LEIGH

leigh, a market town and municipal borough in the leigh parliamentary division of lancashire, england, 11 m. w. by n. from manchester by the london & north-western railway. pop. (1891) 30,882, (1901) 40,001. the ancient parish church of st mary the virgin was, with the exception of the tower, rebuilt in 1873 in the perpendicular style. the grammar school, the date of whose foundation is unknown, received its principal endowments in 1655, 1662 and 1681. the staple manufactures are silk and cotton; there are also glass works, foundries, breweries, and flour mills, with extensive collieries. though the neighbourhood is principally an industrial district, several fine old houses are left near leigh. the town was incorporated in 1899, and the corporation consists of a mayor, 8 aldermen and 24 councillors. area, 6358 acres.