Atherton

Atherton is a Town in the county of Greater Manchester.

Atherton is a town located in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. Historically a part of Lancashire, Atherton has deep roots in the coal mining and textile industries, which were once the lifeblood of the town during the industrial revolution. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the town was home to numerous coal mines and cotton mills, which provided employment for much of the local population. As the coal seams were exhausted and the mills closed in the mid-20th century, Atherton, like many former industrial towns in the north of England, experienced economic challenges and significant social change.

Today, Atherton is largely a residential town, with much of its industrial past having made way for housing developments, local shops, and green spaces. Despite these changes, some remnants of its history remain, with old mill buildings and worker’s cottages dotted throughout the town. One of the most notable historical landmarks in Atherton is Chowbent Chapel, a Grade II* listed building dating back to the 18th century, reflecting the town’s strong nonconformist religious tradition. The town’s market, held in the town centre, continues to be a focal point for the community, with local traders offering a variety of goods.

Atherton benefits from its location within Greater Manchester, with easy access to both Wigan and Manchester city centre via road and rail links. The town’s railway station, Atherton Station, provides frequent services to Manchester, making it an attractive place to live for commuters. The town also offers a number of green spaces, including the popular Atherton Park, which is a hub for outdoor activities and community events.

Despite the decline of its traditional industries, Atherton has adapted over the years, becoming a quiet and primarily residential area with a close-knit community. While it may not have the bustling energy of a larger town or city, its proximity to major urban centres, along with its rich heritage and local amenities, ensures that Atherton remains a desirable and well-connected place to live in Greater Manchester.

Atherton postcode: M46 0DU

Retail in Atherton

There are great places to visit near Atherton including some great towns, hills, hiking areas, old mines, ancient sites, round cairns, ruins, historic sites, lakes, historic monuments, rivers and streams, woodlands, geological features, nature reserves, villages, historic buildings, country parks, waterfalls, events, bluebell woods, sssis, parks, shopping centres, gardens, canals, cities, museums, disused railway lines, moated sites and airports.

Atherton's best nearby towns can be found at Bolton, Westhoughton, Horwich, Little Lever, Salford Quays, Rochdale, and Littleborough.

Atherton has some unmissable hills nearby like Winter Hill, Winter Hill Summit, Adam Hill, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, The Great Knoll, and Burnt Edge.

Don't miss Shaly Dingle, Winter Hill Summit, Hole Bottom, Hole Bottom Mining Area, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, and Burnt Edge's hiking areas if visiting the area around Atherton.

Old Mines to visit near Atherton include Shaly Dingle, Winter Hill Mines, Winter Hill Tunnel, Rivington Moor Colliery (ruin), Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Hole Bottom Mining Area, and Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin).

The area around Atherton boasts some of the best ancient sites including Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, Noon Hill, Two Lads, Hanging Stone, Rivington Cup Marked Stone, and Rainsough Hill Camp.

The area around Atherton features a number of interesting round cairns including Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, and Noon Hill.

There are a several good ruins in the Atherton area like Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, Ouzel Hall (site of), Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin), Prospect (ruin), Rivington Moor Bell Pits (ruin), and Burnt Edge Colliery (ruin).

The area around Atherton boasts some of the best historic sites including Hole Bottom, Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, and Hole Bottom Mining Area.

The area around Atherton features a number of interesting lakes including Reservoir Of Dean Mills, The Turton Reservoirs, Turton and Entwistle Reservoir, Jumbles Reservoir, Wayoh Reservoir, Rivington Lakes And Reservoirs, and Yarrow Reservoir.

Atherton has some unmissable historic monuments nearby like Two Lads, Holy Well Spring, Bury Castle, Worsley Green Monument, and Hyde War Memorial.

Don't miss Rushtons Brook, Holden's Brook, Stones Bank Brook, Cadshaw Brook, Roscow Clough, Dean Brook, and Raveden Brook's rivers and streams if visiting the area around Atherton.

The area around Atherton boasts some of the best woodlands including Fox Hill Plantation, Ousel Nest Quarry, Walker Fold Woods, Raveden Clough, Roscow's Tenement Clough, Dean Wood - Rivington, and Rivington Hall Wood.

Atherton's best nearby geological features can be found at Jumbles Fossil Tree, Fairy Battery, The Margery Flags at Rivington Pike, Tigers Clough, and Jepsons Clough.

Ousel Nest Quarry, Doffcocker Lodge, Nob End SSSI, Leverhulme Park, Aspull Sough, Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve, and Pennington Flash are some of Atherton best nature reserves to visit near Atherton.

Atherton has some unmissable villages nearby like Cadshaw, Rivington, Barrow Bridge, Bromley Cross, Chapeltown, Whelley, and Standish.

Historic Buildings to visit near Atherton include Turton Tower, Prospect Tower, Archway at Turton Tower, Medieval Style Railway Bridge at Turton Tower, Smithills Hall, Sheephouse Farm, and Dean Gate.

Smithills Country Park, Moses Gate Country Park, Cutacre Country Park, Hollingworth Country Park, Haigh Country Park, Pennington Flash, and Burrs Country Park are some of Atherton best country parks to visit near Atherton.

Atherton's best nearby waterfalls can be found at Roscow Clough Waterfall, Smithills Hall Park Waterfall, Langshaw Ford Weir, Raveden Clough Waterfall, Raveden Plantation Waterfall, Yarrow Reservoir Overflow Cascade, and Upper Rivington Reservoir Yarrow Outflow.

Places near Atherton feature a number of interesting events including Rivington Pike Easter.

Atherton has some unmissable bluebell woods nearby like Dean Wood - Rivington, Rivington Hall Wood, Horrocks Wood, Old House Ground Plantation, and Etherow Country Park.

Places near Atherton feature a number of interesting sssis including Nob End SSSI.

Queens Park, Hall Lee Bank Park, Moss Bank Park, Wythenshawe Park and Gardens, Gorton Park, Debdale Park, and Heaton Park are some of Atherton best parks to visit near Atherton.

Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park, Manchester Christmas Markets, The Trafford Centre, and Manchester Arndale are great places to visit near Atherton if you like shopping centres.

There are a several good gardens in the Atherton area like The Rock Garden, The Walled Garden at Moss Bank, and RHS Garden Bridgewater.

Atherton's best nearby canals can be found at Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal at Prestolee, The Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Haigh, Top Lock at Wigan, Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Crooke, The Leeds and Liverpool Canal near Shevington, Rochdale Canal Western Section, and Bridgewater Canal.

Atherton has some unmissable cities nearby like Salford, and Manchester.

Don't miss Salford Museum and Art Gallery, The Imperial War Museum Salford, and Lancashire Mining Museum at Astley Green's museums if visiting the area around Atherton.

There are a number of disused railway lines near Atherton including The Old Whelley Line, Lancashire Union Joint Line, Ringley Road Station (ruin), Clifton - Accrington and Colne Line (disused), and Linnyshaw Loopline.

There are a number of moated sites near to Atherton including Wigan Golf Club.

Places near Atherton feature a number of interesting airports including Manchester Airport.

Atherton History

There are some historic monuments around Atherton:

Areas of Atherton

Like most towns and cities Atherton is comprised of a number of areas, once separate villages or small towns and parishes now part of Atherton.

Chanters Industrial Estate

Many of the areas of Atherton have their own character and places of interest.

Places to see near Atherton

History of Atherton

Evidence of a Roman road and Bronze Age settlement have been found in the area. The Roman road between Manchester and Wigan is shown on the 1849 6” OS map crossing Miller’s Lane at 90 degrees about halfway down. The site of Gadbury Brickworks at Gibfield Colliery has been excavated, and evidence of Roman and possibly earlier settlements found. The manor was held by the Atherton family from the de Botelers, whose chief manor was at Warrington. William and Nicholas Atherton fought at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. The manor house was situated towards the south of the ancient township. Christopher Saxton’s map shows a medieval deer park in the time of Elizabeth I. “Mad” Richard Atherton, the last direct male descendant of the Athertons is remembered for two events; his expulsion of the congregation from the first Atherton Chapel in 1721, and building Atherton Hall on a grand scale, to designs by architect William Wakefield. Work on the hall started in 1723 and was not finished until 1743. The carriage drive from the hall led over Lion’s Bridge down an avenue to gates which faced the parish church in Leigh where the Athertons had a chapel. Richard Vernon Atherton was the last of the Atherton male line. He married Elizabeth Farington and had a daughter named Elizabeth. The Atherton family’s association with the township ended with Richard Atherton’s death in 1726. His daughter, Elizabeth, married Robert Gwillym and their son, Robert Vernon Atherton, married Henrietta Maria Legh. They had five children; the sons died young, and their eldest daughter Henrietta Maria Atherton married Thomas Powys, 2nd Baron Lilford whose father was ennobled by Pitt the Younger in 1797, taking the title of Baron Lilford. He left his estates to his son, Thomas Atherton Powys. The Atherton estate was inherited by Lord Lilford, who preferred to live at his family seat, Lilford Hall in Northamptonshire. Lord Lilford could not afford the upkeep of another house and Atherton Hall was put up for sale but, after failing to sell, it was demolished in 1824. Some outbuildings were left standing and are private property still known as Atherton Hall. This portion of Atherton was incorporated into Leigh in 1894 and the area became a public park.