On behalf of Warrington, our Mayor Cllr Maureen Creaghan, sends sincere condolences to Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family, following the death of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip. Read the Mayor's full statement.
A brief history of Warrington
Since time immemorial, the Mersey has caused trade, travellers, new ideas and attitudes to flow through Warrington.
On the south bank of the Mersey at what is now Wilderspool, the river was forded and a community soon grew, trading the rich fruits of the river - cockles and salmon. For centuries, gooseberries grown in the local area were regarded as the best in all of England.
Around 100AD, a Roman industrial settlement was built, and the moving water of the Mersey created a natural impenetrable barrier.
During Saxon times, Warrington expanded onto the opposite bank of the Mersey, near the present parish church, and the town's strategic importance continued through the Norman period and beyond.
Medieval times
Today Warrington has a population of about 209,000. We have a thriving economy, a low unemployment rate and a high GVA, and we were ranked as one of the best places to live in the UK based on data for affordable housing, jobs, business, wellbeing, culture, transport and family life.
Warrington is a highly successful business location and a major centre of employment in the North West and the Northern Powerhouse. We’re home to the global, European and UK HQs of many high profile companies and our business base is particularly strong in nuclear energy, engineering, logistics and software.
Key people in Warrington’s history
From Old Billy, the world’s longest-lived horse, to notable scientists, philosophers, organ builders, friars, and more recently actors and radio hosts, there are many famous figures who were born, lived or died in Warrington.