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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]].]]

The site of St Elphin's Church has been home to a place of Christian worship since at least 650 AD. Tradition has it that the first church was built by Saint Oswald for his companion Elphin, who remained as the first priest there until his death in 679 AD.

The site of St Elphin's Church has been home to a place of Christian worship since at least 650 AD. Tradition has it that the first church was built by Saint Oswald for his companion Elphin, who remained as the first priest there until his death in 679 AD.

The town was first mentioned by name in 1086 in the Domesday Book, which came 20 years after the Norman conquest. It was mentioned as ''Walintune'', a village near the ford over the Mersey at Latchford and Howley.<ref>[https://www.warrington.gov.uk/brief-history-warrington A Brief history of Warrington]</ref> Warrington had a recorded settlement of 8 households at the time of the Domesday Book, placing it within the smallest 40% of settlements in England at the time. The settlement's Domesday entry noted the presence of a church at Warrington.<ref>[https://opendomesday.org/place/SJ6088/warrington/ Warrington - Domesday Book]</ref> At this time, Warrington formed part of ''Inter Ripam et Mersam'' (meaning "(land) between the Ribble and Mersey") - effectively present-day south [[Lancashire]] - which may have been part of [[Cheshire]] at the time, but this view is not universal. Its tenant-in-chief at the time of survey was Roger of Poitou, with ''Inter Ripam et Mersam'' having been the principle part of his lordship.

The town was first mentioned by name in 1086 in the Domesday Book, which came 20 years after the Norman conquest. It was mentioned as ''Walintune'', a village near the ford over the Mersey at Latchford and Howley.<ref>[https://www.warrington.gov.uk/brief-history-warrington A Brief history of Warrington]</ref> Warrington had a recorded settlement of 8 households at the time of the Domesday Book, placing it within the smallest 40% of settlements in England at the time. The settlement's Domesday entry noted the presence of a church at Warrington.<ref>[https://opendomesday.org/place/SJ6088/warrington/ Warrington - Domesday Book]</ref> At this time, Warrington formed part of ''Inter Ripam et Mersam'' (meaning "(land) between the Ribble and Mersey") - effectively present-day south [[Lancashire]] - which may have been part of [[Cheshire]] at the time, but this view is not universal. Its tenant-in-chief at the time of survey was Roger of Poitou, with ''Inter Ripam et Mersam'' having been the principle part of his lordship. Warrington was an ancient parish, consisting of five townships: Burtonwood, Poulton-with-Fearnhead, Rixton-with-Glazebrook, Woolston-with-Martinscroft and Warrington itself.

St Wilfred's Church in the nearby village of [[Grappenhall]], which lies south-east of the River Mersey from the town centre, was constructed in c. 1120 AD. St Wildred's Church is the oldest surviving building in the Warrington area.  

St Wilfred's Church in the nearby village of [[Grappenhall]] (incorporated administratively into Warrington in 1974), which lies south-east of the River Mersey from the town centre, was constructed in c. 1120 AD. St Wildred's Church is the oldest surviving building in the Warrington area.  

In 1277, the market at Warrington was granted a Royal Charter.

In 1277, the market at Warrington was granted a Royal Charter.

The Parliamentary constituency Warrington was established in 1832, having previously been represented in the House of Commons by the Member of Parliament for Lancashire. The constituency's first MP was Edmund George Hornby, a [[Whig Party (British)|Whig]], who was MP until 1835.  

The Parliamentary constituency Warrington was established in 1832, having previously been represented in the House of Commons by the Member of Parliament for Lancashire. The constituency's first MP was Edmund George Hornby, a [[Whig Party (British)|Whig]], who was MP until 1835.  

Starting in 1881, the Regimental Headquarters of the South Lancashire Regiment of the [[British Army]] would be at Peninsula Barracks in Warrington until 1958.

Starting in 1881, the Regimental Headquarters of the South Lancashire Regiment of the [[British Army]] would be at Peninsula Barracks in Warrington until 1958.

Warrington was made a 'new town' in April 1968,<ref>[https://urbanistplatform.com/exclusives/f/warrington-a-new-era-for-cheshires-new-town Warrington: A New Era for Cheshire's New Town]</ref> initially to deal with urban overspill with the Manchester built-up area to the east. This was shortly followed by Elizabeth II's first ever visit to Warrington, where she toured Bridge Street, a major commercial thoroughfare in the town, which had recently undergone significant redevelopment.  

Warrington was made a 'new town' in April 1968,<ref>[https://urbanistplatform.com/exclusives/f/warrington-a-new-era-for-cheshires-new-town Warrington: A New Era for Cheshire's New Town]</ref> initially to deal with urban overspill with the south-east Lancashire and north-east Cheshire (SELNEC) built-up area to the east. This was shortly followed by Elizabeth II's first ever visit to Warrington, where she toured Bridge Street, a major commercial thoroughfare in the town, which had recently undergone significant redevelopment.

 

The Borough of Warrington was established in 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]]. The borough is significantly larger than its predecessor, the Warrington County Borough, covering the Warrington Rural District in Lancashire and parts of the Runcorn Rural District (namely the parishes [[Appleton Thorn|Appleton]], [[Grappenhall]], [[Hatton, Warrington|Hatton]], [[Stockton Heath]], [[Stretton, Warrington|Stretton]], and [[Walton, Cheshire|Walton]]) in [[Cheshire]]. Initially a district within the wider Cheshire non-metropolitan county council area (not to be confused for the traditional county Cheshire), [[Warrington Borough Council]] would become a unitary authority in 1998.

The parliamentary constituency of Warrington was abolished in 1983, with the constituencies of Warrington North and Warrington South taking its place. The inaugural MP for Warrington North was was Doug Hoyle (1926-1924) of the Labour Party who had previously been MP for Warrington between 1981 and 1983, and who held the seat until 1997. The inaugural MP for Warrington South was Mark Carlisle (1929-2005), a Conservative who held the seat until 1987.

The parliamentary constituency of Warrington was abolished in 1983, with the constituencies of Warrington North and Warrington South taking its place. The inaugural MP for Warrington North was was Doug Hoyle (1926-2024) of the Labour Party who had previously been MP for Warrington between 1981 and 1983, and who held the seat until 1997. The inaugural MP for Warrington South was Mark Carlisle (1929-2005), a Conservative who held the seat until 1987.

==Administration==

==Administration==

==Transport==

==Transport==

There are three major motorways in the vicinity of Warrington. The [[M6 motorway]], the longest motorway in England, passes to the east of the town. Linking the M1 to North West England via [[Birmingham]] and the [[Black Country]], the nearest major destinations are [[Wigan]] and [[Preston]] to the north and [[Stoke-on-Trent]] to the south. The M6 has junctions with the M56 (serving [[Manchester]], [[Chester]] and North Wales) and the [[M62 motorway|M62]] (serving [[Liverpool]], Manchester and [[Leeds]]) in the Warrington area.

There are three major motorways in the vicinity of Warrington. The [[M6 motorway]], the longest motorway in England, passes to the east of the town. Linking the M1 to North West England via [[Birmingham]] and the [[Black Country]], the nearest major destinations are [[Wigan]] and [[Preston]] to the north and [[Stoke-on-Trent]] to the south. The M6 has junctions with the M56 (serving [[Manchester]], [[Chester]] and North Wales) and the [[M62 motorway|M62]] (serving [[Liverpool]], Manchester and [[Leeds]]) in the Warrington area. Before the advent of motorways, the main road in Warrington was the [[A49 road|A49]], on which the immediate primary destinations are [[Whitchurch]], Shropshire to the south and Wigan to the north.

Warrington Bank Quay station is a principal stop on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) from [[London]] to [[Glasgow]].

Warrington Bank Quay station is a principal stop on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) from [[London]] to [[Glasgow]].