Runcorn

Halton Castle

One of only two Norman castles in Cheshire, Halton Castle sits atop Halton Hill near the geographical centre of the town. Only ruins of the castle survive, but there are widespread views from the top of the hill. Incorporated into the castle walls is 'The Castle' pub, which used to be a Georgian courthouse. The castle is only open to the public at special times of year but for the price of a pint the pub will let you in their beer garden and you'll have free rein of the castle.

Norton Priory Museum & Gardens

Norton Priory is the most excavated monastic site in Europe. Boasting the ruins of an abbey, 12th century undercroft and an 18th-century walled garden, it is located within an oasis of tranquil woodland and wildflower meadows. The museum displays thousands of artefacts from Norton’s 900-year history, including the internationally significant 14th century statue of St Christopher. The museum is open year round but the Walled Garden closes for the winter from 1st November–1st April.

Adult £6.70, child £4.75, concession £5.95, family £19.25

Norton Water Tower

Another landmark is Norton Water Tower, built of Runcorn sandstone, 112 feet (34 m) high, which holds 672,000 imperial gallons (3 million litres) of water and supplies it to Liverpool. It is a major feat of Victorian engineering and can be viewed from impressive vistas in Town Park in the east of the town.

Runcorn Hill Park

Runcorn Hill Park and Local Nature Reserve is in the centre of the western part of the town, partly on a dis-used nineteenth-century quarry. It incorporates natural woodland and heathland with more formal landscaping, playing fields, a bandstand, model boating lake, sporting facilities and cafe. A Chirotherium dinosaur footprint discovered in the quarry can be viewed in the cafe.

Runcorn Promenade

A stroll along the promenade in Runcorn Old Town offers views across the River Mersey, the Manchester Ship Canal and the three bridges that cross it. There is also a cantilevered walkway on the Silver Jubilee Bridge which offers good views over the waterways and the town. The town plays host to the largest free fireworks show in the North West on Bonfire Night every 5th November which can be viewed from the promenade.

Runcorn Town Hall

Completed in 1856 as a mansion for Thomas Johnson, a local industrialist, Runcorn Town Hall is a Grade II listed building in the Italianate style set in a small parkland. It is modelled after Osborne House, Queen Victoria's residence on the Isle of White. As a working office, the building is only open to members of the public at certain times of year, usually at Christmas time, but the park is open year round.

Town Park

Town Park forms the centre of the eastern part of the New Town and is accessible from all of the surrounding communities. It also forms the pedestrian link to Runcorn Shopping City. Runcorn Ski Centre and Halton Miniature Railway are located in the park along with a children's play area. Phoenix Park adjoins Town Park to the north and includes a cafe, rock climbing wall and skate park.

War memorials and Todger Jones VC statue

A war memorial to those who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars, as well as those killed in later conflicts, is located at the end of Moughland Lane along with a statue of Thomas 'Todger' Jones VC. There is a second memorial in Castle Road, Halton village, commemorating residents of the village who served in the Boer War.

Wigg Island

Wigg Island is a large park and nature reserve in the north of the town on the banks of the River Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal. It covers 23 hectares of a former industrial site and includes several bird watching hides. During the Second World War, this was the site of the top secret Wigg and Randle Works which manufactured mustard gas to be used in case of Nazi invasion.

Architecture

For those interested in town planning and modernist architecture, Runcorn is a treasure trove of buildings constructed in the late 1960s and 1970s. Runcorn Shopping City at the heart of the New Town was designed by Fred Roche CBE. At the time of its construction, it was the largest covered shopping centre in Europe. There are also several listed buildings in Runcorn of some importance, including All Saints Parish Church and Holy Trinity Church in the centre of the older part of the town, St Mary's in Halton village, St John's in Weston, and Christ Church in Weston Point. All Saints' Church, a Grade II* listed building, dates from 1849 and was built by Anthony Salvin in red sandstone. The oldest surviving houses are the Seneschal's House in Halton village (1598), Weston Old Hall (1607), Brookfield Farmhouse (1691) and Halton Old Hall (1693). Other outstanding houses include Runcorn Town Hall (formerly Halton Grange), Camden House and Cottage in High Street and Bridgewater House near the Ship Canal.