History of Warrington facts for kids
The history of Warrington started when the Romans built a settlement there. It was an important place to cross the River Mersey. We don't know the Roman name for the town, but some people think it was called Veratinum. Later, a new town was started by Saxon people called Wærings. By the Middle Ages, Warrington became a busy market town at the easiest place to cross the river. People in Warrington have been making textiles (like cloth) and tools for a long time. The town grew a lot during the Industrial Revolution. This was especially true after the River Mersey was made easier to travel on in the 1700s. Warrington became a town known for making things like steel wire, textiles, beer, leather, and chemicals.
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Early Days of Warrington
Warrington has been a key crossing point on the River Mersey for a very long time. There was a Roman settlement at a place called Wilderspool. Old discoveries show that people also lived here during the Bronze Age. In medieval times, Warrington was important as a market town and a place to cross the River Mersey. The first time a bridge in Warrington was mentioned was in 1285. The modern town began around St Elphin's Church. This area is now part of the Church Street Conservation Area. Back then, the main river crossing was a ford, which was about 1 kilometre upstream from where Warrington Bridge is today.
Warrington in the English Civil War
Warrington played a big part in the English Civil War. Armies led by Oliver Cromwell and the Earl of Derby both stayed near the old town centre. This was around the parish church. A popular story says that Cromwell stayed near a building on Church Street, which is now the Cottage Restaurant. A sign on The Marquis of Granby pub says that the Earl of Derby stayed nearby. People say that dents in the walls of the parish church were made by cannons during the war. On August 13, 1651, Warrington saw the last victory for the Royalists in the war. Scottish troops, led by Charles II, fought against Parliament's soldiers at the Battle of Warrington Bridge.
Warrington's Industrial Growth
Warrington grew a lot during the Industrial Revolution. This was especially true after the River Mersey was made easier to travel on in the 1700s. As Britain became industrial, Warrington became a major manufacturing town. It was a centre for making steel (especially wire), textiles, beer, leather, and chemicals. The River Mersey was improved for boats, and canals were built. This made the town even more successful and popular. When steam power arrived, Warrington welcomed it. Steam was used for transport and to power the town's factories.
Wire Making
Wire making was very important to Warrington. This is why the town's Rugby League and Football clubs are nicknamed "The Wire." A local radio station, Wire FM, also took this name. Rylands Brothers, one of the main wire companies, was located on the east side of the town centre. Its offices and lab were on Church Street.
Brewing and Distilling
Two big companies led the brewing industry in Warrington during the 1800s and 1900s. These were Greenalls of Wilderspool and Walkers of Winwick Road. Greenalls also made gin and later vodka. Greenalls stopped brewing beer in 1990. They slowly focused more on their hotel business and changed their name to the De Vere Group in 2000. Some former Greenalls workers started the Coach House Brewery in 1991. The old brewery site became a Conservation Area and was rebuilt. Walkers joined with Tetley's Brewery in 1960 to become part of Tetley Walker. This brewery closed in 1996. Now, the Halliwell Jones Stadium, home of Warrington Wolves, and a Tesco store are on that site.
Leather Tanning
Tanning, which is making leather, started in the town centre. But by the mid-1800s, most tanning businesses moved to bigger places outside the town.
Chemical Industries
The factory started by Joseph Crosfield at Bank Quay in 1815 made soap. It is still used today as part of Unilever. To connect two parts of the factory on opposite sides of the River Mersey, two Transporter bridges were built in the early 1900s. The second of these bridges is still standing. It is a Grade II* listed building and a Scheduled monument, meaning it's a very important historical site.
Other Factories
Warrington also had many other types of factories. These included making furniture at the Garnett Cabinet Works. They also made home appliances at the Richmond works in Latchford, and metal files.
Shipbuilding
The area around Bank Quay had a shipyard. However, the River Mersey became too small as ships got bigger. The iron-hulled ship RMS Tayleur was launched on October 4, 1853. Sadly, it sank on its very first trip.
Warrington in the Second World War
Warrington was home to Burtonwood RAF base. During World War II, it was the largest US Army Air Force airfield outside the United States. Famous American celebrities like Humphrey Bogart and Bob Hope visited to entertain the GIs (American soldiers). The RAF station continued to be used by the US Air Force to move people and supplies until it closed in 1993.
Growth After the War
Warrington was named a new town in 1968. This meant the town grew a lot. The Birchwood area was built on the site of a former factory called ROF Risley. Heavy industries started to decline in the 1970s and 1980s. However, the growth of the new town led to many more jobs in light industry, distribution (moving goods), and technology.
Warrington Bombing in 1993
On March 20, 1993, the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) set off two bombs in Warrington town centre. These blasts tragically killed two children. Three-year-old Johnathan Ball died right away. Twelve-year-old Tim Parry died five days later in the hospital. Around 56 other people were hurt, four of them seriously. These deaths caused many people to speak out against the group responsible. This bombing happened a few weeks after another bomb attack on a gas plant in Warrington.
Tim Parry's father, Colin Parry, started The Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace (known as the Peace Centre). This was part of a plan to help communities in conflict come together. The centre opened on March 20, 2000, which was seven years after the bombing. Colin Parry and his family still live in Warrington.
Other Interesting Facts
In 1981, Warrington was the first place to have a candidate for the new Social Democratic Party. Former Home Secretary Roy Jenkins ran for Parliament but lost to Labour Party candidate Doug Hoyle by a small number of votes.
There was an RAF training camp at Padgate. There was also a Royal Naval air base at Appleton Thorn (RNAS Stretton). An army base was at the Peninsula Barracks on O'Leary Street, which is now used by the Army Reserve.
In October 1987, the Swedish home products store IKEA opened its first British store in the Burtonwood area of Warrington. This brought over 200 retail jobs to the area.
The first MMR vaccine given in the UK was given by Dr Benjamin Paterson at Warrington General Hospital in 1971.
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