observer Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 Prior to the bridging of the Mersey at Bridge Foot; it seems a ford was used near to the now Parish Church. This is in line with the line of the old Roman road. However, Wilderspool Causway was suppossed to have been named after a Roman Causway built across boggy ground; anyone know where it led? Presumably from their industrial site at Greenhalls; but where did it cross the Mersey? :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minty Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 Hi If you follow this link it explains the history of Black Bear Park, scroll down to 'The Ancient Ford', which might be what you are looking for? http://www.warrington.gov.uk/Leisureandculture/Localhistoryandheritage/parks/Black_Bear.aspx Also, if you look at www.old-maps.co.uk and search for Latchford, CHESHIRE you can browse the 1882 Cheshire and 1849 Lancashire maps which give an indication of the old river course and Black Bear Canal. Hope that's useful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted November 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 Thanx. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted November 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2007 So it seems the Romans did build a bridge, so maybe Wilderspool Causway ran to it? :confused: Would need to look at some old maps to get my bearings; black bear bridge is some distance from the Parish Church - so where was the ford? :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonymaillman Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 Victoria park area (along Knutsford road) is 'thought' to be the area of the original ford. It still floods rapidly even nowadays. You can't put it into proximity with the Parish church because the Parish church didn't exist then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted November 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 Nope; but - the site of the Parish Church is. The Roman road ran north from that area, and the first Norman keep was built there. :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonymaillman Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 The first Norman motte and bailey castle was - as you say - built in the 'proximity' of the current Parish church due to its ability to watch over the river. Rivers, of course, being the 'motorways' of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted November 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 Presumably to guard the ford, which was on the line of the Roman road? :confused: Presumably also, the later development of "the Town" was linked to the building of the bridge at Bridge Foot?. :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumble Posted November 17, 2007 Report Share Posted November 17, 2007 It actually ran from the the Roman site on Greenalls Avenue then from the Causeway along Loushers Lane, Wash Lane its name derives from the floodings from the Mersey down to just past where the Brook Inn was near where the Black Bear canal was cut, that was where the ancient Ford was as it was the shallowist part of the river to cross Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted November 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 The line of the River has obviously changed: but if there was a ford near the Black Bear, was there another ford near the site of the Parish Church, where the Normans built their first Keep? :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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