Their ancestral home was eventually established in the nearby Knowsley area (to the west of the modern St.Helens borough), with the foundation of a hunting lodge in the 15th century and subsequently Knowsley Hall in the 18th century.No archaeological evidence has yet been uncovered to tie either group specifically to the St Helens area, however Eccleston in St Helens appears to derive its name from either the Latin ecclesia or the Welsh eglwys, both meaning "church", suggesting a common link to a church (though none is known in that township until the 19th century).The first recorded settlements are the Manors, Parishes and Titled Lands listed in the Domesday Book in the 11th century.
The manor's name is of unknown origin, but the land within the enlarged estate refer to several leading families, including the Eltonhead, Ravenhead, and Sherdley.
In 1139, the "earldom of Derby", in the Peerage of England, was created: Norman descendent Robert De Ferrers was the first Earl.
Subsequently the region passed to John of Gaunt, and eventually the Stanley family.
St Helens is in the south west of the historic county of Lancashire in North West England, 6 miles (10 km) north of the River Mersey.
The town historically lay within the ancient Lancashire division of West Derby known as a "hundred".