 The combination of a good water power site (described by Rodgers as "by far the finest of any site within the lowland" [of the Manchester region] ) and a large female and child workforce used to textile factory work meant Stockport was well placed to take advantage of the phenomenal expansion in cotton processing in the late 18th century.Warren's mill in the market place was the first.Power came from an undershot water wheel in a deep pit, fed by a tunnel from the River Goyt.