Halton Castle

Halton Castle
Part of Halton Castle ruins in 2006
Location	Halton, Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Coordinates	53°19′59″N 2°41′45″W / 53.3331°N 2.6957°W / 53.3331; -2.6957
OS grid reference	SJ 537,821
Built	11th century
Built for	Hugh d'Avranches, Earl of Chester
Architectural style(s)	Castle
Governing body	Norton Priory Museum Trust
Owner	Duchy of Lancaster
Website	nortonpriory.org/about/halton-castle/
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated	23 April 1970
Reference no.	1130460
Scheduled monument
Designated	26 November 1963
Reference no.	1015606
Location in Cheshire

Halton Castle is a castle in the village of Halton, part of the town of Runcorn, Cheshire, England. The castle is on the top of Halton Hill, a sandstone prominence overlooking the village. The original building, a motte-and-bailey castle began in 1071, was replaced with the current sandstone castle in the 13th century. Building alterations continued until at least 1609, when the structure is recorded as in disrepair. The castle is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building,^[1] and a scheduled ancient monument.^[2]

It was the seat of the Barons of Halton from the 11th century until the 14th century, then passed to the Duchy of Lancaster.^[3] It was besieged twice in the Civil War after which its structure deteriorated. In the 18th century a new courthouse was built on the site of the previous gatehouse. The castle lies in ruins apart from the courthouse which has been converted into a public house.