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Cronton Park Avenue, WIDNES, WA8 5DJ

Originally an 18th Century farmhouse in Hall Lane, Cronton, adjacent to Cronton Hall.

The name of the township of Cronton is of Saxon origin meaning 'settlement of crows'. It lies within the parish of Farnworth, 7 miles west of Warrington, 5 miles south of Prescot and 4 miles south of St Helen's. The manor formed part of the ancient Barony of Widnes until about 1250 and its lands passed through a succession of owners until the Wright family eventually became sole owners in the mid seventeenth century. Successive generations of the family lived at Cronton Hall until 1821 when it was sold to Mr Bartholomew Bretherton of Rainhill who enlarged the house and grounds. Cronton Hall is a prime example of the 'Queen Anne' style house and is now the centre of the Town End Conservation Area.

A park area maintained by Knowsley Council.

The grander gateposts are part of the garden, outweighing anything on the drive.

A medieval cross shaft located on the corner of Hall Lane and Smithy Lane, Cronton. At least one step has sunk below ground level, the second step is made up of five large sandstone blocks and the third step out of four which then supports a square shaft base and a sandstone shaft. The cross itself has been known to be missing for over a hundred years and was originally sited opposite Cronton Hall. This may have been a stopping off place or weeping stone where the funeral procession stopped to rest on route to Farnworth Chapel.

Public footpath to Rainhill from Cronton starts in Hall Lane

The plaque, sited next to Image], reads: Cronton Cross This medieval cross may have been a stopping off place or weeping stone similar to others in the Borough. The funeral procession probably stopped here to rest on route to Farnworth Chapel In 1906 a local historian, Henry Taylor, described the cross as a pedestal on three flights of steps. The cross head is missing. Cronton Cross was cleaned and repaired in summer 2007 as part of the Restoration of Historic Crosses, Milestones and Landmarks Project.