Halton
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about Halton from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover your local listed buildings and places
Introducing some of Halton's most historic sites, included in the National Heritage List for England. Some of these captions have been summarised by AI. Click through for the official List entry. Skip this section and go to place by numbers
Halton Castle: a ruined shell keep castle on the site of …
Runcorn
Halton Castle is a 13th-century shell keep built over an earlier motte and bailey by the Normans. It served as a fortified residence and later, a courthouse.
Former Church of St Pius X and attached campanile
Widnes
Former Roman-Catholic church with campanile, 1959, designed by Felix A Jones of Jones and Kelly of Dublin.
Former Widnes Corporation Bus Depot
Widnes
Bus depot, 1923 for Widnes Corporation. Workshop of 1945 and a 1949 canteen and bike shed.
Duck decoy pond 200m south east of Marsh Bridge
Hale
Duck decoy ponds, like the one at Hale from the 17th century, were crucial for trapping wildfowl using networks of pipes and nets. They represent significant historical features.
Borrow's Bridge and Associated Hand-cranked Crane, Bridge…
Sandymoor
Canal Bridge, of about 1770, by James Brindley, for the Duke of Bridgewater's Canal, and an associated hand-cranked crane of late-C19 to early-C20 date.
Runcorn Signal Box
Runcorn
Signal box opened 1940, designed by the London Midland Scottish railway to Air Raid Precaution specifications.
Kingsway Health Centre and Associated Walls, Gates and Ra…
Widnes
Former health centre, 1938-9, by Austin T Parrott, steel frame clad in mellow red brick laid in Flemish garden wall bond, metal-framed windows, flat roof, mainly 2-storeys plus basement,...
Runcorn War Memorial
Runcorn
First World War memorial, 1920 by James Wilding LRIBA, with additions for later conflicts.
Daresbury War Memorial
Daresbury
First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Red Lodge, including boundary fencing and adjacent former…
Sandymoor
Former lodge to Norton Priory, now a private house, 1870, constructed for Sir Richard Brooke, 7th Baronet Brooke of Norton Priory.
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Search for more listed places in HaltonHalton through time
This timeline shows the first period of use for buildings and places on the National Heritage List for England, just one of the details recorded for every list entry. Click around to see how Halton changes over time. Skip this section and go to aerial photos
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Aerial photos of Halton
Aerial photography helps reveal secrets of England's changing landscapes that are impossible to see from the ground. Skip this section and go to archive images
Runcorn
Doctor's Bridge and the town, Runcorn, 1927
Runcorn
The area around Runcorn Railway Station, Runcorn, 1949
Runcorn
Camden Tannery and the town, Runcorn, 1928
Runcorn
The area between the Bridgwater Canal and Manchester Ship Canal, Runcorn, 1949
Runcorn
Percival Lane Power Station, Runcorn, 1946
Runcorn
The River Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal, Runcorn, 1948
Runcorn
Highfield Tannery, Runcorn, 1934
Runcorn
The Highfield Tannery and environs, Runcorn, 1935
Hale Bank
Ditton Extract Works, Hale Bank, 1925
Hale Bank
Ditton Marsh and the surrounding industrial area, Hale Bank, 1948
Halton in the Historic England Archive
The Historic England Archive cares for over 15 million images, dating from the 1850s to the present day. Discover stunning images of Halton's past. Skip this section and go to stories about heritage
Eric de Mare
Runcorn, Halton
Date created: 1945 - 1980
General view of the Weston Point Docks in Runcorn showing a man loading timber onto a lorry with a church spire in the background.
John Gay Collection: Miscellaneous
Widnes, Halton
Date created: 1950 - 1960
A view looking north from the banks of the River Mersey in Halton, Cheshire, photographed from beneath the Runcorn and Widnes Transporter Bridge and...
John Laing Collection
Halton
Date created: Apr 1976
Oblique aerial view of Runcorn Shopping City in Cheshire
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
Runcorn, Halton
Date created: 10 Oct 1927
A tablet in the Castle Hotel on Castle Road, commemmorating the decision in 1737 to build the new court house for the Duchy of Lancaster
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Runcorn Heath, Runcorn, Halton
Date created: 1900 - 1904
TWO SWANS ON LAKE
Eric de Mare
Runcorn, Halton
Date created: 1945 - 1980
View along the LNWR railway bridge over the River Mersey between Runcorn and Widnes, built by William Baker in 1869
John Gay Collection: Miscellaneous
Widnes, Halton
Date created: 1950 - 1960
A view looking north east from Halton in Cheshire at the Runcorn and Widnes Transporter Bridge over the River Mersey, with the ticket office for the...
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
Runcorn, Halton
Date created: 10 Oct 1927
Part of the south front of the Castle Hotel, with the remains of the folly wall of Halton Castle to the east
Eric de Mare
Widnes, Halton
Date created: 1945 - 1961
General perspective view of the Widnes and Runcorn Transporter Bridge from the shore.
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
Runcorn, Halton
Date created: 10 Oct 1927
The remains of the curtain wall on the south-west side of Halton Castle
Eric de Mare
Widnes, Halton
Date created: 1950 - 1955
A view of the Widnes - Runcorn Transporter Bridge, showing vehicles on the moving platform
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
Runcorn, Halton
Date created: 10 Oct 1927
The archway in the wall to the east of the Castle Hotel, with the 18th century folly wall of Halton Castle behind
Halton's social history through photos
Over 10,000 images from the Historic England Archive have been specially selected and re-captioned for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about their local area. Skip this section and go to grant-aided places
Waterloo Bridge, Runcorn, Halton
Period: Georgian (1714 - 1836)
This canal bridge was originally built in 1828. It is a road bridge over the Bridgewater Canal. It was known as Waterloo Bridge.
Waterloo Bridge, Runcorn, Halton
The Parish Library, Halton, Halton
Period: Georgian (1714 - 1836)
This former parish library was built in c1730. It was commissioned by Sir John Chesshyre.
The Parish Library, Halton, Halton
The Old Number One, Preston Brook, Halton
Period: Georgian (1714 - 1836)
This Canal Warehouse was built in c1772. It stands alongside the Bridgewater Canal.
The Old Number One, Preston Brook, Halton
Runcorn-Widnes Road Bridge, Runcorn, Halton
Period: 1950s (1950 - 1959)
This road bridge was built in 1956-61. It was designed by Mott Hay and Anderson using steel. The span is 1,082 feet.
Runcorn-Widnes Road Bridge, Runcorn, Halton
Runcorn Town Hall, Runcorn, Halton
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
Runcorn Town Hall was originally built as a mansion in 1853-6. It was built by Charles Verelst. It is now used as Council Offices.
Runcorn Town Hall, Runcorn, Halton
Old Quay Bridge, Runcorn, Halton
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
This is a swing bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal. It was built in c1894.
Old Quay Bridge, Runcorn, Halton
Norton Water Tower, Norton, Halton
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
This grand water tower was built in 1892. It is built of red sandstone.
Norton Water Tower, Norton, Halton
Halton Castle, Halton, Halton
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
The first castle here was a timber motte and bailey castle. It was probably built by Nigel, the first baron of Halton, in c1070.
Halton Castle, Halton, Halton
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