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Template:Infobox England place Altrincham (pronounced "Oltringum") is a town in North West England, UK. Situated within the historic county boundaries of Cheshire, Altrincham lies approximately eight miles (12.9 km) south-west of the city of Manchester and is part of the ceremonial county of Greater Manchester.
Geography and administration
Altrincham is located at 53°24'00" North, 02°21'00" West (53.4000, -2.3500) and is administered by the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford. Several villages lie within Altrincham including Timperley and the particularly wealthy suburbs of Hale and Bowdon. Although the inclusion of the county has not been strictly necessary since 1996 many people still use the Cheshire postal county when addressing mail.
Civic history
Altrincham's Borough Council (corporation) remained unreformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835. However it was abolished under the Municipal Corporations Act 1883 in 1886. An urban district council in the administrative county of Cheshire was established for Altrincham under the Local Government Act 1894. The district was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1937. With the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, the administrative counties and municipal boroughs were abolished and Altrincham became part of the metropolitan borough of Trafford of Greater Manchester on April 1, 1974.
Parliamentary representation
Altrincham is part of the parliamentary constituency of Altrincham and Sale West. This is one of only a small number of seats in the north-west held by the Conservative Party, and the only one in Greater Manchester. Its current member of Parliament is Graham Brady. Graham Brady is a member of the shadow cabinet and attended local, high attaining school Altrincham Grammar School for Boys.
History
Etymology
The name Altrincham first appears as "Aldringeham" - probably meaning "Homestead of the Aldhere's people" . It has been, and continues to be mis-spelled as "Altringham".
Early history
Altrincham was granted its Royal Charter as a Free Borough, to authorise the holding of a market (or fair), by Baron Hamon de Massey in 1290. The government of Altrincham consequently fell to a Court Leet and a variety of officials over the following centuries including constables, bailiffs, market lookers, bye law men, assessors, ale tasters, pump lookers and dog muzzlers. Women who gossiped too much or too maliciously were placed in a bridle known as a Scold's Brank. Altrincham fair became St. James's fair or Samjam in 1319 and was only abolished as late as 1895. Fair days had their own court of Pye Powder (a corruption of the French for 'Dusty Feet') which was presided over by the Mayor and held to settle disputes arising from the day's dealings.
In May 1644, during the English Civil War, Prince Rupert made the Downs the rendezvous for his army before he marched on Cheadle. Just over one century later, the troops of Bonnie Prince Charlie gathered in the Old Market Place on December 1st 1745 to demand lodging at the Red Lion and an onlooker was forced to surrender his new boots to the troops.
Later history
The development of the railways changed the prosperity of Altrincham improved and it became a very desirable place for rich business men to live. Adjoining Altrincham, the older village of Bowdon was the location of the grandest residences of the affluent. Neighbouring Bowdon Vale earned the nickname of "Soapy Town" in direct reference to the washing taken in from the residents of Bowdon. Altrincham became the provider of servants and housekeepers to its adjoining regions. Altrincham in the mid-19th century was clearly divided into three distinct regions:
- Higher Town centred on the old Market Place where the wealthier denizens lived
- Lower Town where the poorer tradesmen and labourers lived
- Broadheath (which was isolated being cut in two by the Bridgewater Canal) which had growing light industry including wharves to serve the canal and a saw mill.
Demographics
The town's population was recorded in the 2001 Census as 40,695.
Present day
Altrincham is now mainly residential. The historic market town developed as a residential area in the 19th century and has an Old Market Place and a new pedestrianised shopping centre.
The town has more recently fallen victim to decline with shoppers abandoning the area for the nearby Trafford Centre and a regenerated Manchester City Centre. However the empty shop facilities and run down sections of the town will soon be subject to a large-scale regeneration plan with a makeover costing hundreds of millions of pounds.
Redevelopment
Altrincham's most obvious current project is the £40 m redevelopment of the Stamford shopping centre. The centre's owners (Manchester-based Park Lane Estates) are revamping the 1970's precinct to "bring a fresher, more contemporary look to the town's main shopping area". The plans for the site promise to bring in new retailers, allow existing retailers to expand and "create a new streetscape". The redevelopment will significantly increase retail space. Existing shops will also be refurbished. Stamford shopping centre will continues to trade throughout the development period. The first phase is due to be completed by early 2007 with completion of the entire project scheduled for September 2009.
Another development known as the 'Station Location' is currently under construction. The 4.5 acre site, boarded by Oakfield Road, Moss Lane and the railway station platform, will include an extreme sports centre, an ice rink (the home of Manchester Phoenix ice hockey club) with a capacity of 3,000 seats. There will also be an 85 bedroom hotel, two new public squares, restaurants, shops, apartments as well as office space and a 960-space car park. The project is due to be completed in 2011. A temporary ice rink is already nearing completion (expected Jan. 2007) and Manchester Phoenix will be based here until the new rink is commissioned.
In December 2006, a new development off Denmark Street opened. This includes a £3.75 m six-screen cinema for Apollo Cinemas, two restaurant units (Frankie and Benny's and Chiquito) and 30 luxury apartments.
Work has begun on a £5.5 m office and apartment scheme next to Altrincham town hall. A total of 49 new apartments along with 10,000 sq ft of new office space will be built on the site by local developers Seddons. The project is due for completion in March 2007.
A new roof costing £180,000 has recently been installed over the platform at Altrincham Interchange which is currently used for the Metrolink service. The platform had been uncovered since glazed panels were removed three years ago due to safety concerns. The new roof is made of coated steel with clear panels to let in the light.
Currently, the people of Altrincham are being invited to view major plans for Stamford New Road. Trafford council have unveiled the latest £1.5million scheme for the town centre, which will see improvements to traffic flow, pedestrian access and appearance on the major thoroughfare. The provisional programme includes: implementing a 20 mph speed limit along Stamford New Road and adjoining Moss Lane, widening and repaving footpaths, erecting new lighting columns with provision for hanging decorations and banners, erecting bollards along the road edge, repaving Moss Lane with a shared surface for pedestrians and vehicles, adding greenery and improving the traffic signal synchronicity at the Lloyd Street junction.
Transport
Altrincham was a major transportation hub in the late 18th century with road connections to Stockport, Warrington, Chester and Manchester sitting as it was on the Manchester to Chester turnpike. The opening of the Bridgewater Canal in 1761 provided a water route from Broadheath in Altrincham to Castlefield basin in Manchester city centre.
In July 1845 the Act of Parliament for making the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway (MSJAR) was passed. At 08.00, July 20th, 1849, the first railway train left Altrincham with 65 passengers running along the Bridgewater canal. In 1895, Altrincham had three separate but connected stations: Altrincham and Bowdon station in the centre of town belonging to the Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway, Peel Causeway station on the southern extremity of the town on the Cheshire Lines Railway and Broadheath station at the north of the town on the London and North Western line. In 1931, the Altrincham & Manchester line was electrified, making it one of the first electrified railway lines in Britain.
Even with the creation of the railways, horses were still a common transport between Altrincham and Manchester as was a passenger boat down the canal and new potatoes were still carried from Bowdon Downs to Manchester on worker's heads.
By 1937, Altrincham had five railway stations in the town and a daily service of 130 trains between Manchester and Altrincham.
Present day Altrincham is the terminus of one of the lines of the Manchester Metrolink light rail system, which continues to connect it with Manchester. The Metrolink service also provides stops at Navigation Road and Timperley. National Rail services link Altrincham with Chester via Northwich and Manchester via Stockport. Altrincham is also a hub for many local bus routes.
Society and culture
It was the birthplace of the actress Angela Cartwright. The dramatist Ronald Gow lived here in his youth, and he later taught at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys. The area is known primarily for its wealth, concentrated in a number of areas, such as Hale, Hale Barns and Bowdon, as well as some addresses in Altrincham itself. Many footballers (including several Manchester United and Manchester City players) and other sports stars (such as cricketer Andrew Flintoff) live in the area. It is also home to several notable television personalities, particularly Coronation Street actors. Music stars such as former members of The Smiths, Starsailor, and The Stone Roses also reside there.
The town is home to Football Conference team Altrincham FC, affectionately known as "The Robins", who play at Moss Lane. It's also home to the professional ice hockey team Manchester Phoenix (currently in the Elite Ice Hockey League) who play at the Altrincham Ice Dome.
Places of interest
In and around the town are a number of local beauty spots including 18th century Dunham Massey Hall (owned by the National Trust) with its deer park.
References
- "Official British Place Name Archives - Altrincham", Greater Manchester County Records Office - Retreived October 19, 2006
- "Stamford Quarter", Manchester Evening News - Retreived November 28, 2006.
- "Stamford Quarter", Manchester Evening News - Retreived November 28, 2006.
- "Ice Rink", Manchester Evening News - Retreived November 28, 2006
- "Ice Rink", Manchester Evening News - Retreived November 28, 2006
- "Ice Rink", This is Trafford - Retreived November 28, 2006.
- "Cinema", This is Trafford - Retreived November 28, 2006
- "Altrincham Town Hall Developments", Manchester Evening News - Retreived November 28, 2006.
- "Station roof", This is Trafford - Retreived November 28, 2006.
- "Stamford New Road", This is Trafford - Retreived November 28, 2006.
External links
- Dunham Massey - National Trust property, 3 miles south-west of Altrincham
- Altrincham Town Centre website
- Altrincham & Sale Chamber of Commerce
- Map sources for Altrincham