Port of Runcorn is situated at Runcorn on the River Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal. Since the building of the ship canal it has been used as a lock for some of the docks.

It has a history as a port streching back to Medieval times. During this period it was in competion with Chester to be the major port of Cheshire. In 1481 Chester was granted a monopoly on Cheshire trade with Ireland, stalling Runcorns growth.

The Sankey Brook Navigation in 1757 and the Bridgewater Canal in 1776 and the Trent & Mersey Canal led to the revival of Runcorn as a port. Between 1785 and 1791 facilities and infrastructure where improved to provide transshipment faclities to Liverpool's Dukes Dock.

In 1872 Runcorn Docks covered 16 acres of land and 36 acres of quay.

Runcorn has at Various times been, for customs purposes, part of the Port of Liverpool and the Port of Manchester.

The Weston Point section of the docks is still working and are owned by the Manchester Ship Canal Company

External links

• http://www.mersey-gateway.org.uk/server.php?show=ConNarrative.25