I WAS very interested Alan Foster’s discovery about a bridge being built over the Mersey back in the reign of Henry VII but perhaps there was a bridge back in Saxon times?
Pre Newtown the local dialect name for Runcorn was and still is Runcon pronounced Runcun as is Weston, Halton Norton.
The only difference is there is a missing ‘t’ present in the rest of the local place names.
Add the ‘t’ and you get Runcton.
There are Runctons in Norfolk which was part of Mercia back in Saxon times as was Runcorn.
James Rye’s book ‘A popular Guide to Norfolk Place-names’ suggests the original Anglo-Saxon name was Runghetuna meaning settlement at a bridge.
The question is was it a toll bridge?
Ralph Green
Beechwood
Runcorn
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