ðə tˈaʊn wʌz ɪnˈɪʃəli kənsˈɪdɚd æz pətˈɛnʃəl kˈɔːlɪŋ pˈɔɪnt fɚðə ɡɹˈænd dʒˈʌŋkʃən ɹˈeɪlweɪ ɹˈaʊt bᵻtwˌiːn lˈʌndən, bˈɜːmɪŋˌæm ænd mˈæntʃɛstɚ slˈæʃ lˈɪvɚpˌuːl, bˌʌt ˌɑːpəzˈɪʃən fɹʌm kˈoʊtʃɪŋ ænd kənˈæl ˈɪntɹɛsts ðɛɹˈɪn lˈɛd tə ðə ɡɹˈænd dʒˈʌŋkʃən bˌiːɪŋ ɹˈaʊɾᵻd θɹuː ɪnstˈɛd.
The town was initially considered as potential calling point for the Grand Junction Railway route between London, Birmingham and Manchester/Liverpool, but opposition from coaching and canal interests therein led to the Grand Junction being routed through  instead.