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