Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port in the Borough of Halton in Cheshire, England.
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Runcorn is on the southern bank of the River Mersey, where the estuary narrows to form the Runcorn Gap.
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Runcorn was founded by Ethelfleda in 915 AD as a fortification to guard against Viking invasion at a narrowing of the River Mersey.
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In 1964, Runcorn was designated a new town and expanded eastward, swallowing neighbouring settlements and more than doubling its population.
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In 1656, Runcorn was described as being "nothing but a fair parish church, a parsonage and a few scattered tenements".
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Runcorn was chosen because of its strong road, rail and canal connections, ample water supply, convenient location on the Mersey Estuary for the disposal of effluent, established industry and the availability of land for more.
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Runcorn is unparished with the exception of Sandymoor, and a large part of the Whitehouse Industrial Estate which falls under Preston Brook Parish Council.
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At the time of the Domesday survey, Runcorn was in the hundred of Tunendune, but later, and until the early 19th century, Runcorn was part of the Bucklow hundred.
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Under the Runcorn Improvement Act 1852, a board of Improvement Commissioners was established to administer the civil government of the town.
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In 1964, Runcorn was designated as a New Town and greatly expanded so that by 1971 it had grown to incorporate the village of Halton.
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The constituency of Runcorn was created by a 1948 Act of Parliament and Dennis Vosper was the first to be elected to the seat in 1950.
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In 1964, he was succeeded by Mark Carlisle who held the seat until the constituency of Runcorn was abolished in 1983 and split between the constituencies of Halton and Warrington South.
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Runcorn is situated on a spur projecting into the River Mersey, which flows to the north and then to the west of the town.
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The present statistical boundaries of Runcorn were defined in the Runcorn New Town Order 1964 which greatly expanded the town to the east.
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Runcorn has a higher proportion of people working in manufacturing, logistics, and wholesale and retail than the average for England.
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ICI's other former site in Runcorn comprising offices and laboratories is the Heath Business and Technical Park, which provides office, laboratory, conference, and leisure facilities.
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Runcorn Docks is owned by the Manchester Ship Canal Company, which is part of the Peel Ports Group.
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Runcorn Busway was the world's first bus rapid transit system in 1971.
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Runcorn home of the Duke of Bridgewater, Bridgewater House, is a prominent landmark and Grade II listed building on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal where a flight of locks from his canal once stood.
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Runcorn was a setting in the Netflix series, The Last Kingdom, although no scenes were filmed in the town.
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Runcorn Ferry is a monologue written by Marriott Edgar and popularised by Stanley Holloway celebrating the ancient river crossing which existed from the 12th century until the construction of the Transporter Bridge in 1905.
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Runcorn's hospital is Halton General Hospital, which is administered by the Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
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The body responsible for planning health services in Runcorn, including primary care, is the Halton Clinical Commissioning Group.
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Runcorn Linnets were formed as a trust-based team in 2006 from the now defunct Runcorn F C Halton.
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Weston Angling Club Runcorn is a private fishing club which owns Sandymoor Pool in the east of the town.
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