It is thought that the area of Jericho was so named when the reverend John Wesley preached there in 1778 along with his pilgrimage through Bircle.

During the rebuilding of the church the services were held at a pub called The Pack Horse Inn.

Until 1852, children were accommodated at the Pilkington workhouse but from that date most were sent to the Manchester Union's industrial Schools at Swinton.

In 1850, Lord Derby refused to renew leases for the Bury, Heap and Pilkington workhouses which stood on his land, saying that the Guardians had "already spent as much money as would have built a union workhouse by paying extra salaries and not having a labour test."

The following year, the Poor Law Board proposed the building of a joint workhouse for Bury and the adjacent Union of Rochdale which was in a similar position.