Runcorn Photos -Then and Now-

A selection of photos from my home town of Runcorn in the north west of england. A series of photos (most of which are) from the 1970s when Runcorn new town opened and the contrasting photo of how it looks today.
Enjoy :)

[@karengorst6457]

Moved to runcorn in 1977 from Liverpool. Everywhere seemed so green and open! Had a lovely childhood here! Anyone remember the Friday night disco in the "youthy" in castle fields? And the pub in the shopping city! Great look back there, thank you so much

[@morghan1786]

Karen Gorst so did my mum

[@williambeck1574]

I certainly remember the youthy on castlefields, was there every Friday, I'm will beck don't know if you remember me ?

[@lloydielloydie821]

Karen Gorst: I moved up from London in 1983 and lived in Southgate estate - YMCA for about 4 months. This was a huge council housing & regeneration project, moving people away from the poorly deprived areas of Liverpool to the countryside. The buildings were a mix of houses and futuristic houses in the sky, interconnected by raided walkways. I recall the Brightly decorated buildings with porthole Windows. The flats were like sauna baths, as they had district heating providing heating and hot water all in as part of the rent with a view of eliminating fuel povity. The north east and Runcorn seemed to be extensively working class, militant with strong labour movement in the 1980s. Who would have thought it back then, people living in this part of the country would vote conservative. Being a Londoner I was often the subject of attention, in nice way. I think Liverpudlians are the most honest, genuine, family orientated people you will ever meet. I went back a few years ago, the month parts of the estates I know are now gone, demolished. Replaced with traditional housing. I Hasten to add, I still got lost in the labyrinth of walkways & pathways. The highlight seemed to be the straw-hat public house in the shopping village. As like most new towns the place lacked soul. A social experiment it failed to address and understand communities. I will alway have fond memories of Southgate and the lovely people I met back then.

[@Someone-fn2mg]

What about FJs?

[@Exnavyjay]

The youngers pub.

[@jimosmond2082]

I used to live there when I was a kid on castlefields estate it was rough as hell compared to estates these days. I'm now 58 with a mixture of good and depressing memories of the place

[@ARreckless14]

I’m an American who stumbled across this video and fell in love with the piano in it… runcorn looked liked a beautiful place for quite a time.

[@Pinky_UWU_2]

I live there it's not bad but it's ok plus you have to fly to Britain to get there

[@michaelcollins6976]

Maybe a visit to Specsavers is in order then.

[@neilhilton35]

It’s lovely to see these comments. This was home to many people for many years and everyone should respect that. I am not surprised people look back with nostalgia. They were happier times and everyone was optimistic about the future. The people made the place special 😀

[@TenOrbital]

I’m not from there but I was a teenager in the 70s in a fresh-built new town it all feels so familiar and similar arc over the decades as the whole town ages as the same rate!

[@nickvaughan2211]

The kids in the park on Halton brook..that's me about to jump and swing on the bar. The guy who took the pic stood on a climbing frame on the hill l was about 10 yrs of age and he shouted everyone play.. 1971...

[@TheRobdunf]

Awesome. I grew up on "The Butts"... which is now Pendennis Crt, went to Astmoor School, played on Astmoor Lane, got stuck in the trees over hanging the busway, found my way to the Shopping City via the Castle. All good times, miss them a tub load. Anyone remember the Zodiac Toy Store in the Shopping City? I think it was near the post office. Some of the best days ever.

[@insertcringynamehere4819]

Rob Dunphy the butts 😂😂😂

[@williambeck1574]

easy Bobby lad,will beck here,how's tricks fella, I've been in Leeds nearly 30 years now,still get to goodison u.t.f.t.1878 💙

[@kingsman80]

I was brought up in Runcorn. Will always be home.

[@rictombean4466]

I am growing up there recognise some of the terrain I live up the hill not the old town there is an Aldi now and a new pub the shopping city is still nice we will have a maccies and a kfc for a treat

[@Someone-fn2mg]

I live there too , it has a place in my heart

[@davidharrison6083]

I was 11 in 1971 when we moved there. Best time of my life although I never realised it until now. Had some great friends.

[@gazfunk]

Thanks for that. It brought back memories. I lived in Runcorn from 71-76. I have vague memories of Junior school there. It seemed like some surreal dreamland looking back at it. Loads of mad looking houses and these elaborate play areas with big wooden forts and things made out of tyres. lol I heard the vandals moved in and wrecked the place after I left. Shame.

[@dlb1911967]

What a blast from the past! Felt very nostalgic seeing Southgate! Didn't like it much by the time we left in '82, but looking back, in a strange way, I miss it. Thank you.

[@Only1Sabe]

Thank you for uploading this video, I was born and bread in Runcorn it will always be home to me. even though they have messed it right up

[@garyoshea2171]

Thanks for putting together I have great memories from the 70’s living there. Went to Norton priory school and lived in Southgate both concrete and plastic. Sadly all my friends died early from alcohol and drugs. I left before I joined them.

[@kevin100shaw]

These pics are great, mate. Wow, what a trip down memory lane that was. I felt such nostalgia....and a little sadness. I knew every inch of the places in your pics, as a child and older. It also brought memories to mind that weren't in the photos.. Thanks for this.

[@machosker]

Thanks for this, my family live in Runcorn and this brings back some very good memories me. I remember the old Crossvill buses. The lynx bus that used to go to Chester and Ellesmere Port.

[@pitfall5124]

I miss Runcorn it was where I grew up as a kid till my family moved out, it might not be the prettiest place in the world but I loved living there

[@georgefloydtoys3092]

I’m not crying I just have a little something in my eye u know xD

[@lynnatkins8714]

Thank you for sharing this, brought back soo many childhood memories :)

[@spud74]

0:11 The Brow 0:21 The Brow bus stop & school (to the right) 0:28 The Calvers 0:40 what was Ferryview Walk/Rolands Walk 0:50 The terminus under the Shoppo- was the main taxi rank and coach terminus for years. Also, if you wanted a bus to Warrington, Frodsham, Chester you had to go from here! 1:00 The old D of E in the background of what is now Wilko car park (an absolute eyesore) 1:50 is Centurion Row, Castlefields 2:00 Castlefields Centre. Used to have a boss cake shop in the corner! 2:22 Shepard’s Row/Keepers Walk flats (I think) 2:30 Those escalators down to the rank made a boss slide! 2:40 Roland’s Walk 3:00 St Mary’s 3:29- The Yoofy! 3:40 Woodlands Walk/Park bus stop. Flats in the background were Hedge Hey 4:02 The Park bust stop & Woodlands. My uncle, Rob Thompson, had a flat there for years 4:18 The rickety bridge that led you to the newer bus terminus & through to Rumbelows! 4:50 “Legoland”/Southgate 5:35 The Southgate loop. Road that used to pass the site where Asda is now 6:00 Old Town and what is now Wetherspoons 6:10 The old market & bus station 6:57 Jesus, never seen that before! That’s now Astmoor 7:21 The Calvers 7:48 Halton Brook

[@insertcringynamehere4819]

I'm 13 and this video makes me feel old

[@barrycooper579]

A really good posting bringing back many memories, and the music was perfect.

[@shambooly]

Anyone else notice the Aston Martin DB5 leaving the Shopping City at 0:58? James Bond just nipped into Woolworths for some pick n mix before going to his safe house on Boston Avenue.

[@lambertbutlersilvers6588]

shambooly I saw that as I'm a resident of runcorn

[@robertgoldsmith4942]

It is a Honda S800 only 2 in the runcorn and widnes area at that time as this was a experimentally car which was a failure

[@morghan1786]

shambooly yeah 😂

[@hssh8698]

@@robertgoldsmith4942 It certainly wasn't a Honda S800

[@lloydielloydie821]

Yes, immediately. This was definitely a promotional video. I lived there for brief period in the 1980's.

[@zoeye08]

Wow that brought bk many many happy memories, thanks for sharing :-)

[@tesdelujo5334]

Lived there for three years in the early 90s at the Glen, Palacefields, when the shooping city was at its best, overall it was a decent place to live if you knew the right people and had good friends which was my case. Back then there was absolutely nothing wrong with the place, shame those days are over.

[@steandjayne88]

Brilliant video. Thank you.

[@suzukinez]

Very well put together

[@GraemePryceUK]

Wow, that brought back some memories!

[@mrworldwide5811]

I wish I was alive then the 70s to 2000s is an underrated time and i would love to explore the area

[@Swampzoid]

Great before and after shots

[@dorothylauder4398]

Not sure if I'm happy or sad. Happy to see them, sad it's all passed. Just one thing - at 7:38 - the house is 32 Halton Brook Ave. You can see Boston Ave houses in the background, and possibly Pat Berry in the garden. Thank you for the vid.

[@spud74]

Lived here all my life, 1974 onwards. My mum & dad got offered a new flat on Southgate as they were going up/opening, until my Nan told them to look at the new houses on Brookvale (St Austell to be precise), that’s what they opted for and been in ever since- 48 years!

[@marchewaski]

nice presentation, thank you. Keep up with the good work.

[@shedhead1000]

Those old photos mixed with the new are .amazing

[@petetube99]

I agree with the comments below about the melancholy of looking back at 70s Runcorn. I remember the area from the late 70s, it was already declining, but it was obvious the planners were just trying to improve people's lives, but the ecomomics just weren't there to support it. One of the saddest things are the photos of the children playing out towards the end. They look like something from Enid Blyton. There was a certain freedom and independence for children back then, I hope we can get back to that.

[@sputumtube]

Absolutely petetube99 - I used to take my then girlfreind to 'Shopping City' in the late 70's and even then the place looked kind of 'desperate'. What I remember most was that the multi-storey car parks were all but empty.

[@valkir293]

I know this is a really old post, but I'm genuinely interested to hear what your alternative to that situation would have been at that time?

[@Ploddingalong67]

Moved there as a 5 year old in 72. Haltonbrook Avenue, Holy Spirit. As a kid I saw nothing wrong with the place. Still have mates now from those days. Besides, got to love skateboarding down the curly bridge!

[@kellybyron3473]

Brill!!! Good old days x

[@alunleadbetter863]

Brilliant i moved to runcorn in mid 70s it was a brilliant place to live. You never had any worries playing out park's everywhere now it's just depressing.. Good to look back though

[@kikelambs]

God Almighty, I am not from Runcorn but somehow I feel connected. Thanks for posting!

[@carlmaster9690]

Beautiful

[@spinorex6207]

Them long corridors were amazing as a 13 year old wearing roller boots,

[@frankoneill2864]

Castlefields has changed a lot since then , Southgate + the washing machines long since gone ,my brother John owned the betting shop next to the tanners pub for many years + i worked there for about ten years on a saturday as well . He also owned the supermarket for a few years as well . I played football + pool for the Fiddlers three , great times many happy years there . I worked in the old town for 7 years for Pursonic instant print . That is the building next to the doctors + pharmacy these days .My boss Charlie Parsons owned the printers + the shop + stamp centre in Halton village . The old town has lost a lot of it's pubs + the whole place needs a damn good makeover , it's a shame that Widnes has had lot's of money spent on it + Runcorn has just been left to decay ( am not saying Widnes should not have had money spent on it ) I used to print stes of postcards with scenes of Runcorn in for Christmas sale , a guy called John Whit was the artist , an ex detective who turned his hand to cartoons appearing in one of the national newspapers . Selwyn Jones took over from Yates tours to become one of the largest coach operators in the country . We used to print the dance tickets at Christmas for the cherry tree , great nights in there , scousers v the woolybacks kicking off outside every week , got loads of friends in Runcorn ,thank you for the pictures :)

[@kevindurcan7072]

Moved up from Bellvale in 81 , thought it was amazing open space , front and back door own bedroom, two toilets , plenty of places to go , so different to Liverpool, as a nine year old felt as if we emigrated, everyone slags the place but if my mum hadn’t of moved there when she did my life would probably be a lot different now cracking pictures them very nostalgic

[@jayco2012jc]

I was born in 1990, from coming home from the hospital up until I was 24, I lived in runcorn, it was the greatest time of my life, I really miss the good old days with all my friends back there, once this pandemic is over, I'm going back to see all my friends, I know now I'm in my 30s it want be the same, but I really do miss my home and where I grew up. P.s does anyone know the title of the music used in this video

[@leekay4869]

thank you for upload I live in Frodsham but remember Runcorn like this not all memories are good as it was the hight of the inter town crews battling each other but lmao fucking fun days Castlefields( a lot of it the white concrete buildings) gone southgate(5:07 for a bit the round windows and to have a southgate car you needed a ford cortina with differant coulor doors and bonnet ) gone it's changed man big time

[@lambertbutlersilvers6588]

Absolutely no pictures of the Glen, fuming

[@dontuse3281]

it makes me cry to see huge differences i'm only 12 and i've always wondered what was here before now 😭😭👌🏻

[@valkir293]

Honestly the same story is told all over the UK in smaller towns. I won't say my age, but it's better in Runcorn now than it was in the late 80's

[@rictombean4466]

Defo now we got Aldi and a new pb

[@keithmyers7309]

I lived in Fenwick lane Halton lodge in mid 70s .happy times

[@newyorker6668]

Runcorn is okay, people talk about different towns thinking there better than others, when a murder taken place in sandymoor not long ago and it's right by windmill hill it's just the same facility but different houses.Runcorn has different estates that change over the years sometimes there good sometimes there bad like anywhere.I think it's a lovely little town next to the countryside, with a few good shops, cinema, and centre of all the towns such as Liverpool, Manchester, Chester, Frodsham.

[@Kennyeuro]

I absolutely love this clip! Thank you so much for creating and posting it. I am a bit confused though... what happened to the escalator at 2.27? In the next photo it has vanished. Is it not there anymore? Can't you go down to that level any longer? x

[@cmarie2291]

+Kennyeuro There's a lift and a set of stairs now :)

[@mikebarr5286]

Wow brings bk good memories. Loved hangin round southgate as a kid. Weres time gone??

[@WeeleyTube]

My mum still has one of those horses at 4:10 in her back garden 😂

[@leescott987]

Good collection shame no photos of old Canal street footy ground which is no more. I spent a lot of my youth in Runcorn with mum side of family being woolybacks. I've not been to Runcorn properly for years need to go again and have a drive round.

[@anonimous8743]

i remember most of what runcorn looked like before the modernisation, and this just made me feel so nostalgic, and made me wonder what happened..... most of the changes just make runcorn an eyesore, back in the day everything looked cleaner, well managed but nowmost the so called improvements in my humble opinion just make runcorn look worse, plus i would hate to see what it looks like in another 20-30 years

[@michaelcollins6976]

To replace the old town market with that arsehole of a building was a big mistake. Like everywhere there in the past 60 years, they tear something down to replace it with a cardboard cut out thing. All in the name of progress.

[@leecitrine8108]

that was brilliant but you should of said where about the pics are, can you do more please? as thehoff1982 said it brings back memories and us runcornians try to think where the old pics are from. You have done Runcorn proud

[@ciriacovaliente1221]

music??????

[@Drhiggythered]

Very good. They did quite well with the tree planting in the early 70's that have now come to be mature trees. I lived in Southgate in the late 70's till the mid 80's. Great community feel to the place, but a shame about the housing.

[@stlee74]

Fab!

[@ZOEDMINX]

I lived in that bungalow at 33 secs for 4 months whilst my house in old town was getting modernized, was gutted i had to leave it i loved The Calvers

[@ellabrookes341]

that was brill that, i drive the bus round runcorn an i always wonder what it looked like when it was new, where have all the people in the streets and the kids playing out gone tho, spose its the same all over the country but its still sad

[@karenjolley]

this is where Runcorn went down hill from here on in

[@rictombean4466]

everton12 were better we have a new pub kfc maccies and Aldi and one of my mates is a model he did jd and the Aldi Christmas magazine and he plays for accedemy I think

[@rictombean4466]

But not all are gifted like that

[@thehoff1982]

where did you find the picture at 4:16? that's really rare and brings back many memories.

[@Randy39761]

its a still from archive footage

[@spud74]

There was two bridges, the other was a rickety wooden one than moved everywhere! They both led into a huge open two tier bus station (buses upstairs)

[@tonymiller6615]

Some of the Southgate ones are wrong, the ones shown are now the trident retail park.

[@steviehwly]

I miss my home town I will be returning when I’ve finished serving

[@anthonydry5265]

I remember growing up as a little kid from 79-82. Always seemed to be warm in the summer and the days playing out endless. I always loved how green it was. It makes me sad looking at this and how it really went into decline especially in the late 80s and early nineties. Some parts like Up by Norton Priory look great still but Murdishaw were I lived has lost its spark. Great memories though

[@spud74]

0:11 used to have the fort at the top of the hill

[@robertbasnett9814]

Sad to notice church hall on Halton Castle is no more myself and two mates used to organised discos there in mid60son behalf of the vicar Also live groups The Monos and others

[@keithutd5853]

Great memories living falcons view Southgate taking step daughter to Tesco in city every Saturday having to step over all the junkies on the walk ways happy days lol

[@morghan1786]

I been brought up in castle felids

[@hssh8698]

I hate to say that the pictures taken today would have benefited from being shot at the exact angle their earlier counterparts were . This way one could distinguish much better between changes in past and present. Otherwise this was quite a decent idea.

[@VapeyTheGamer]

Southgate is now Hallwood Park.

[@GeorgeGalligan]

5:52 what was that building?

[@luke-xg4fu]

It was hallwood park

[@lynnatkins8714]

does castlefields still exist??

[@Randy39761]

not with the flats. but its still called it

[@nathanperry3882]

Yes it does

[@anonimous8743]

castlefields still exists just not as it used to, not its nothing but a complete eyesore.... with manky kids thinking they are big an hard, a dealer living on every street..... i would never go back again

[@chloejones1548]

All the deck-access flats were bulldozed and replaced, which took about 8 years in all. The only remaining element of the old estate is Plantation Close, a single-deck row of flats

[@spud74]

@@chloejones1548 There’s still a row of deck access flats, Fitzwlliam.

[@andrewchristian1889]

7 earls way the only place that felt like home would give anything to go home

[@iangreer3877]

Anyone remember chris Smith and john Burke from Southgate or sue moizer and Elaine Roberts from Castlefields..

[@williambeck1574]

Alright Ian,its billy beck,I remember sue and her brother stu,I've been in leeds 27 years, still remember the old place, forever Everton!

[@dannydexter8989]

What's I hear about air raid siren's because of ICI in the early 2000s can anyone explain please ???

[@matt_pass]

they test the ICI siren every monday at 1, still do it today even though its called something like INEOS now. If it goes off at any other times then there's been a chlorine leak and you should stay at home

[@spud74]

@@matt_pass Goes off at 1 every weekday

[@matt_pass]

@@spud74 u sure?

[@maggiefisher48]

i think its the dinner bell.

[@Randy39761]

they were flats

[@spartaprague417]

Real Runcorn doesn't start until 6 minutes into the video.

[@iangreer3877]

We lived in rosam grove on Southgate from 78-79 anyone remember the hill family Darren, David, Derek, Tommy and sisters, lovely family lived next door to Debbie Geary in the three storey green houses on South Gate, used to love the Southgate disco but never liked Norton priory school anyone remember me get in touch

[@DAZZER435]

Ive got to say it looked a lot nicer "then".

[@MegaCharger100]

Im a runcornian born '74.... wow thats really made me sad.... :-( in a good way, but im still sad.....

[@criartoros]

If runcorn was a Liverpool overspill estate like Kirkby, why hasn't it retained the scouse accent like Kirkby?

[@insertcringynamehere4819]

3:56 that aviva bus looks the same as today 3:56 I now see what my dad said about the ugly gray towers

[@haltonexchange1]

Good stuff !.. Its amazing that i have witnessed most of these changes in Runcorn .. & theirs plenty more to come very soon 2014 onwards .. Hope you can do more work archiving the new era ! .. haltonexchange.co.uk Cheers Preserve our Old Town ..not Ghost Town !..

[@collo235]

Halton brook

[@vikunsworth4922]

Me and my mom and bad life in runcorn

[@williambeck1574]

Will beck,lived in caste fields,went to Norton priory school, caused murder there!,real quiet now ,been living in Leeds for 27 years, still go back to watch E.F.C,up the toffees!

[@fransylvie-io6rj]

I'm sure I remember Willie Beck ... I lived in Castlefields in the 1970s and went to Norton Priory ...

[@williambeck1574]

@@fransylvie-io6rj yeah went to norton until 1978,belive it went up in flames,still think of the place now and again,long time ago but feels like yesterday, was known as Willie,I take it you went to norton as well?

[@fransylvie-io6rj]

@@williambeck1574 I did - '72 to '80 - left Runcorn to go to Uni - never went back other than to see the folks ...

[@williambeck1574]

@@fransylvie-io6rj yeah I left in 1990,fond memories but there was hardly any decent work, so I upped and left,wise move really,nice to know people still remember those times,good luck in life 👍

[@dannydexter8989]

Ya mean now and then aswell it's all mixed up

[@lynnatkins8714]

omd lego land!!

[@tomperrin1148]

Surely 'Ghost Town' - The Specials would be a more appropriate song choice

[@johncraske]

Interesting. It's also good to see that the majority of the latest pictures are an improvement. Mind you, that's not difficult. Runcorn in the 1970s looked to be a truly ghastly, boring and soulless place.

[@terancepreston5269]

No it wasn’t mate , from someone who has lived here for 60 years

[@collo235]

It is sad

[@spaceface2009]

SoundOut 054 wat is?

[@theblackknight8055]

Wish Runcorn still looked like that, sick of houses everywhere you look these days.

[@michaelcollins6976]

Runcorn councilors had a saying from the 60s onwards- 'What's that there field doin wi nowt built on it?' Tragic.

[@Mountianlions69]

I moved to Runcorn in easter 75, I was the only 5 year old in Murdishaw. We moved into a new build home in Mooring close, 3rd family into the close, no shops, schools, doctors, dentist, they were in houses in Mooring close, no bus way up to windmill hill. I had to go to Moore Junior school on a special bus. All green fields everywhere. Now look at the place. No proper investment, the place is a disgrace and knee deep in shit.

[@ianclark3780]

Jesus fkin Christ someone made a video about Runcorn? Never ever do it again for the love of all things sane. There's absolutely NO valid reason to look at Runcorn past... or present.

[@fpreston9527]

Bum hole of a place

[@lambertbutlersilvers6588]

It's basically a chav capital

[@Phi0794]

Try living in Bradford for nine years and you will be wanting to go back to Runcorn, trust me it isn't as bad as many make it out to be.

[@Phi0794]

The whole of the country is full of pink haired tattooed chavs, it's the modern age.

[@Exnavyjay]

Anyone remember Waller and the woosey family, and anthony Riley?

[@Exnavyjay]

I remember the graffiti on the tunnel in windmill hill. Who pushed tommy ---- can’t remember the surname