RICS Chartered Surveyors Lancashire

Approximate Population: 139,403

is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West region of England. Situated close to the West Pennine Moors, 10 miles (16 km) north west of the city of Manchester, it is the largest and most populous settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of , the former County Borough of , has a population of 139,403, although this figure does not include the many now abolished local authorities which surrounded , such as Farnworth Municipal Borough or Turton Urban District. These areas are however included in the metropolitan borough population which is 262,400.

Historically a part of Lancashire, originated as a small settlement in the moorland known as le Moors. During the English Civil War the town was a Parliamentarian outpost in a staunchly Royalist region. In 1644 was stormed by 3,000 Royalist troops led by Prince Rupert of the Rhine. This attack, which later came to be known as the Massacre, resulted in 1,600 residents being killed and 700 taken prisoner.

Noted as a former mill town, textiles have been produced in since Flemish weavers settled in the area during the 15th century, developing a wool and cotton weaving tradition. The urbanisation and development of largely coincided with the introduction of textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution. It was a boomtown of the 19th century and, at its zenith in 1929, 216 cotton mills and 26 bleaching and dying works, made it one of the largest and most productive centres of cotton spinning in the world. After World War I the British cotton industry declined sharply and by the 1980s cotton manufacture had virtually ceased in .

is today noted for its Premier League football club Wanderers who play from the Reebok Stadium, with Reebok, the sportswear company, being based in the town.

RICS Chartered Surveyors Lancashire