The Standish family have several times been closely involved with national events, one John Standish fought at Agincourt, Sir Ralph saved Richard II from attack by Wat Tyler, and more notably the family were involved in the Jacobite plots with William Standish being accused of treason and evading arrest. Letters testifying to the family's involvement were found 60 years later hidden in a wall at the Hall. During the Civil War, Cromwell and his army pursued the Duke of Hamilton's forces through Standish culminating in the Battle of Wigan Lane, where Sir Thomas Tyldesley, son in law to Ralph Standish, was killed.
The Local Board for Standish was formed 1872 and was replaced the Urban District Council in 1894. Standish has the only Grade 1 listed building in the Metropolitan Borough. This is St Wilfrid's Church. The church is dedicated to St Wilfrid who was the Bishop of York in the 7th century and was largely rebuilt in the 1580's, possibly as a result of earthquakes. Listed in Nikolaus Pevsner's Buildings of England series as "the most important church of the Elizabethan Age" in the region, the church is built of local millstone grit. The 14th century tower was removed in 1867 along with the spire which had previously fallen down and replaced with the present structure. There are 16th century effigies as well as a 14th century slab memorial to Maud de Chisnall. The main gate is known as the Peace Gate and was built as a memorial to the First World war dead. It was erected by public subscription and unveiled 2nd October 1926.
It is also known that Standish had an ancient castle although there is no trace today of this. The Grammar School was founded in 1603 by Mrs Mary Langton and formerly stood on Green Lane opposite Wood Fold School. Standish Hall was erected in 1574 and had a moat which was filled up in 1780 and additions to the Hall followed in 1792. Henry Standish died in July 1920 without an heir and 2 years later the entire estate was sold and the Hall dismantled. Standish Hall chapel was used by local Catholics until St Marie's Church was opened in 1884. Bradley Hall was once owned by the Clayton family of Adlington. The Heinz factory occupied the site of the Hall and of the Hall Farm.
The Boar's Head Inn is believed to be more than 300 years old. Ashfield House formerly used as the home of Standish UDC was built by Felix Leach in the early 19th century. It was enlarged in the 1870's by the MP John Lancaster. Important industries were coal mining, with collieries being at Giants Hall, John Pit, Standish Colliery and Victoria Pit, spinning, weaving, tanning, brewing, and nail and chemical manufacture.
