HALTON CASTLE

Cheshire

Halton Castle stands on a high ridge above the town of Runcorn with excellent views across the Mersey towards Liverpool.  It is a superb place to build a Castle, so it is surprising that the Castle wasn't founded until the 1200s, probably by Nigel de Halton.  The stonework that remains today dates from even later when the Castle was owned by Henry de Lacy , Earl of Lincoln who died in 1311.  Henry died without leaving an heir (his son drowned in the well at Denbigh Castle in Wales) and all the de Lacy estates passed to Thomas, Earl of Lancaster and thus to the Duchy of Lancaster.

The Civil War arrived in May 1643 and after a short siege the Castle was taken for Parliament, then garrisoned against the Royalists, and subsequently slighted very badly.  Further damage occurred when parts of the existing Castle were robbed for the "Castle Hotel" which stands on the site of the gatehouse and is now a pub. A folly ruin was erected next to the hotel which also used some of the existing stonework.

The Castle is circled by a public footpatch and although badly ruined still maintains its wonderful views up the Mersey.

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2001