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Port of Runcorn
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Port of Runcorn is situated at Runcorn on the River Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal. Since the building of the ship canal it has been used as a lock for some of the docks.
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It has a history as a port stretching back to medieval times. During this period it was in competition with Chester to be the major port of Cheshire. In 1481 Chester was granted a monopoly on Cheshire trade with Ireland, stalling Runcorn's growth.
The Sankey Brook Navigation in 1757 and the Bridgewater Canal in 1776 and the Trent and Mersey Canal led to the revival of Runcorn as a port. Between 1785 and 1791 facilities and infrastructure were improved to provide transshipment facilities to Liverpool's Dukes Dock.
In 1872 Runcorn Docks covered 16 acres (65,000 m²) of land and 36 acres (146,000 m²) of quay.
Runcorn has at various times been, for customs purposes, part of the Port of Liverpool and the Port of Manchester.
The Weston Point section of the docks is still working and is owned by the Manchester Ship Canal Company. Weston Point also marks the northernmost extremity of the River Weaver.
The Bridgewater Canal now terminates in Runcorn, but used to connect to Weston Point Docks via a flight of locks in the middle of Runcorn leading down to the Runcorn and Weston Canal. This link was severed by the building of a low bridge (the approach to the Silver Jubilee Bridge over the Mersey) and the infilling of the lock flight in the middle of Runcorn (old town). There are hopes that this link will be restored after the opening of the second Mersey crossing above Runcorn. As Weston Point Docks are accessible from the Weaver Navigation, this will make possible an interesting circular cruise via the Trent and Mersey Canal (which joins the Bridgewater Canal at Preston Brook) and the Anderton Boat Lift (which connects the Trent and Mersey Canal with he River Weaver outside Northwich.
- Starkey, H. F. Schooner Port: Two Centuries of Upper Mersey Sail, G. W. & A. Hesketh, Ormskirk, 1983. ISBN 0-905777-34-4
- Starkey, H. F. Old Runcorn, Halton Borough Council, 1990.