A Timeline of Warrington

By Tim Lambert

1st Century The Romans build a settlement at Wilderpool

407 The Roman army leaves Britain and Roman towns are abandoned

c. 1070 The Normans build a wooden fort at Warrington

c. 1125 Warrington has grown into a little market town

1255 Warrington is granted the right to hold an annual fair

1277 Warrington now has 2 fairs but it only has a population of several hundred

1495 A stone bridge is built over the Mersey

1526 Sir Thomas Boteler leaves money in his will to found a grammar school in Warrington

1613 Plague strikes Warrington

1642 Warrington is a small town with a population of about 2,000. As Civil War begins the Royalists capture Warrington.

1643 Parliamentary troops capture Warrington

1647 Plague breaks out in Warrington again

1750 Bank Hall is built

1756 Warrington gains its first newspaper

1760 Warrington is famous for its sacking and sailcloth. There is also a pin-making and a file and tool-making industry in Warrington. There were also sugar refineries and a glass industry.

1801 Warrington is a flourishing town with a population of over 10,500

1813 Improvement Commissioners are given powers to pave the streets of Warrington and to clean and light them (with oil lamps)

1821 Warrington is lit by gas

1831 The railway comes to Warrington

1832 Cholera kills 169 people in Warrington

1846 Warrington gains a piped water supply

1847 Warrington is made a borough

1848 The first public library in Warrington opens

1860 A spire is added to St Elphin’s Church

1877 Warrington infirmary opens. Metalworking in Warrington booms.

1897 Victoria Park opens

1900 Electricity is first generated in Warrington

1901 The population of Warrington reaches 65,000

1917 Orford Park opens

1968 It is decided to make Warrington a new town

1977 Woolston Park opens

1980 Birchwood Shopping Centre opens

1998 Warrington is made a unitary authority

2002 The Pyramid Arts Centre opens