Sprinch and Old Police Station, Runcorn blue plaque

This blue commemorative plaque records: The Old Police Station. Built mainly from local sandstone in 1831 at a cost of £450, with additions in 1859, it is a Grade II listed building. There were further red brick additions to the building in 1897. Situated in the once bustling shopping area of Bridge Street, this beautiful building was Runcorn's first town hall. It also functioned as a bridewell, and contained a courtroom for petty sessions and cells in the basement. On the floor to your right can be seen the original stocks. When the council moved its offices to Waterloo House on Waterloo Road in 1883, it left the police force free to take over the whole building, and it became Runcorn Police Station. The building was restored and reopened in 1998 by Queen Elizabeth II. The lamppost behind you marks the former site of a fountain, which was given to the town by the Earl of Ellesmere. It was erected in 1857, but was demolished in 1948 for the widening of Bridge Street. It stood on the line of the 'Sprinch', a brook that once served as the town's water supply. Recorded plaque organisation: Runcorn Heritage.

The Old Police Station in Runcorn, built in 1831 and expanded over decades, served multiple civic functions including as the town hall, courtroom, and police station, reflecting its central role in local governance and law enforcement. Its restoration and historical significance led to it being listed as a Grade II building, preserving its importance in Runcorn's urban and legal history.