A very old town on the Mersey and close to the Manchester ship canal. Medieval centre rebuilt in 18th century. In recent years it has been a new town again. The leading brewing town in Britain. The first historic bridge over the Mersey was built in the 13th century and then made unsafe when Prince Charlie's forces approached in 1745. The ancient church has a spire 281 feet high. There are many black and white timbered houses in the town, and the Town Hall is an 18th century country house known as Bank Hall. Museum and art gallery includes 1,000 paintings. Nearby is the Catalyst museum on the chemical industry at Widnes, to which there is a footpath, the Mersey Way.