Weston Quarry, Runcorn blue plaque

This blue commemorative plaque records: The Sandstone Quarries. Much of the bedrock in Runcorn is sandstone, formed from deserts which covered this area 200-250 million years ago. The remains of Halton Castle and Norton Priory show that sandstone has been used for building here since at least Norman times. During the 18th Century, quarrying became an important industry in Runcorn, with quarries at Weston, Mill Brow, Stenhills and several other sites. The industry reached its peak towards the end of the 19th Century, but by the beginning of WWII, quarrying in the town was all but finished. Runcorn sandstone had a beautiful, distinctive reddish-pink colour, and was respected by people in the industry because of the high quality of the stone. Runcorn sandstone has been used in many buildings in Runcorn and Widnes, other towns and cities in the United Kingdom, as well as countries across the world. Some famous buildings made completely or partially from our sandstone include Runcorn Railway Bridge, Norton Water Tower, Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral, Chester Cathedral, Tatton Hall in Knutsford, and the docks at Belfast, New York, and San Francisco. The Roundhouse, once known as The Quarry Hotel, stands near to where several of the Weston quarries used to be. Recorded plaque organisation: Runcorn Heritage.