Higher Wheelton
In the 19th Century Higher Wheelton was known as 'Wheelton Stocks', this being the appointed place for the public exposure of minor offenders. At this time, this was Wheelton, with what is now Wheelton Village known as 'Scotson's Forge'.
One of the earliest cotton spinning mills in the area (Sitch Mill) was located in Higher Wheelton just behind the Golden Lion pub. The mill was almost completely destroyed by a fire in 1885. A carding engine for the processing of raw cotton operated further down on the river Lostock and the ruins of old engine houses can be found just over Brown House Bridge. The final woven cloth was finished at the Heapey Bleachworks and the railway at Heapey was used for the transportation of cloth to warehouses in Manchester and London.