Saint Helens (pop. 183,248) is a manufacturing center in western England. The town is the United Kingdom’s largest glass-manufacturing center. Its works produce flat and safety glass, tableware, and containers. Other industries include engineering and the production of clothing and pharmaceuticals. Coal mines lie near the town. The first English canal was built in St. Helens to take coal to Liverpool, via the Mersey River. The canal opened in 1757.
