Halton Castle

Halton Castle stands on Halton Hill, a sandstone ridge above the village of Halton in Runcorn, Cheshire. The first wooden fort was built in 1071 and replaced by a stone castle in the 13th century. It served as the seat of the Barons of Halton until the 14th century, then passed to the Duchy of Lancaster. The castle was besieged twice during the Civil War and afterwards fell into ruin. Only the 18th-century courthouse, now a public house, remains in good condition. The castle has strong links to English royalty. King John gave £5 towards its chapel in 1207, and Edward II stayed there for three days in 1323. During the Tudor period it became a prison, including for Catholic recusants. The gate tower was built between 1450 and 1457, and the site was surveyed in 1609 when it was already decaying. Later, three decorative walls were added to improve its appearance from Norton Priory. Visitors can walk the full circuit of the ruined walls and enjoy wide views across Lancashire, Cheshire, the Pennines and North Wales. The public house occupies the old courthouse, with a function room upstairs and cellars below. The castle is Grade I listed and still owned by the Duchy of Lancaster. Excavations in 1986–87 uncovered further details of its past.