WARRINGTON STATION.
Distance to Birmingham, 78—Liverpool and Manchester, 19½ miles.
DISTANCES BY ROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES:—
Places E. ofStation. | |
Grappenhall | 3½ miles. |
Lymm | 5½ — |
Warburton | 8 — |
Bowdon | 11¾ — |
Altringham | 12 — |
Warrington forms a pleasing view from the approaching trains.
It contains 19,155 inhabitants, and is by some writers supposed to have been originally a British town, and on the invasion of the Romans under Agricola, in 79, to have been converted into a Roman station. This supposition rests chiefly on the circumstances of three Roman roads tending hitherwards to a ford over the Mersey; the vestiges of a castrum and fosse, still discernable; and the discovery of Roman coins and other relics near the ford. On its occupation by the Saxons, it obtained the name of Weringtun, from Wæring, a fortification, and tun, a town. The river was passed by ford till 1496, when Thomas, first Earl of Derby, erected a stone bridge in compliment to Henry VII., when on his visit to Latham and Knowsley. In the reign of Henry VIII., Leland, speaking of Warrington, says, “It is a pavid towne of prety bignes, the paroche chirce is at the tayle of the towne; it is a better market than Manchestre.” In the civil wars of 1643, the Royalists of the place betook themselves to the church, which they fortified, but the Parliamentarian battery dislodged them from their military sanctuary. The town is pleasantly situated on the Mersey; the streets are chiefly narrow, but contain some good buildings.
Prior to the construction of the railroad between Liverpool and Manchester, seventy stage-coaches passed through Warrington daily; now only four run. The manufactures comprise muslin, calico, velveteen, sailcloth, (which was formerly the staple trade,) pins, files, hardware, glass, malt, soap, and ale of strength and quality renowned. Railways, rivers, and canals, facilitate trade materially. The market days are Wednesday and Saturday; the fairs commence July 18 and November 30, continuing ten days. There are cloth halls, and various public buildings, and a fine old church, dedicated to St. Helen; the architecture exhibits traces of various styles and periods. Two ancient sepulchral chapels remain, and contain some magnificent monuments of the Boteler, Massey, and Patten families. There are two other churches, and various dissenting chapels and meetings, Free Grammar School, Blue Coat School, and many others, also Hospitals and other excellent institutions.
CHAPTER VIII.
WARRINGTON TO NEWTON JUNCTION,
Four and ¾ Miles.
Passing on from Warrington, the line commands a view W. of Busey Hall, (seat of Lord Lilford,) a fine old mansion, surrounded by wood; a little farther, is Burton Wood and Bold Heath and Park, (seat of Sir Henry Houghton,) also on the W., Orford Hall (seat of Hon. Mrs. Hornby) on the E., and Billinge Beacon Hill N.W. The spire of Winwick Church is seen shortly before arriving at