[1] The largest settlement in the civil parish is Lymm, which has expanded into a small town whilst retaining its village centre.
From the 16th century, industries developed in the parish, including quarrying, tanning, iron working, powder making and fustian cutting.
[1][3] The canal runs through the northern part of the town of Lymm's centre, and many of the listed structures are associated with it, including three aqueducts, two bridges and a dock.
[3][4] The arrival of the railway in 1853 further accelerated growth in Lymm, with substantial mid-Victorian houses being built for business owners on the edges of the town in Gothic and Italianate styles.
[6] Unusual listed structures include an octagonal water tower with battlements, icehouse, pigeon house, mounting block, milepost, stone-lined well, war memorial, water-point case and the village stocks.