ASHTON-IN-MAKERFIELD, urban district, Lancashire, England, 4m. S. of Wigan, on the London and North-eastern rail way. Population (1901) 18,687; (193I) 20,541. It is situated on the Lancashire coalfield and its development has been en tirely due to the mining of coal and iron during the last century. Most of the coal is used in the neighbouring cotton mills although iron goods are manufactured on the spot.