a town of Cheshire, and an important station on the London and North-Western railway, to which it is altogether indebted for its present importance. It is the centre of five lines of railway connecting it with Manchester, Chester, Birmingham, and other large towns; and is 21 miles east by south of Chester, and 54 miles N.W. of Birmingham.

It is inhabited principally by persons in the employment of the railway companies, and is well laid out. The station is elegant and commodious, and the workshops for the making and repairing of railway carriages and engines are very extensive. It has also a fine hotel, church, mechanics' institute, library, baths, &c. Pop. (1851) 4491.