Page "St Helens, Merseyside" Paragraph 38

The majority of the land prior to 1700 had been turned over to arable farming since at least the 12th century according to the historical family records of William De Daresbury.

The township of Sutton was recorded as " by itself being assessed at four plough-lands ".

Plow or ploughlands are assessed at apiece.

The pastoral nature of the land in the local area was common even in 1901 with William Farrer noting of Eccleston that the " country is of an undulating nature and principally dedicated to agriculture, fields of rich and fertile soil being predominant " and describing the produce as " chiefly potatoes, oats, and wheat on a clayey soil which alternates with peat ".

Even so, Farrer also notes that several old quarries and shafts still existed within the area while also making reference to a " brewery at Portico, and a pottery near Prescot, while glass, watchmakers ' tools, and mineral waters are also manufactured ".