManchester Airport.
There are two Grade Ilisted buildings andscheduled monuments in Runcorn:Halton Castle andNorton Priory. Halton Castle is one of two remaining Norman castles in Cheshire, built in 1071 and reconstructed in local sandstone in the 13th century. The castle wasslighted following the Civil War and the gatehouse converted to a courthouse in 1737, nowThe Castle public house and a Grade II* listed building in its own right. Norton Priory, now a museum, is the most excavated monastic site in Europe, consisting of the ruins of an Abbey, 12th century undercroft and 18th century Walled Garden. Norton Priory and Halton Castle are managed by Norton Priory Museum Trust Limited.[104]
Most Grade II* listed buildings in the town are around the base of Halton Castle, includingSeneschal's House (1598),Halton Old Hall (1693),Chesshyre Library (1730) andHalton Vicarage (1739).Hallwood (1710), a former mansion house, is also Grade II* listed and its former stable block is Grade II. But both have been derelict since the Tricorn public house closed in 2017.[105] The town's 19th century Anglican churches are also listed buildings, including the Grade II*All Saints (1849) andSt John's (1897), and the Grade IIHoly Trinity (1838),Christ Church (1841) andSt Mary's (1851).
The Runcorn home of the Duke of Bridgewater,Bridgewater House, is a prominent landmark and Grade II listed building on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal where a flight of locks from his canal once stood. The home of a later industrialist, Thomas Johnson, becameRuncorn Town Hall, a Grade II listed Italianate building with similarities toOsborne House on the Isle of Wight.[106]
The landmarks largest in scale are the three bridges which span the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal at Runcorn.Runcorn Railway Bridge and theSilver Jubilee Bridge are Grade II* and II listed buildings respectively while theMersey Gateway Bridge was officially opened in 2018 byQueen Elizabeth II and theDuchess of Sussex.[107]Norton Water Tower is another prominent Grade II listed landmark at 112 ft (34 m) high.[108]
Runcorn War Memorial is Grade II listed and commemorates those who died in theFirst andSecond World Wars, as well as those killed in later conflicts.[109] The garden contains a statue ofThomas Alfred Jones who was awarded theVictoria Cross in the First World War. There is a memorial in Halton Village commemorating residents who served in theBoer War.
Runcorn Shopping City, at the heart of the New Town, was designed byFred Roche CBE and at the time of its construction was the largest covered shopping centre in Europe.[8] It was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1972.[110]
The Brindley is a theatre and arts centre which opened in 2004. It is in the old town and named afterJames Brindley, engineer of the adjacent Bridgewater Canal.[111] It contains aproscenium theatre seating 420 and a multi-purpose theatre seating 108, The Studio, which doubles as a cinema. There is an exhibition space for art installations, a small café and multi-purpose rooms. The centre is owned and administered by Halton Borough Council, which runs community events in the building.[112] In 2007, it won 'Best Arts Project in the UK' at the National Lottery Awards.[111] Amultiplex cinema was run byCineworld at Trident Retail Park until its closure in 2023.[113]
Runcorn is served by two weekly newspapers: theRuncorn & Widnes Weekly News, published by Trinity Mirror North West & North Wales and hosted online by theLiverpool Echo,[114] and theRuncorn and Widnes World, published byNewsquest.[115] The town is also home to Halton Community Radio, a volunteer-run radio station that broadcasts over the Runcorn and Widnes area.[116] It launched in 2008 with a five-year licence to broadcast.[117] The station has stopped broadcasting as of 2025.[118]
The BBC situation comedyTwo Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps was set in Runcorn and included external shots of the former Waterloo Hotel (known in the programme asThe Archer), the Silver Jubilee Bridge and Halton Castle.[119]Drop Dead Gorgeous, a drama onBBC Three, was also set in Runcorn.[120] The first two series of the BBC police dramaMerseybeat featured sequences of the town[121] and areas of Runcorn old town featured inThe Five TV crime drama series on Sky1. Norton Priory has been used as a location in historical dramas, sitcoms and children's programmes, includingLittle Birds,Bone Detectives (Channel 4),Island at War,Casanova andYoung Dracula.[122] The Silver Jubilee Bridge featured in the Netflix seriesStay Close.[123] Runcorn was a setting in the Netflix seriesThe Last Kingdom, but no scenes were filmed in the town.[124]
The Runcorn Ferry is amonologue byMarriott Edgar and popularised byStanley Holloway celebrating the ancient river crossing which existed from the 12th century until the construction of the Transporter Bridge in 1905. It includes the lines:
Per tuppence per person per trip ...Per trip or per part of per trip.[125]
The main library is atRuncorn Shopping City with a branch library in the old town centre.[126] A Council 'one stop shop' called Halton Direct Link is based next to the main library.[127]
Open areas in Runcorn form part ofMersey Forest, one of Britain'scommunity forests.[128] In addition to smaller local parks and allotments, there are four large parks in Runcorn:[129]
There are three privately run swimming pools at Beechwood Community Centre, INARA club and Holiday Inn Runcorn. The local authority runs two leisure centres and swimming pools at Brookvale Recreation Centre in Runcorn and Halton Leisure Centre in Widnes in addition to outdoor sporting facilities in its parks.[132]
Runcorn's hospital isHalton General Hospital, which is administered by theWarrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. It has an Urgent Care Centre but acute medical services are provided byWarrington Hospital.[133] The Cheshire and Merseyside Treatment Centre, a purpose-built hospital for orthopaedic surgery, is on the same site.[134] Halton Haven Hospice is in the Murdishaw area of the town.[135] The body responsible for planning health services in Runcorn, includingprimary care, is the Halton Clinical Commissioning Group.[136]
Cheshire Constabulary operate a police station adjacent to Runcorn Shopping City in the centre of the New Town andCheshire Fire and Rescue Service maintains a 24-hour fire station.[137][138]
The town has two senior football teams,Runcorn Linnets FC andRuncorn Town FC. It also has a Sunday League and a Junior League, and an Open Age Women's Team, Runcorn Ladies FC.
Runcorn Ladies FC were established in 2012, and played in the Liverpool Open Age Women's Division, finishing in an impressive 7th position in their very first season. The chairman and coaching team decided to agree a merge with Runcorn Linnets, two years later, and thus Runcorn Linnets Ladies were formed.
Runcorn Linnets were formed as a trust-based team in 2006 from the now defunctRuncorn F.C. Halton. It has existed in various guises since 1918, and its performance peaked in 1982 when it won theAlliance Premier League, then the highest division below theFootball League.[139]
Runcorn Town was formed in 1970 as Mond Rangers FC with the club changing their name in 2005 in order to "try and bring a more professional look to the club in general, and increase support from both businesses and individuals in the local community."[140] After finishing in third place in theWest Cheshire League at the end of the 2009/10 season, the club were elected to join theNorth West Counties League at their AGM, the highest level that they have ever played at.[141]
In the late 19th century, before the1895 schism,rugby union was played at the now defunctRuncorn RFC. When therugby football schism occurred in 1895, Runcorn became founder members of the Northern Rugby Football Union (nowRugby Football League). Runcorn finished bottom of the league in the1914–15 season and did not recommence playing in the aftermath of the First World War.
Rugby league in the town is now represented byRuncorn Highfield ARLFC.
Runcorn Sports Club in Higher Runcorn hosts several clubs, including Runcorn Cricket Club, Hockey Club, Running Club and Subscription Bowling Club.[142]
Runcorn Rowing Club is sited on the River Weaver Navigation near Clifton Village and also houses Runcorn Canoe Club.[143]
Weston Angling Club Runcorn is a private fishing club that owns Sandymoor Pool in the east of the town.[144]
There is an 18-hole golf course at Runcorn Golf Club in Clifton Road.[145] Nearby is Heath Tennis Club, which uses facilities at the Heath School.[146]
Runcorn Ski Centre in Town Park consists of three dry ski slopes: an 85-metre main slope, a 45-metre extended nursery slope, and a 25-metre nursery slope. The centre runs both skiing and snowboarding lessons.[147]
Runcorn had aprofessional wrestling school and promotion called the Runcorn Wrestling Academy (RWA) from 2005 until 2020, when it closed following allegations of sexual harassment during theSpeaking Out movement.[148]
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Citations
Not least of all, our new home: 274A, Falcons View, on the Southgate Estate, in Runcorn. [...] We went from a three-bed, semi-detached house in a good area to a two-bed council flat in a, well, not so good area.
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