Historically within Lancashire, it is south west of Atherton town centre on the B5215, the old turnpike road from Bolton to Leigh.

The pits developed and Fletcher, Burrows and Company's Atherton Collieries was formed in 1870, owning all the coalmines in the town.

South Lancashire Tramways built a tram shed, power station and offices in 1901 on the north side of Leigh Road.

It was taken over by Lancashire United Transport who built a bus depot on the south side Leigh Road on the site of the closed Howe Bridge Colliery pithead.

St Michael and All Angels Church was built in 1877 as a result of the late Victorian urbanisation which occurred when the small settlement on the road from Atherton to Leigh became a pit village when deep mining began at Howe Bridge Colliery.