History of Hale

The north boundary of the township was (and still is) formed mainly by Ram’s Brook. The landscape is flat, with Lombardy poplars in plantations and farms. Henry II placed part of the township within the hunting forest, although it was disafforested again by Henry III.

Name: Hales, 1176; Hale, 1201 – the universal spelling from c.1250.

Hale is now part of Halton, but is included as it covers some of the important parts of Liverpool’s history. To the north is Ciss Green, and to the west lies Dungeon (and Dungeon Banks in the Mersey), where saltworks could once be found. This part of the river front was proposed for embanking the river in 1817. Nothing came of the project.

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Landmarks

A lighthouse stands at the end of Lighthouse Road, on Hale Point, disused.

Hale Hall is slightly to the west and inland of the lighthouse, within the bounds of Hale Park. It was built here in about 1600, and altered in the second half of the 17th Century.

A cross on the highway was mentioned in a charter of 1387.

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Transport

A ferry operated from very early times, running between Hale and Runcorn. The service was suspended for two years in the reign of John, for want of a boat! At this point in the river there was even a ford at low water, in use from 1423. In 1465 it is recorded that John Wolley of Runcorn drowned while trying to cross the ford to Weston with two horses laden with fish from Formby. The horses survived. The ford was in constant use during the Civil War.
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