Littleborough is supposed to have been the site of a small station along the Roman road that is routed from "Mamucium" (Manchester) to "Eboracum" (York) which skirts the town. Evidence of Roman occupation in Littleborough comes from finds of coins and pottery, and the right arm of a silver statue of Victory. Following the Roman departure from Britain, the remaining population came under the influence of the Anglo-Saxons. Place names indicate the Anglo-Saxon settlement of the Littleborough area, for example the ‘gate' element in Lydgate and Reddyshore Scout Gate is Old English for ‘road'. The name Littleborough is itself derived from the Old English "lȳtel bruh" (meaning small fortified place) or else "lȳtel bróc" (meaning small watercourse).