Latchford
Encyclopedia
Latchford is a suburban district
and electoral ward of the unitary borough
of Warrington
, in Cheshire
, England. It is around one mile south of Warrington town centre and has a total resident population of 7,856.
A predominantly residential area, Latchford lies between the River Mersey
and the Manchester Ship Canal
, and broadly consists of 19th century terraced housing and some open space. The Canal is crossed here by a swing bridge
, a high level road bridge and the now disused Latchford railway viaduct.
Its name came from Anglo-Saxon Læccford = "Boggy-stream ford".
in the ancient parish
of Grappenhall
, in Cheshire
. It was also part of Bucklow Hundred
, and was close to the border with Lancashire
.
Between 1894 and 1974, part of Latchford was placed within the County Borough of Warrington
, and the registration county
of Lancashire
, whilst the rest of Latchford became a civil parish named "Latchford Without" and was transferred to the Lancashire
.
With the local government reforms of 1974
, as part of the newly formed Cheshire borough of Warrington, Latchford was transferred back to Cheshire.
and Stockton Heath
and to the north by the River Mersey
and Howley
.
The site that today is Victoria Park was originally the Old Warps Estate. In 1897 the local council bought the estate from the owners and converted it into a park to try to improve conditions for the local working-class people of the terraced housing of industrial Latchford. To mark the Jubilee of Queen Victoria
the park was named "Victoria Park". The Georgian manor house "Old Warps" still stands and has been converted to a restaurant.
Before work on the Mersey commenced, Victoria Park was under the River Mersey
, in an area that was considered dangerous by even the most experienced seamen. In 1724 various new weir
s were built along the course of the River Mersey due to its often treacherous nature. The course of the Mersey was then altered and the land was converted into the Old Warps Estate. A weir was built and is still monitored 24 hrs a day by a "weir man" from a wooden building situated about the weir, which is where the tidal flow of the Mersey terminates. The Mersey is so improved now that salmon and trout are often seen as are herons, kingfishers and cormorants, especially in the wide pool on the river bend below the weir.
Access to Howley
is provided by a suspension bridge for pedestrians, (recently renovated by Warrington Borough Council).
Victoria Park has a large running track which is the home of Warrington Athletic Club, bowling
facilities, a skate-park
and various other leisure facilities. Old Manor Lock marks the northern extreme of the park.
The skate-park within Victoria park has approximately 40 visitors each day and is used by skateboarders
, roller-skaters
, BMX
ers and mountain bike
s. It has four main sections (three of which are bowls) and one main flat part. It also houses one ramp
of approximately 10 ft, which is mainly used by inline-skaters.
In 1804, an eight-mile long canal was built between Latchford and Runcorn
. It was named the Old Quays Canal. Once the Manchester Ship Canal
was dug, in the 1890s, it was shortened to one mile, from Stockton Heath
to the River Mersey
, at Manor Lock. It was renamed the Black Bear Canal.
The Black Bear Canal remained in use for the transport of South American hides to tanneries, until the 1960s, when it fell into disuse.
Warrington Borough Council bought the land and, after the death by drowning of a local boy in the late 1960s, many complaints from residents and parents and threats of civil disruption against Warrington Borough Council, it was converted in 1981 into a parkland forming a line from Victoria Park and the banks of the River Mersey
, through to Stockton Heath
. (The park also forms a part of the Trans Pennine Trail
).
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
and electoral ward of the unitary borough
Unitary authority
A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
of Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
, in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England. It is around one mile south of Warrington town centre and has a total resident population of 7,856.
A predominantly residential area, Latchford lies between the River Mersey
River Mersey
The River Mersey is a river in North West England. It is around long, stretching from Stockport, Greater Manchester, and ending at Liverpool Bay, Merseyside. For centuries, it formed part of the ancient county divide between Lancashire and Cheshire....
and the Manchester Ship Canal
Manchester Ship Canal
The Manchester Ship Canal is a river navigation 36 miles long in the North West of England. Starting at the Mersey Estuary near Liverpool, it generally follows the original routes of the rivers Mersey and Irwell through the historic counties of Cheshire and Lancashire. Several sets of locks lift...
, and broadly consists of 19th century terraced housing and some open space. The Canal is crossed here by a swing bridge
Swing bridge
A swing bridge is a movable bridge that has as its primary structural support a vertical locating pin and support ring, usually at or near to its centre of gravity, about which the turning span can then pivot horizontally as shown in the animated illustration to the right...
, a high level road bridge and the now disused Latchford railway viaduct.
Its name came from Anglo-Saxon Læccford = "Boggy-stream ford".
History
Latchford was originally a townshipTownship (England)
In England, a township is a local division or district of a large parish containing a village or small town usually having its own church...
in the ancient parish
Ancient parishes of Cheshire
The Ancient Parishes of Cheshire refers to the group of parishes that existed in Cheshire, roughly within the period of 1200–1800. Initially, the ancient parishes had only an ecclesiastical function, but reforms initiated by King Henry VIII, developed by Queen Elizabeth I and expanded by...
of Grappenhall
Grappenhall
Grappenhall is a suburban village in Warrington, Cheshire, England. It is situated along the Bridgewater Canal, and forms one of the principal settlements of Grappenhall and Thelwall civil parish...
, in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. It was also part of Bucklow Hundred
Bucklow (hundred)
The hundred of Bucklow was an ancient division of the historic county of Cheshire, in northern England. It was known to have been in existence at least as early as 1260, and it was formed from the earlier Domesday hundreds of Bochelau and Tunendune.-Courts:...
, and was close to the border with Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
.
Between 1894 and 1974, part of Latchford was placed within the County Borough of Warrington
County Borough of Warrington
The County Borough of Warrington was, from 1900 to 1974, a local government district centred on Warrington in the northwest of England. It was alternatively known as Warrington County Borough and the County of Warrington....
, and the registration county
Registration county
A registration county was, in Great Britain and Ireland, a statistical unit used for the registration of births, deaths and marriages and for the output of census information. In Scotland registration counties are used for land registration purposes....
of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, whilst the rest of Latchford became a civil parish named "Latchford Without" and was transferred to the Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
.
With the local government reforms of 1974
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
, as part of the newly formed Cheshire borough of Warrington, Latchford was transferred back to Cheshire.
Latchford Railway Viaduct
Latchford viaduct was opened on 8 July 1893 to carry the former LNWR Stockport to Warrington line over the Manchester Ship Canal. The wrought iron bridge, which has a span of 250 feet (76.2 m), weighed more than 1,200 tonnes. The last passengers services ended in 1962 but the line continued to carry freight. It finally closed to all traffic in July 1985 when it was deemed to expensive to make extensive repairs to keep Latchford viaduct operational.Geography
Latchford is bounded to the south by the Manchester Ship CanalManchester Ship Canal
The Manchester Ship Canal is a river navigation 36 miles long in the North West of England. Starting at the Mersey Estuary near Liverpool, it generally follows the original routes of the rivers Mersey and Irwell through the historic counties of Cheshire and Lancashire. Several sets of locks lift...
and Stockton Heath
Stockton Heath
Stockton Heath is a civil parish and suburban area of the Borough of Warrington in Cheshire, England. It is located to the north of the Bridgewater Canal and to the south of the Manchester Ship Canal, which divides Stockton Heath from Latchford and north Warrington...
and to the north by the River Mersey
River Mersey
The River Mersey is a river in North West England. It is around long, stretching from Stockport, Greater Manchester, and ending at Liverpool Bay, Merseyside. For centuries, it formed part of the ancient county divide between Lancashire and Cheshire....
and Howley
Howley
The surname Howley may refer to:*Chuck Howley, former American football player*Daniel Philip "Dapper Dan" Howley , American baseball player*James Patrick Howley , Canadian naturalist*Joe Howley, Sinn Féin captain...
.
Victoria Park
Victoria Park is an area of open space beside the Mersey, within which is a modern sports stadium and a skateboard park. It contains a large Georgian manor house, previously the Old Warps maternity hospital, subsequently converted into flats. Nearby is a narrow Victorian suspension bridge, Howley Bridge, which provides pedestrian access between Howley and Latchford.The site that today is Victoria Park was originally the Old Warps Estate. In 1897 the local council bought the estate from the owners and converted it into a park to try to improve conditions for the local working-class people of the terraced housing of industrial Latchford. To mark the Jubilee of Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
the park was named "Victoria Park". The Georgian manor house "Old Warps" still stands and has been converted to a restaurant.
Before work on the Mersey commenced, Victoria Park was under the River Mersey
River Mersey
The River Mersey is a river in North West England. It is around long, stretching from Stockport, Greater Manchester, and ending at Liverpool Bay, Merseyside. For centuries, it formed part of the ancient county divide between Lancashire and Cheshire....
, in an area that was considered dangerous by even the most experienced seamen. In 1724 various new weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
s were built along the course of the River Mersey due to its often treacherous nature. The course of the Mersey was then altered and the land was converted into the Old Warps Estate. A weir was built and is still monitored 24 hrs a day by a "weir man" from a wooden building situated about the weir, which is where the tidal flow of the Mersey terminates. The Mersey is so improved now that salmon and trout are often seen as are herons, kingfishers and cormorants, especially in the wide pool on the river bend below the weir.
Access to Howley
Howley
The surname Howley may refer to:*Chuck Howley, former American football player*Daniel Philip "Dapper Dan" Howley , American baseball player*James Patrick Howley , Canadian naturalist*Joe Howley, Sinn Féin captain...
is provided by a suspension bridge for pedestrians, (recently renovated by Warrington Borough Council).
Victoria Park has a large running track which is the home of Warrington Athletic Club, bowling
Bowls
Bowls is a sport in which the objective is to roll slightly asymmetric balls so that they stop close to a smaller "jack" or "kitty". It is played on a pitch which may be flat or convex or uneven...
facilities, a skate-park
Skatepark
A skatepark is a purpose-built recreational environment made for skateboarding, BMX, aggressive inline skating and scooters. A skatepark may contain half-pipes, quarter pipes, spine transfers, handrails, funboxes, vert ramps, pyramids, banked ramps, full pipes, pools, bowls, snake runs stairsets,...
and various other leisure facilities. Old Manor Lock marks the northern extreme of the park.
The skate-park within Victoria park has approximately 40 visitors each day and is used by skateboarders
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
, roller-skaters
Roller skating
Roller skating is the traveling on smooth surfaces with roller skates. It is a form of recreation as well as a sport, and can also be a form of transportation. Skates generally come in two basic varieties: quad roller skates and inline skates or blades, though some have experimented with a...
, BMX
BMX
Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
ers and mountain bike
Mountain bike
A mountain bike or mountain bicycle is a bicycle created for off-road cycling. This activity includes traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines,...
s. It has four main sections (three of which are bowls) and one main flat part. It also houses one ramp
Vert ramp
A vert ramp is a form of half-pipe used in "extreme sports" such as skateboarding.Another form of half-pipe is the mini ramp.Vert ramps are so named because they transition from a horizontal plane to a vertical wall....
of approximately 10 ft, which is mainly used by inline-skaters.
Black Bear Park
Black Bear Canal, now infilled and used as Black Bear Park, once ran from docks on the Manchester Ship Canal near Wilderspool Causeway (at the west of Latchford) to the Mersey at Manor Lock in Howley, providing a shortcut for shipping, avoiding a large river bend and weir.In 1804, an eight-mile long canal was built between Latchford and Runcorn
Runcorn
Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...
. It was named the Old Quays Canal. Once the Manchester Ship Canal
Manchester Ship Canal
The Manchester Ship Canal is a river navigation 36 miles long in the North West of England. Starting at the Mersey Estuary near Liverpool, it generally follows the original routes of the rivers Mersey and Irwell through the historic counties of Cheshire and Lancashire. Several sets of locks lift...
was dug, in the 1890s, it was shortened to one mile, from Stockton Heath
Stockton Heath
Stockton Heath is a civil parish and suburban area of the Borough of Warrington in Cheshire, England. It is located to the north of the Bridgewater Canal and to the south of the Manchester Ship Canal, which divides Stockton Heath from Latchford and north Warrington...
to the River Mersey
River Mersey
The River Mersey is a river in North West England. It is around long, stretching from Stockport, Greater Manchester, and ending at Liverpool Bay, Merseyside. For centuries, it formed part of the ancient county divide between Lancashire and Cheshire....
, at Manor Lock. It was renamed the Black Bear Canal.
The Black Bear Canal remained in use for the transport of South American hides to tanneries, until the 1960s, when it fell into disuse.
Warrington Borough Council bought the land and, after the death by drowning of a local boy in the late 1960s, many complaints from residents and parents and threats of civil disruption against Warrington Borough Council, it was converted in 1981 into a parkland forming a line from Victoria Park and the banks of the River Mersey
River Mersey
The River Mersey is a river in North West England. It is around long, stretching from Stockport, Greater Manchester, and ending at Liverpool Bay, Merseyside. For centuries, it formed part of the ancient county divide between Lancashire and Cheshire....
, through to Stockton Heath
Stockton Heath
Stockton Heath is a civil parish and suburban area of the Borough of Warrington in Cheshire, England. It is located to the north of the Bridgewater Canal and to the south of the Manchester Ship Canal, which divides Stockton Heath from Latchford and north Warrington...
. (The park also forms a part of the Trans Pennine Trail
Trans Pennine Trail
The Trans Pennine Trail is a long distance path running from coast to coast across northern England entirely on surfaced paths and using only gentle gradients ....
).