It is located 15 miles (24 km) south of Manchester, at the edge of the Peak District, on the eastern side of the River Goyt.

It rises steeply as it ascends the Goyt Valley from the canal terminal at Whaley Bridge, past the Fernilee Reservoir, and onto the highlands of Axe Edge Moor.

[3] In civilized times, the region was settled by Danes who moved to the area from the Danish lands north of the Mersey River.

[4]From 1108 onwards, the name occurs in various phonetic variations, both as a village and as a family name, as in Shallcross, Shalcrosse, Shawcross, de Shakelcrosse, and similar on land deeds and church records.

[7] Other notable features in the village included the Shallcross Colliery, a mill, and a large gunpowder factory, all of which are now closed.