The History of Black Bear Park

It was once part of an 8 mile canal built in 1804 between Latchford and Runcorn to avoid the awkward tidal stretch between Runcorn and Warrington.
In 1895 the Runcorn to Latchford Canal was shortened dramatically when the Manchester Ship Canal opened, leaving only a 1 mile length stretching from Stockton Heath swing bridge to the River Mersey. This became known as the Black Bear Canal (probably named after the pub half way down the remaining section).

This route remained in use until the 1960's mainly transporting Argentinean hides to the tanneries at Howley.  However, as the tanneries closed and other means of transport improved, the canal became disused and neglected.  In 1981 Warrington Borough Council began a reclamation scheme which transformed a derelict and dangerous waterway into the parkland you see today.

The River Mersey

In 1724 the River Mersey underwent massive changes. A series of eight weirs and locks were built to improve navigation up to Manchester.

The first of these weirs and locks were situated at Howley. This meant that the river was now tidal only as far as Warrington (Howley) and that beyond Howley the river could be kept at a constant depth (eight feet) which meant easier access for shipping. One happy aspect of this construction meant the severing of the ‘Hell Hole’, a notorious loop in the river where boats regularly ran aground in the silt and sand banks. The route of the ‘Hell Hole’ flowed through what is now Victoria Park alongside Knutsford Road and looped back close to what is now Black Bear bridge before rejoining the river a little over 100 metres from the site of the weir.

The Ancient Ford

One unhappy aspect of the construction of the weirs and the severing of the ‘Hell Hole’ was the loss of the Ancient Ford.

The ford was effectively the lowest point at which the Mersey could be crossed and had probably been used by Mesolithic nomads (c. 8000 BC) as they journeyed through the land.

The ford which was a ‘gravel raise’ was the only crossing point on the river until 1285 when the first bridge was built in Warrington at what is now called Bridge Foot.

It should be noted, however, that the Romans bridged the river in the early 70’s AD during the reign of the Emperor Vespasian. It is not known how long this bridge lasted but it is known that by 175 AD the ford was again considered the main crossing point.

Today the ford site is a wet boggy area close to Black Bear Bridge.

A Castle in Warrington?

Shortly after the Norman invasion, Paganus de Vilars became the 1st Baron of Warrington. Realising the importance of the ford site, once again the only crossing point of the river, he built a Mottle and Bailey keep (which we’ve rather grandly named Warrington Castle), on high ground a few hundred yards from the ford adjacent to St. Elphins church. This remained the family home until the mid 13^th Century when the 7^th Baron William Fitz Almeric le Boteler moved to Bewsey Hall.

Unfortunately no visual evidence remains of the site although archaeological studies were carried out in the 19^th and 20^th Centuries. The castle stood at the edge of what is now St. Elphins Park.

Edward the Elder

In 923AD Edward the Elder, son of Alfred the Great, set up forts in Manchester, Runcorn and Thelwall, as he set about the re-conquest of the Danelaw. In Thelwall village there is a reproduction Saxon cross bearing the inscription ….. 

DCCCCXXIII (923) "in this year went King Edward with a force after harvest to Thelwall and bade build the city and occupy and man it".

In that time (10^th Century) and for several hundred years after Thelwall extended to the loops or eyes of the River Mersey; one of which, the Victoria Park area , because of its proximity to the ford, was the perfect strategic position for an effective defensive site.

It is thought by most historians that Edward’s encampment was situated on what is now Victoria Park.