The area is named after
Samuel Brooks, a Manchester banker and businessman who first bought land in the area from the
Earl of Stamford in 1856; he subsequently made further purchases with the intention of developing them. The area was crossed by the
Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway (MSJ&AR), which opened in 1849. A year before, in 1855, 45 residents had petitioned the company to build a station between and . However the railway company took no action. After Brooks bought land in the area, he began negotiating terms for a station to be built. His offer was an acre of land for £200 to the MSJ&AR and a guarantee of compensation to the company if the station was not profitable. In December 1859 was opened. In 1862, Brooks built a private road running southeast from the station. Land adjacent to this private highway was sold as plots for upmarket residences. The road runs from Brooklands Station all the way to the
A538 Altrincham–
Wilmslow road at
Hale. Part of the route uses the existing Roaring Gate Lane. ==Transport ==