Essential Hotels > England > Cheshire > Warrington

Warrington is a town in Cheshire that stands against the backdrop of many years of history, propelled largely by its position on the River Mersey. Positioned on the mid-west coast of England the town is well connected to a number of major roads while it also has a couple of train stations within its boundaries. Known as the ‘town of bridges’ Warrington is famously home to the first crossing of the River Mersey, built as long ago as 1285 and helping its growth and prosperity over the years.

Lying close to the M6, the M56 and the M62, Warrington is set between the larger settlements of Liverpool to the west and Manchester to the east. Other nearby towns include the likes of Widnes and St Helens, placing the town firmly in Rugby League country; indeed, Warrington is home to a well established rugby league team Warrington Wolves. As well as heavy industry and big business, there are many small businesses in the town, and they have all contributed to the employment opportunities in time. Today there are some 80,000 people who live in the town and they are collectively known as Warringtonians.

The Warrington Museum in the centre of the town charts and documents the regional history, a history that can be traced back many years to Roman times when the nearby Veratinum was settled. It remained a strategic centre for Saxons and Normans later on and it was during this time that textile and tool production took off. The town took on a helpful location on the road between the north and the south and next to the River Mersey, and so plenty of trade came through Warrington. Later on, industrialisation transformed the region, turning Warrington into a distinctly manufacturing-based town and this brought plenty of prosperity and expansion. More recently Warrington was given New Town status in the late-1960s which also brought rapid industrial and commercial growth. Other significant developments in history include the introduction of the Manchester ship canal in 1894 which runs nearby as well as the building of the first commercial canal in 1757. Significantly, an IRA-planted bomb struck the town centre in 1993 killing two children and injuring many more.

In 1750 the striking Bank Hall was built which became home to the Philips family. It has since been transitioned into the beautiful Town Hall with some particularly inspiring gates outside. On a slightly different note Warrington received the country’s first IKEA, paving the way for many more throughout the UK ever since.