[2] Formerly within the historic county of Lancashire, the original Cantril Farm council estate was built in the mid 1960s to rehouse some 15,000 people from inner-city slum clearances in Liverpool.

It was part of a deal to rehouse some 200,000 people from inner-city Liverpool in new residential areas beyond the city's borders, with other families from inner-city Liverpool moving to other overspill places including Leasowe, Huyton, Kirkby, Halewood, Skelmersdale and Runcorn New Town from the 1950s into the 1970s.

Subways were also erected to underpass the busiest roads on the estate for pedestrian safety.

Small supermarkets were also erected in the late 1960s and the Withens Shopping Centre opened in 1970.

By 1982, unemployment on the estate was at 49% among males and 80% among young people, around four times the national average.

Two school buildings on the estate were badly damaged in arson attacks and had to be completely rebuilt.

The main part of the estate was renamed Stockbridge Village, while the section in Liverpool retained the Cantril Farm name.