The earliest proof of settlements in the Botany Bay area, formerly known as Knowley Moss, date back to 1734 as shown on the map of Chorley at this time.
It was not until the late 18th century that Knowley began to develop further when the site was earmarked as the main port for the Chorley area.
This contributed greatly to Botany Bay's importance in both the cotton trade and increasing communication in the local area.
1869 saw the opening of the Lancashire Union Railway which ran through Botany Bay, this was facilitated by the construction of a viaduct across the canal which was used primarily to transport coal between Wigan and Blackburn.
The railway line was also used extensively during the First World War to transport wounded soldiers to Liverpool and the viaduct remained in service until 1968 when it was demolished for the construction of the M61 motorway.