Drake's Road Book of the Grand Junction Railway: from Birmingham to Liverpool and ManchesterDrake, James, active 1825
History
Drake's Road Book of the Grand Junction Railway: from Birmingham to Liverpool and Manchester
Drake, James, active 1825
Grand Junction Railway Company (Great Britain) -- Guidebooks; Railroad travel -- Great Britain -- Guidebooks
Frodsham lies three miles W. of the line at this part; it has a
market on Saturday, and fairs on May 15, and August 21. The
principal branch of trade is salt refining, besides which, there are
flour mills and cotton factories. This place is mentioned in
Doomsday Book, as being the property of the Earl of Chester. The
town, situated on an eminence on the banks of the Weaver, near its
confluence with the Mersey, consists of a broad street, a mile in
length; at the E. end is a bridge of four arches over the Weaver, and
at the W. end anciently stood a Norman castle; another street leads
to the Church, an ancient structure, partly in the Norman style of
architecture.
Norton Priory, the residence of Sir Richard Brooke, Bart., is seen on the
W. A religious establishment formerly existed here, some ancient parts
of which are included in the present mansion. The Duke of Bridgewater’s
canal runs through the park. In the rear of Norton Priory, as seen from
the railway, is the now busy and important town of Runcorn, containing
10,326 inhabitants.
In 915, Ethelfleda, sister to King Edward the Elder, widow of
Ethelred, King of Mercia, built a town and castle near the river
Mersey, at this place, some traces of which are still visible. In
1133, William Fitz Nigel founded here a monastery of canons regular,
which, in the reign of Stephen, was removed to Norton Priory above
mentioned.
Runcorn is a place of considerable resort for bathing, and has been
recently much enlarged, and improved by handsome buildings, &c. The
township abounds with fine stone quarries, from which great quantities
are sent by water to Liverpool, Manchester, &c. Here are extensive
chemical and soap works, in connexion with which a chimney of 273 feet in
height, and of great beauty, has recently been erected. The church is in
the early and later styles of English architecture. Near Runcorn are the
fine ruins of Halton Castle, situated on a steep eminence, and commanding
an extensive and beautifully varied prospect, including the Mersey
estuary, the Welsh mountains, and richly-wooded scenery in Cheshire and
Lancashire. This fortress was demolished during the civil wars.
Eastward, passing Keakwick, and Daresbury, where is a fine old church,
The Elms appear. Passing which we arrive at
Moore Station.
Distance to Birmingham, 75—Liverpool and Manchester, 22½ miles.
DISTANCES BY ROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES:—
_Places W. of Station_. _Places E. of Station_.
Halton 3½ miles. Daresbury 1¼ mile.
Lower Runcorn 4 — Hatton 2¼ —
Higher Runcorn 4½ — Stretton 3¾ —
Weston 5 — Grappenhall 4½ —
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account