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Atherton (Grand Manchester)
Atherton est une ville du district métropolitain de Wigan en Grand Manchester.
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Atherton, Greater Manchester
Atherton () is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England and historically part of Lancashire. The town, including Hindsford, Howe Bridge and Hag Fold, is five miles (eight kilometres) south of Bolton, seven miles (eleven kilometres) east of Wigan, and 10 miles (16 kilometres) northwest of Manchester. From the 17th century, for about 300 years, Atherton was known as Chowbent, which was frequently shortened to Bent, the town's old nickname. During the Industrial Revolution, the town was a key part of the Manchester Coalfield.
Atherton was associated with coal mining and nail manufacture from the 14th century, encouraged by outcropping coal seams. At the beginning of the 20th century, the town was described as "the centre of a district of collieries, cotton mills and iron-works, which cover the surface of the country with their inartistic buildings and surroundings, and are linked together by the equally unlovely dwellings of the people". Atherton's last deep coal mine closed in 1966, and the last cotton mill closed in 1999. Today the town is the third-largest retail centre in the Borough of Wigan; almost 20% of those employed in the area work in the wholesale and retail trades, although there is still some significant manufacturing industry in the town.
Evidence has been discovered of a Roman road passing through the area, on the ancient route between Coccium (Wigan) and Mamucium (Manchester). Following the Anglo-Saxon invasion of England, Atherton, which is built on and around seven brooks, became part of the manor of Warrington until the Norman Conquest, when it became a township or vill in the ancient parish of Leigh. Since 1974 the town has been part of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, a local government district of the Metropolitan County of Greater Manchester and since 2024 it has been part of the Leigh and Atherton parliamentary constituency.
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Atherton High School (England)
Atherton High School (formerly Atherton Community School & Hesketh Fletcher CofE High School) is a mixed Secondary school and sixth form located in Atherton in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. It is formally designated as a Christian faith school. The school opened in 2012 for 11-year-old (Year 7) pupils, but expanded over the next few years to become a full secondary school. The school's sixth form opened in 2013.
The school was the first free school to open in Greater Manchester, and was established after the Chapel Street and Atherton Community Consortium had campaigned for the opening of a new secondary school in the Atherton area. In 2020 the school was transferred to the Education Partnership Trust and was renamed Atherton High School.
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St John the Baptist's Church, Atherton
St John the Baptist's Church is in Market Place, Atherton, Greater Manchester, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the archdeaconry of Salford, and diocese of Manchester. Together with St George's and St Philip's Churches in Atherton and St Michael and All Angels at Howe Bridge, the church is part of the United Benefice of Atherton and Hindsford with Howe Bridge. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.
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Atherton Town Hall
Atherton Town Hall is a municipal building in Bolton Road, Atherton, Greater Manchester, England. The town hall, which was the headquarters of Atherton Urban District Council, is now in use as a community hub and as a public library.
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Chowbent Chapel
Chowbent Chapel is an active Unitarian place of worship in Atherton, Greater Manchester, England. It was built in 1721 and is the oldest place of worship in the town. It is a member of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, the umbrella organisation for British Unitarians. The chapel was granted Grade II* Listed status in 1966.