Monument record 447 - Site of an Ancient River Ford

Ancient ford across the Mersey.Situated in flat pastures & formed by a shoal of gravel upon a bed of marl c.30yds wide. In a dry summer it had c. 2ft of water on it. Access was by a lane at the angle of Church St across the level fields called the Broad Howley & along the margin of the river. Ford was nearly opposite to the entrance of a very ancient highway- Wash Lane- which is raised above the meadow. Earlier writers accept it as the Roman ford(1). Ford at Latchford was only means of crossing the Mersey prior to first bridge c.1305. Nearest fordable point to sea & determined importance of town. Ford was enclosed & granted to Boydell family c.1195. They retained right to convey passengers across Mersey in 1308 & 1388(2). In 1960 ford identfied as unmetalled footpath across waste land. Old course of Mersey still wet & marshy. Footpath crosses this old course on a raised level to the surrounding area & is dry & firm(3). Ford replaced by ferry & then bridges(2). (RN:448/1/2)

<1> Beamont W, 1889, A History of Latchford, /1 (Book). SCH71.

<2> Crowe A M, 1947, Warrington Ancient and Modern, /9+28+31 (Book). SCH3673.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ68NW43/1960 (Index). SCH2487.