[2] The village was established on higher ground 2 miles (3 km) to the north of the River Mersey and was for many years an isolated community.

[3] The earliest documentary evidence relating to the village is a charter dated 1352 when Henry, Duke of Lancaster established a halmote court for the manor of Widnes.

[6] Bishop Smyth also founded a chapel in the church for the use of his tenants in the village of Cuerdley and a footpath across the fields from Cuerdley to Farnworth; this was to allow the tenants to go to the church without passing along the main street of Farnworth when the plague was present.

On the first day, usually a Monday, there was bear-baiting and bull-baiting, and on the Tuesday horse and cattle sales were held.

Three men born in or near the village of Farnworth achieved prominent positions in the English church.