RUNCORN, Cheshire, a market-town, and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, in the parish of Runcorn, is situated on the left bank of the river Mersey, near its junction with the Weaver, in 53° 20' N. lat., 2' 44' W. long., distant 17 mike N.N.E. from Cheater, 187 miles N.W. from London by road, and 182 miles by the London and North Western railway. The population of the town of Runcorn in 1851 was 8049. The living is a vicarage in the archdeaconry and diocese of Chester. Runcorn Poor-Law Union contains 37 parishes and townships, with an area of 45,776 acres, and a population in 1851 of 25,797.
Runcorn is a place of considerable antiquity. The town was of little consequence in modern times, previous to the formation of the Duke of Bridgewater's CanaL It now possesses some manufacturee and a considerable amount of trade. Iron-foundries, corn-mills, collieries, elate- and stone-quarries, shipbuilding-yards, soap-works, and works for distilling turpentine, employ many of the inhabitants.
The Duke of Bridgewater's Canal, the Mersey and Irwell Canal, and the North-Western railway, which has stations on both sides of the river, afford facilitlea for the conveyance of passengers and traffic Runcorn is a favourite resort of sea-bathing visitors in summer. The town is lighted with gas. The town-hall, a neat structure of recent erection, contains a subscription news-room. There is also a bride well. A county court is held. The parish church is a handsome new building. Holy Trinity church, built in 1838 of red-sandstone has a low tower. The Wesleyan Methodists, Independents, Baptists, the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion, and Roman Catholics, have places of worship. There are National, British, and Infant schools and a savings bank. Friday I. the market-day ; fairs are held on the lad Friday in April and the last Friday in October.
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