Early days Port of Runcorn

bridgewater house in 2004

there possibility small port in existence @ runcorn in roman era. however, before 1780 runcorn not have been described minor port. construction of port of significance did not start until after arrival of bridgewater canal. line of ten locks connected runcorn basin of canal mersey @ position west of runcorn gap. close point duke of bridgewater built 2 tidal basins, 2 warehouses, dry dock , house, bridgewater house, supervise work. west of area later built dock, opened in 1791.

in 1804 runcorn latchford canal opened. connected mersey , irwell navigation river mersey @ runcorn. in 1810 weston canal built between frodsham , weston point area of runcorn avoid difficult entrance mouth of river weaver. @ weston point dock established. @ terminus of runcorn latchford canal, in area known old quay, on east side of runcorn gap, dock opened in 1826. dock built mersey , irwell company , included 2 sets of locks, 1 incoming craft , other leaving canal. time port of runcorn comprised 3 separate companies, bridgewater trustees, mersey , irwell company, , weaver trustees. in years of 19th century amount of cargo passing through docks steadily increased. 1816 1834 bridgewater dock increased trade 76,000 tons 118,000 tons , mersey , irwell 90,000 tons 135,000 tons. cope increased business bridgewater trustees built new dock, francis dock, opened in 1843. in 1844 mersey , irwell company purchased trustees of bridgewater canal.

tidal dock @ end of bridgewater canal in 2004