Preston Brook Station.
Distance to Birmingham, 72½—Liverpool and Manchester, 25 miles.
DISTANCES BY ROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES:—
Places W. ofStation. | |
Frodsham | 3 miles. |
Ince | 9½ — |
Plemondstall | 10½ — |
Thornton Le Moors | 11½ — |
Guilden Sutton | 11½ — |
Stoak or Stoke | 12½ — |
Chester | 13 — |
Backford | 14 — |
Preston, though a small place, is one of considerable traffic, from its vicinity to the salt districts, and to the Grand Trunk Canal.
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