Spirit Restaurant Warrington

Hidden away in Victoria Park you may be lucky enough to find Spirit Restaurant, Cheshire's best kept secret........

Cheshires best kept secret

Spirit Restaurant, Park Manor & the Old Warps

Spirit Restaurant is the perfect setting for casual dining, business lunches, private dining and special occasions. Our understated decadence is a great escape from the ‘hustle and bustle’ of city life.

A five minute drive from both Warrington and Stockton Heath with ample free parking available, Spirit Restaurant is both exclusive and accessible to all.

The first mention of the 'Old Warps' estate dates from the 16th century where the name 'Olerwarp' appears in rental records for the years 1541 and 1557.

The name 'Old Warps' (mysteriously recorded as 'Hale warp' in 1770) refers to the nearby loop or 'warp' in the Mersey which was subject to severe silting and caused many boats to run aground. Close to Black Bear bridge, 'Old Warps' was near an ancient ford over the River Mersey that was used since about 8000 BC. It remained the only majorcrossing of the river until the middle of the 13th Century

The area was extremely dangerous to boats, even at high tide and in the early 18th Century a large area of the 'Old Warps' was underwater, forming part of a notorious 'hell hole'.

In 1724 a series of weirs were built on the Mersey and the 'hell hole' was lost. Over the next 100 years the ox bow that was left was filled in and became part of what was to become the 'Old Warps' estate.

The estate was was probably the same estate to which the oldest horse in the world - 'Old Billy' - was retired in 1819. 'Old Billy' was born in 1760 and worked for the Mersey and Irwell Navigation company all his life, dying at the age of 62 on 27th November 1822. The most famous painting of Old Billy in retirement painted by William Bradley features the 'Old Warps' building in the background.

Between 1830 and the 1840's 'Old Warps' estate was owned by a Miss or Mirs Clarke and the estate was farmed by George & Joseph Whittle. The 'Old Warps' lodge building was extensively renovated during this period by J.Gibson who also helped renovate Warrington parish church.

Between 1843 & 1857 John Dakin (of Dakin & Banks, grocers and general dealers) occupied by George Dakin who made several attempts to sell the lodge and estate. The Warrington Guardian of 7th September 1861 reports that at an auction of the estate in 1861 the bids failed to reach the reserved price. Alderman Joseph Davies finally purchased the Lodge in 1868 although Joseph Dakin appears to have stayed on as a tenant.

Alderman Joseph Davies died in 1895 and in January his son Mr J.E. Davies sold the estate to Warrington Council who wanted to turn it into a park to improve conditions for the local working class people of Latchford, many of whom lived in cramped industrial terraced housing. The Council retained the 'Old Warps' lodge but renamed the remainder of the estate 'Victoria Park' to mark the Queen's Diamond jubilee year. In 1912 a suspension bridge was built from Howley across to Victoria Park. It should have been a 60 foot wide bridge to relieve traffic at Bridge Foot but insufficient funds meant that only the footbridge was constructed. The area's first municipal bowling green was opened in 1905 and the area's first public tennis court in 1920.

George Dakin soon resigned as tenant of the lodge and Council minutes record that between 1898 & 1917 there were a number of tenants. By 1917 the only tenants of the lodge were Council caretakers.

In July 1917 the lodge was turned over to the Warrington Council Health Committee for use as a temporary maternity home. The lodge continued to be used as a maternity home until 1982.

In 1990, the 'Old Warps' lodge was registered as a care home for the elderly and (understandably) the name 'Old Warps' was changed shortly after registration to 'Park Manor'.

Finally, on Friday 4th December 2008, we opened the doors of the previously titled 'Old Warps' lodge and Park Manor to welcome everyone in to the Spirit Restaurant.

Email: spiritwarrington@btconnect.com

Website: Spirit Restaurant Warrington

Spirit Restaurant,
Weir Lane,
Knutsford Road,
Warrington,
WA4 1DQ
01925 23 25 27

Map: Get directions to Spirit Restaurant Warrington

Forthcoming Business Networking Events at Spirit Restaurant Warrington:

Type of Event	Venue	Date	Time
Speed Networking	Spirit Restaurant, Warrington	11/08/2010	16:00 - 18:00	INFO / BOOK

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