ATHERTON, a chapelry in the parish of LEIGH,
hundred of WEST-DERBY, county palatine of LANCASTER,
1J mile (N. E.) from Leigh, containing 4145 inhabitants.
The living is a donative, in the gift of Lord
Lilford. The chapel, which is domestic, is dedicated to
St. John the Baptist: it formerly belonged to the dissenters,
but was consecrated for the service of the
church of England by Dr. Wilson, the pious Bishop of
Sodor and Man. Atherton Hall, a superb edifice built
by the family of that name, in the early part of the
eighteenth century, at an expense of about £63,000,
was taken down in 1S25, and the materials sold. This
chapelry contains the populous manufacturing village
of Chowbent) which see.