Winsford Town Council

Winsford is located in the heart of rural Cheshire, 17 miles from Chester, 28 miles from Manchester, and 30 miles from Liverpool. The M6 motorway is six miles to the east giving easy access to all parts of the UK. Winsford station is on the West Coast Main Line 162 miles from London.

The town developed as the result of large salt deposits which are relatively easy to mine. Today, Winsford has a population of some 33,000 and a diverse employment base. There was period of overspill in the 1960,s but recent population increases have come from natural growth and low house prices.

Winsford is made up of three parishes; Over, St Chads, and Wharton. These ancient parishes were combined to form Winsford in the 19th century.

The name “Winsford” is of uncertain origin but probably derives from Wain’s or Wynne’s and Ford ( Mr wains crossing point of the river Weaver). There may well have been a ford at the lower end of Welsh Lane where it meets the river.

The river Weaver was canalised in 1798 from Frodsham to Winsford Town Bridge to allow salt to transported to Northwich and Liverpool for export. The most prominent geographical feature of note is the Flashes. This area of open water is created by salt being washed out of underlying rock and the subsequent collapse of the overlying rock. Flashes are common features of Cheshire landscape and Winsford’s are the largest and most well known. Top Flash is a popular fishing water, Middle Flash is silted up and Bottom Flash is the largest and popular for sailing, fishing, and walking.

For further details of the history of Winsford visit our History page.

Winsford has become an important administrative centre with the building of Vale Royal Borough Council’s HQ in 1991 and Cheshire Fire Brigade HQ in 1997. Cheshire Police opened their new HQ at Woodford Park in November 2003. A number of national companies are located in Winsford and provide good jobs on the industrial estates around town.

A Winsford Town Guide which includes comprehensive information and a street map is available free of charge from the Town Council office.