London & North Western Railway silver presentation trowel inscribed PRESENTED TO PHILIP WHITEWAY ESQ ON THE OCCASION OF LAYING THE FIRST STONE FOR THE RAILWAY BRIDGE ACROSS THE RIVER MERSEY AT RUNCORN XII APRIL MDCCCLXIV (12th April 1864) With makers name J. Mayer Silversmith Liverpool and hallmarked for Chester. The Runcorn Railway Bridge, Ethelfleda Bridge or Britannia Bridge crosses the River Mersey at Runcorn Gap between Runcorn and Widnes in Cheshire. The design for the bridge and viaducts was produced by William Baker the chief engineer of the L&NWR. Preparatory work for the bridge and approach viaducts commenced in 1863 and the bridge was completed in 1868 and was opened for traffic on 10 October. The first goods traffic crossed the bridge on 1 February 1869 and the first passenger train on 1 April. In excellent condition measures 12in long.