town in the metropolitan borough of Wigan, metropolitan county of Greater Manchester, historic county of Lancashire, England. The manor was held by the Atherton family from the early 13th century to 1738. Atherton was an early centre of Presbyterianism, a chapel being built in 1645 and replaced in 1722; this is now the Chowbent (the name of the old part of the town) Unitarian Chapel. Cotton spinning and the production of nails were the earliest industries of the town. Later employment became dependent on cotton mills, collieries, iron foundries, and the manufacture of nuts and bolts. Pop. (2001) 20,302.