The area supports over 300 businesses,[1] including retail outlets such as McDonald's, Dunelm Mill and Tesco, along with various restaurants and convenience stores.

In 1867, Ben Rylands founded the Hope Glass Works at Stairfoot on what is now derelict land alongside the Aldi supermarket.

During 1873, Rylands was heavily involved in perfecting the manufacture process for Hiram Codd's new globe-stoppered mineral water bottle.

[8] Dan Rylands took over the partnership after his father's death but this new alliance was doomed to failure, even though they patented 'the crystal' (valve codd) in 1882.

On October 6, 1884, probably resenting the young Rylands inventive intrusion, Hiram Codd allowed his partner to buy him out of the business and left to pursue other interests.