Historically a part of Cheshire, in the 16th century Stockport was a small town entirely on the south bank of the Mersey, and known for the cultivation of hemp and the manufacture of rope.

The foundation stone was laid on 31 October 1881; it was the first limited liability cotton mill to open in Stockport.

Once the war was over, Lancashire never regained its markets and the independent mills were struggling.

The Bank of England set up the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in 1929 to attempt to rationalise and save the industry.

[4] Vernon Mill was purchased by ZS Properties (Mcr) Ltd in October 2018.