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'''Warrington''' is a town in north-west [[England]], located on the [[River Mersey]] and the [[Manchester Ship Canal]]. Parts of the town north of the Mersey are in [[Lancashire]], and those south of it are in [[Cheshire]]. It is noted for the manufacture of [[soap]] and has a [[vodka]] distillery. The town is 16 miles east of Liverpool and a similar distance west of [[Manchester]]. [[Wigan]] is 9 miles to the north, [[Chester]] is 18 miles to the south-west and [[Shrewsbury]], [[Shropshire]] is 48 miles to the south.

'''Warrington''' is a town in north-west [[England]], located on the [[River Mersey]] and the [[Manchester Ship Canal]]. Parts of the town north of the Mersey are in [[Lancashire]], and those south of it are in [[Cheshire]]. It is noted for the manufacture of [[soap]] and has a [[vodka]] distillery. The town is 16 miles east of Liverpool and a similar distance west of [[Manchester]]. [[Wigan]] is 9 miles to the north, [[Chester]] is 18 miles to the south-west and [[Shrewsbury]], [[Shropshire]] is 48 miles to the south.

An ancient crossing point of the Mersey, there was a [[Roman]] settlement at the modern suburb of Wilderspool in the 1st and 2nd centuries. During the English Civil War (1642-1651), the town was used as a base for Royalists by [[James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby]], and was the site of a battle against Scotland in 1651.<ref>[https://historiansedge.com/2021/08/16/the-battle-of-warrington-bridge-1651/ The Battle of Warrington Bridge 1651]</ref> In 1968, Warrington was designated a 'new town', with [[Elizabeth II]] touring its newly revamped main thoroughfare Bridge Street that May.<ref>[https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/21324772.happy-memories-meeting-queen-elizabeth-visits-warrington/#:~:text=On%20May%2017%2C%201968%2C%20Queen,the%20town%20centre%20high%20street.&text=The%20Queen's%20second%20appearance%20came,Phillip%20and%20the%20Town%20Hall. Happy memories of meeting Queen Elizabeth during her visits to Warrington]</ref> Despite a decline in local heavy industry, the growth of the town in the 1970s and 1980s saw an increase in light industry, retail, distribution and technology.

An ancient crossing point of the Mersey, there was a [[Roman]] settlement at the modern suburb of Wilderspool in the 1st and 2nd centuries. During the English Civil War (1642-1651), the town was used as a base for Royalists by [[James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby]], and was the site of a battle against Scotland in 1651.<ref>[https://historiansedge.com/2021/08/16/the-battle-of-warrington-bridge-1651/ The Battle of Warrington Bridge 1651]</ref> In 1968, Warrington was designated a 'new town', with [[Elizabeth II]] touring its newly revamped main thoroughfare Bridge Street that May.<ref>[https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/21324772.happy-memories-meeting-queen-elizabeth-visits-warrington/#:~:text=On%20May%2017%2C%201968%2C%20Queen,the%20town%20centre%20high%20street.&text=The%20Queen's%20second%20appearance%20came,Phillip%20and%20the%20Town%20Hall. Happy memories of meeting Queen Elizabeth during her visits to Warrington]</ref> In 1974, areas such as [[Grappenhall]], [[Stockton Heath]] and [[Thelwall]] were incorporated into the town. Despite a decline in local heavy industry, the growth of the town in the 1970s and 1980s saw an increase in light industry, retail, distribution and technology.

The [[M6 motorway]], the longest motorway in England, has junctions with the other major motorways M56 and M62 in the vicinity of Warrington, and is a major junction for traffic between the North of England and North Wales. The Warrington post town also includes other settlements including the Lancashire towns of [[Birchwood]] and [[Golborne]], and many villages such as Appleton and [[Grappenhall]] in Cheshire.

The [[M6 motorway]], the longest motorway in England, has junctions with the other major motorways M56 and M62 in the vicinity of Warrington, and is a major junction for traffic between the North of England and North Wales. The Warrington post town also includes other settlements including the Lancashire towns of [[Birchwood]] and [[Golborne]].

==Geography==

==Geography==

[[File:517px-Hundred of West Derby.png|left|250px|thumb|Warrington within the West Derby Hundred of [[Lancashire]] as depicted by a 17th century map by the cartographer [[John Speed]].]]

[[File:517px-Hundred of West Derby.png|left|250px|thumb|Warrington within the West Derby Hundred of [[Lancashire]] as depicted by a 17th century map by the cartographer [[John Speed]].]]