a township in the parish of Eccles and hundred of Saltford, in the county of Lancaster, a hundred and eighty-eight miles from London and three from Manchester. It has no market, and is chiefly inhabited by manufacturers of cotton goods. The population amounted in 1801 to 3611, in 1811 to 4805, in 1821 to 5948, and in 1831 to 8435.