Altrincham

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Altrincham
Altrincham shown within Greater Manchester
Population	67,061 (2001 Census)
- Density	3,781/sq mi (1,460/km²)
OS grid reference	SJ765875
- London	161 mi (259 km) SE
Metropolitan borough	Trafford
Metropolitan county	Greater Manchester
Region	North West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ALTRINCHAM
Postcode district	WA14 & WA15
Dialling code	0161
Police	Greater Manchester
Fire	Greater Manchester
Ambulance	North West
European Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Altrincham and Sale West
List of places: UK • England • Greater Manchester

Coordinates: 53°23′02″N 2°21′17″W / 53.3838, -2.3547

Altrincham (pronunciation (help·info)) (IPA: /ˈɒltrɪŋəm/, "Oltringum") is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England.^[1] It lies on flat ground south of the River Mersey 7.7 miles (12.4 km) southwest of Manchester City Centre, and 4.2 miles (6.8 km) south-southeast of Stretford. It has a population of 67,000.

Historically a part of Cheshire, Altrincham was established as a market town in 1290, a time when most communities were based around agriculture rather than trade, and there is still a market in the town today. Further socioeconomic development came with the extension of the Bridgewater Canal to Altrincham in 1765 and the arrival of the railway in 1849, stimulating industrial activity in the town. Outlying villages were absorbed by Altrincham's subsequent growth, along with the grounds of Dunham Massey Hall, formerly the home of the Earl of Stamford, and now a tourist attraction with three Grade I listed buildings and a deer park.

Altrincham today is a commuter town, partly because of its transport links—particularly the Metrolink. The town has a strong middle class presence; there has been a steady increase in Altrincham's middle classes since the 19th century. It is also a centre for sport, being home to Altrincham F.C. and an Elite Ice Hockey club, Manchester Phoenix.

Contents 1 History 2 Governance 2.1 Civic history 2.2 Political representation 3 Geography 3.1 Divisions and suburbs 4 Demography 4.1 Population change 5 Economy 6 Culture 6.1 Landmarks and attractions 6.2 Cultural events and venues 6.3 Sports 7 Education 8 Religion 9 Transport 10 Notable people 11 References 12 External links

[edit] History

The name Altrincham first appears as "Aldringeham", probably meaning "Homestead of the Aldhere's people".^[2] It has been, and continues to be, misspelled as "Altringham".

There is evidence of human activity in the area during prehistoric and Roman times. Two Neolithic arrowheads and the remains of a Roman road running through Broadheath have been discovered. The road linked the Roman fortress of Chester (Deva) with the fort of York (Eboracum), and it appears to have been in use for a considerable period of time, as it has been repaired. Until the Norman invasion, the manors surrounding present-day Altrincham were owned by the Saxon Thegn Alweard; after the invasion they became the property of Hamon de Massey.^[3][2]

Altrincham was not mentioned in the Domesday Book. The earliest documented reference to the town was in 1290, when it was granted its Royal Charter as a Free Borough by Baron Hamon de Massey V. The charter allowed a weekly fair to be held, and it is possible that de Massey established the town to generate income through tolls, dues and taxes from trade, suggesting that Altrincham may have been a planned market town. That would have been unusual during the Middle Ages, when most communities were agricultural.^[3] Altrincham Fair became St James's Fair or Samjam in 1319 and continued until 1895. Fair days had their own court of Pye Powder (a corruption of the French for "dusty feet"), presided over by the mayor and held to settle disputes arising from the day's dealings.^[4]

On the extinction of the Massey family in 1340, the lands of Altrincham passed to the Earl of Stamford. By 1348, the town had 120 burgage plots—ownership of land that can be used as a measure of status and importance in an area—putting it on a par with Macclesfield and above Stockport and Knutsford.^[3] Though the Earl remained in charge overall, in the 15th century the government of Altrincham fell to a court leet.^[3]

The oldest confirmed residence in Altrincham, although now demolished, was The Knoll, on Stamford Street. An excavation by South Trafford Archaeological Group in 1983 discovered evidence that the house dated from the 13th or 14th century, and that it may have contained a drying kiln or malting floor.^[5] During the English Civil War, men from Altrincham fought for the Parliamentarian Sir George Booth. During the war, armies camped several times on nearby Bowdon Downs.^[4]

The extension of the Bridgewater Canal to Altrincham in 1765 stimulated the development of market gardening, and for many years Altrincham was notable for its vegetables.^[6] When the canal was completed in 1776, it provided a water route from Manchester, through Altrincham, to the Irish Sea. By 1767, warehouses had been built alongside the canal in Broadheath, the first step in Altrincham's industrialisation and the development of Broadheath as an industrial area.^[3]

In July 1845, the Act of Parliament allowing for the construction of the Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway (MSJAR) was passed. At 8:00 am, 20 July 1849, the first railway train left Altrincham, carrying 65 passengers. The MSJAR had two stations in the town: Altrincham on Stockport Road, and one called Bowdon—though not actually in Bowdon—on Lloyd Street/Railway Street. They were both closed in 1881, and replaced by Altrincham & Bowdon station on Stamford New Road.^[3] Broadheath Railway Station, at the northern edge of the town, on the London and North Western Railway line, was opened in 1854. The Cheshire Midland Railway (later the Cheshire Lines Committee) opened from Altrincham to Knutsford on 12 May 1862.^[7]

In the late 1800s Altrincham became a base from which professionals and industrialists would commute to Manchester. A notable early commuter was the calico printer William Neild who travelled daily by coach from High Lawn in Bowden in the 1840s; however the less well–to–do would commute by express or 'flyer' barges from Broadheath.^[8] With the coming of the railway the areas in and around Altrincham became very desirable places for the middle classes and commuters to live.^[3][9] Between 1851 and 1881 the population increased from 4,488 to 11,250.^[3]

The industrial area of Broadheath, spanning an area of 250 acres (1.0 km²), was founded by Harry Grey, 8th Earl of Stamford, in 1885 for the purpose of attracting businesses. By 1900, Broadheath had its own docks, warehouses and electricity generating station. The site's proximity to rail, canal and road proved attractive to companies making machine tools, cameras and grinding machines. The presence of Tilghmans Sand Blast Co Ltd and the Linotype and Machinery Company established Broadheath as an industrial area of national standing. By 1914, there were 14 companies operating in Broadheath, employing thousands of workers. One of those was the Budenberg Gauge Company. A direct result of the industrialisation of Broadheath was a population boom and the creation of 172 workers' homes by Linotype near the factory; between 1891 and 1901 the population of Altrincham increased by 35% from 12,440 to 16,831.^[3]

In 1931, the MSJAR line was electrified (1500 V DC OLE), one of the first electrified railway lines in Great Britain. At the same time a further Altrincham station was opened on that line, at Navigation Road, to serve the housing developments in the area. By 1937, there were 130 train services daily between Manchester and Altrincham.^[7]

There was little change in Altrincham from the turn of the 20th century to the start of World War II. Although experiencing some bombing as part of the Luftwaffe's raids on Greater Manchester, the town emerged from the war relatively unscathed and, along with the rest of Britain, experienced a boom period shortly after. This manifested itself in the construction of new housing and the rebuilding of the town centre in the 1960s.^[10] However, the boom period was followed by a depression in the 1970s, during which time employment at Broadheath fell by nearly 40%. In 1974, Altrincham became part of the newly formed Metropolitan Borough of Trafford.^[10]

[edit] Governance

[edit] Civic history

Altrincham became a Free Borough in 1290, a self governing township. That remained the case until the Municipal Corporations Act of 1835 which did not recognise the town's borough status. Altrincham’s growing population led to unsanitary conditions in the town and the Public Health Act of 1848 led to the creation of Altrincham’s Board of Health in 1851 to address this problem, ahead of the rest of Trafford.^[3]

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 in Greater Manchester on April 1, 1974.^[4]

[edit] Political representation

Altrincham was in the parliamentary constituency of Altrincham which was created in 1885. This lasted until 1945 when it was replaced by Altrincham and Sale. In 1997, this in turn became part of the newly created constituency of Altrincham and Sale West. Since its formation, Altrincham and Sale West has been represented in the House of Commons by the Conservative MP, Graham Brady. At the 2005 General Election, the Conservatives won a majority of 7,159 and 46.4% of the vote. Labour won 30.3% of the vote, Liberal Democrats 21.7% and the United Kingdom Independence Party 1.7%.^[11] 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.

The town is within Trafford Metropolitan Borough; Trafford Council is responsible for the administration of local services, such as education, social services, town planning, waste collection and council housing. The area is divided into seven electoral wards: Altrincham, Bowdon, Broadheath, Hale Central, Hale Barns, Timperley, and Village. These wards have 21 out of the 63 seats on the Trafford Council; as of the 2007 local elections seventeen of these seats were held by the Conservative Party and four by the Liberal Democrats.^[12] The councillors for the Altrincham ward are:

• Councillor Alex Williams (Conservative).^[13]
• Councillor Mrs Susan Williams (Conservative): Leader of the Council.^[14]
• Councillor Michael Young (Conservative): Chairman of Accounts and Audit Committee.^[15]

[edit] Geography

Further information: Geography of Greater Manchester

At 53°23′2″N, 2°21′17″W (53.3838, −2.3547), Altrincham is on the southwestern edge of the Greater Manchester Urban Area, immediately south of the town of Sale, 8 miles (13 km) from Manchester City Centre. It lies in the northwest corner of the Cheshire Plain, just south of the River Mersey. The Bridgewater Canal passes through the Broadheath area of the town. Altrincham’s drinking water is supplied by United Utilities and sourced from the Lake District, about 90 miles (145 km) away.^[16] The local bedrock consists mainly of Keuper Waterstone, a type of sandstone, and water retrieved from those rocks is very hard and often saline, making it undrinkable.^[17]

The climate of Altrincham is generally temperate, with few extremes of temperature or weather. The mean temperature is slightly above average for the United Kingdom; whereas both annual rainfall and average hours of sunshine are slightly below the average for the UK.^[18]

[edit] Divisions and suburbs

Altrincham is one of the four major urban areas in Trafford, the other three being Sale, Stretford and Urmston. The Altrincham area, as defined by Trafford MBC, comprises the south of Trafford. In addition to the town of Altrincham, it includes the villages of Timperley, Bowdon, Hale and Hale Barns. The Broadheath area of the town was a light industrial centre until the 1970s, but is now a retail park. The most densely populated part of the town is around the town centre, with the less populated areas and more green space further from the centre of town in villages such as Bowdon and Hale.^[19][20]

[edit] Demography

Altrincham Compared
2001 UK Census	Altrincham	Trafford	England
Total population	67,061	210,145	49,138,831
White	95.4%	91.6%	90.9%
Asian	2.3%	4.1%	4.6%
Black	0.4%	2.0%	2.3%
Jewish	2.8%	1.1%	0.5%
Over 65 years old	16.4%	16.2%	15.9%

As of the 2001 UK census, the town of Altrincham had a total population of 67,061.^[21] Of the 27,900 households in Altrincham, 41.6% were married couples living together, 28.6% were one-person households, 7.3% were co-habiting couples and 7.8% were lone parents.^[22]

The population density is 1,460 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,781/sq mi)^[19] and for every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. Of those aged 16 to 74 in Altrincham, 18.7% had no academic qualifications, lower than the 21.3% in all of Trafford and 28.9% in England. 6.8% of Altrincham’s residents were from outside of the United Kingdom, low compared with the English average of 9.2%. There is a low proportion of non-white people (4.6%). The largest minority group was Jewish, at 2.8% of the population.^[21]

In 1931, 14.6% of Altrincham’s population was middle class compared with 14% in England and Wales, and by 1971, this had increased to 28.8% compared with 24% nationally. Parallel to this increase in the middle classes of Altrincham was the decline of the working class population. In 1931, 30.3% were working class compared with 36% in England and Wales; by 1971, this had decreased to 18.6% in Altrincham and 26% nationwide. The rest of the population was made up of clerical workers and skilled manual workers. The change in social structure in Altrincham was at a similar rate to that of the rest of the nation but was biased towards the middle classes, making Altrincham the middle class town it is today.^[9]

[edit] Population change

Population growth in Altrincham since 1801
Year	1801	1811	1821	1831	1841	1851	1861	1871	1881	1891	1901	1911	1921	1931	1939	1951	1961	1971	2001
Population	1,692	2,032	2,302	2,708	3,399	4,488	6,628	8,478	11,250	12,440	16,831	17,813	20,450	21,356	39,940	39,789	41,122	40,786	67,061
Source:A Vision of Britain through Time[3]

[edit] Economy

Historically, Altrincham was a market town with a small number of its population employed in agriculture. During the Industrial Revolution, Altrincham grew as an industrial town, particularly the Broadheath area, which was developed into an industrial estate. In 1801 there were four cotton mills in Altrincham, part of its textile industry, although they had closed by the 1851 census. The decline of the textile industry in Altrincham mirrored the decline of the industry in the Trafford area as a result of a lack of investment and the development of more established industrial areas such as Manchester, Ashton-under-Lyne, and Oldham.^[3] During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, heavier industries moved into Broadheath, providing local employment. The area steadily declined during the second half of the 20th century, with employment at Broadheath falling from 8,000 to 5,000 between 1960 and 1970.^[3][10] Despite the presence of retailers such as Tesco, Sainsbury's and Marks & Spencer in the town, and redevelopment schemes costing over £100 million,^[23][24] Altrincham's 15.5% level of employment in retail is below the national average of 16.9%. Altrincham, with its neighbours Bowdon and Hale, is said to constitute a "stockbroker belt", with well-appointed dwellings in an area of sylvan opulence.^[25]

The historic market town developed as a residential area in the 19th century although it retains its retail heritage in the Old Market Place (a conservation area) and a new pedestrianised shopping centre. The retail districts of the town have more recently fallen victim to decline due to competition from the nearby Trafford Centre and a regenerated Manchester city centre.^[26] However the empty shop facilities and run-down sections of the town, are being redeveloped. The Trafford Revised unitary development plan,^[27] which guides and controls all development in Altrincham, was adopted in June 2006. In 2006 Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council unveiled plans for a £1.5 million face lift for the town centre.^[23] The most noticeable current development is the £40m redevelopment of Altrincham's Stamford Shopping Centre, scheduled for completion in September 2009. The redevelopment will create 146,000 square feet (13,600 m²) of new retail space and 203,000 square feet (18,900 m²) of refurbished space, providing 349,000 square feet (32,400 m²) in total.^[28]

Another development, costing £150m and nicknamed "Station Location", is scheduled for completion in 2011. The 4.5-acre (1.8 ha) site, bordered 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 3,000-seat capacity, an 85-bedroom hotel, two new public squares, restaurants, shops, flats, 25,000 square feet (2,300 m²) of office space and a 960-space car park. A temporary ice rink was opened in February 2007, near to the site, to house Manchester Phoenix until the new, larger rink, is completed.^[29][24]

As of the 2001 UK census, Altrincham had a workforce of approximately 48,090 people. The economic activity of residents in Altrincham was 43.0% in full-time employment, 12.2% in part-time employment, 21.9% self-employed, 2.0% unemployed, 2.1% students with jobs, 3.6% students without jobs, 14.1% retired, 6.0% looking after home or family, 2.3% permanently sick or disabled and 2.2% economically inactive for other reasons. Altrincham has a high rate of self employment (22%) compared to the rest of Trafford (16%) and England (17%). The town has a low rate of unemployment (2.0%) compared to Trafford (2.7%) and England (3.3%).^[21] The Office for National Statistics estimated that during the period of April 2001 to March 2002 the average gross weekly income of households in Altrincham was £653 (£33,969 per year), nearly 30% higher than the average for the North West.^[30]

According to the 2001 UK census, the industry of employment of residents in Altrincham was 20.2% property and business services, 15.5% retail and wholesale, 11.6% manufacturing, 11.2% health and social work, 8.8% education, 7.6% transport and communications, 5.6% finance, 5.2% construction, 4.0% hotels and restaurants, 4.0% public administration and defence, 0.8% agriculture, 0.7% energy and water supply, and 4.5% other. This was roughly in line with national figures, except for the town's relatively high percentage of workers in property and business services.^[31]

[edit] Culture

[edit] Landmarks and attractions

On the outskirts of Altrincham is the 18th-century Dunham Massey Hall^[32] and its 250-acre (1 km²) deer park, both now owned by the National Trust. The hall is early Georgian in style, and it, along with its stables and carriage house, are Grade I listed buildings.^[33] Another of Altrincham's attractions is the historic market, set up over 800 years ago when the town was first established.

Stamford Park is a 16 acre (6.5 ha) park designed by landscape gardener John Shaw. It was opened to the public in 1880, as a sports park with areas for cricket and football. It is now owned and run by Trafford Council. The land was donated by George Grey, the 7th Earl of Stamford. The park is listed as Grade II on the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.^[34]

The clock outside the main transport interchange was built in 1880, and has been a Grade II listed building since 1985.^[35] Royd House was built between 1914 and 1916 by local architect Edgar Wood as his own residence. It has a flat concrete roof and a concave façade and is faced in Portland red stone and Lancashire brick.^[36] It is regarded as one of the most advanced examples of early 20th-century domestic architecture, and is referenced in architectural digests. The house has been a Grade I listed building since 1975, one of six such buildings in Trafford.^[37][38]

The Old Market Place is thought to stand on the site of the original town settlement. Now a registered conservation area it consists of a series of part timber-framed buildings echoing the wattle and daub constructions of the original houses and burgage plots. The cobblestone paving was replaced in 1896. The Buttermarket which stood in the area near the Old Market Place from the 17th century until the late 19th century was also the site for dispensing early local justice. A courtroom, stocks and whipping post saw public floggings take place there until the early 19th century. The whipping post and stocks were restored as a tourist attraction by local traders in the 1990s. However the Buttermarket area was also a site of religious importance, since prospective brides and grooms are thought to have declared their intentions here. In 1814 Thomas de Quincey described the Old Market Place in his Confessions of an English Opium Eater while travelling from Manchester to Chester: "fruits and flowers were scattered about in profusion; even the stalls of the butchers, from their brilliant cleanliness, appeared attractive; and bonny young women of Altrincham were all tripping about in caps and aprons coquettishly disposed".^[39]

[edit] Cultural events and venues

Altrincham has two theatres, the Altrincham Garrick Playhouse and the Club Theatre. The Altrincham Garrick group was formed in 1913. The Garrick held the world stage premier of Psycho in 1982. In 1998, it received a grant of £675,000 from the National Lottery as part of a £900,000 redevelopment of the theatre, which was completed in 1999.^[40] The Club Theatre group began in 1896, as the St Margaret’s Church Institute Amateur Dramatics Society. It provides a venue for the Trafford Youth Theatre production each year, and it runs the Hale One Act Festival, an annual week-long event started in 1972.^[41] The Club has received awards from both the Greater Manchester Drama Federation and the Mid-Cheshire Theatre Guild.^[42] Altrincham also has Greater Manchester's only Michelin starred restaurant, the Juniper.^[43]

[edit] Sports

Altrincham F.C., nicknamed "The Robins", were founded in 1903 and play home matches at Moss Lane. The club plays in the Football Conference, the highest level of English non-league football and the fifth tier overall. In the 1970s and 1980s Altrincham F.C. built a reputation for "giant-killing" acts against Football League teams in FA Cup matches. The club has knocked out Football League opposition on a record 16 occasions,^[44] including a 1986 victory against top-flight Birmingham City.^[45] Altrincham won the forerunner of the Football Conference in its first two seasons, but was denied election to the Football League on both occasions, falling a single vote short in 1980.^[46] Altrincham has since had mixed fortunes. Relegated to the Northern Premier League in 1997, the club earned promotion two years later, but suffered a second relegation after a single season in the Conference.^[47] In both the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons, Altrincham avoided relegation only as a result of other teams being deducted points, or being expelled from the Conference.^[48]

Altrincham is one of the few towns in North West England with an ice rink, and has had an ice hockey team since 1961, when Altrincham Ice Rink was built in Broadheath.^[49] The Altrincham Aces (later renamed the Trafford Metros) existed from 1961 until 2003, when Altrincham Ice Rink closed.^[50] The town then had a three year period without a rink or ice hockey team, until construction of the 2,500 capacity Altrincham Ice Dome was completed.^[51] Manchester Phoenix, a professional team in the Elite Ice Hockey League, relocated to the Ice Dome during the 2006–07 season, having withdrawn from competition two years earlier due to the high cost of playing matches at Manchester's MEN Arena.^[52] When not being used by Phoenix the Altrincham Ice Dome is open to the public for ice skating.^[53]

Founded in 1897,^[54] Altrincham Kersal RUFC plays rugby union in North One, the competition below the National Leagues, and is amongst the top 80 clubs in England. Altrincham has been promoted five times in the past ten seasons. The club has produced England and Sale Sharks players Mark Cueto and Chris Jones and continues to produce players for the Sale Jets.^[55] Altrincham and District Athletics Club was founded in 1961, and provides training facilities for track and field, road running, cross-country running and fell running.^[56] Seamons Cycling Club was formed in 1948, in the area of Altrincham known locally as Seamons Moss.^[57]

[edit] Education

Further information: List of schools in Greater Manchester

There are 18 primary schools and 8 secondary schools in the Altrincham area, including 5 grammar schools; the Trafford district maintains a selective education system assessed by the Eleven Plus exam. Several of the secondary schools in the Altrincham area have specialist status: Altrincham College of Arts (arts);^[58] Altrincham Grammar School For Boys (language);^[59] Altrincham Grammar School For Girls (language);^[60] Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College (maths and computing);^[61] Loreto Grammar School for Girls (science);^[62] and St. Ambrose College (maths and computing).^[63] Altrincham Grammar School for Girls was described in its 2005 Ofsted report as "outstanding with an outstanding sixth form".^[64] Loreto Grammar—a Voluntary Aided, Catholic grammar school—was also described in its 2005 Ofsted report as "outstanding with an outstanding sixth form".^[65]

[edit] Religion

See also: List of churches in Greater Manchester

As of the 2001 UK census, 76.5% of Altrincham’s residents reported themselves as being Christian, 1.7% Muslim, 0.7% Hindu, 2.8% Jewish, 0.2% Buddhist and 0.1% Sikh. The census recorded 11.7% as having no religion, 0.1% with an alternative religion, and 6.1% not stating their religion.^[21] Altrincham is in the Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury,^[66] and the Church of England Diocese of Chester.^[67]

There is one synagogue, The Hale and District Hebrew Congregation, on Shay Lane, Hale, and there are plans to build another close by to cater for Jews of Sephardi origin.

During the medieval and post-medieval period, the township of Altrincham was part of the Bowdon parish.^[3] There are five Grade II Listed Churches in Altrincham: Christ Church,^[68] the Church of St Alban,^[69] the Church of St George,^[70] the Church of St John the Evangelist,^[71] and Trinity United Reformed Church.^[72] All these churches have been listed buildings since 1985. There are three Grade II* listed churches in Altrincham out of only nine Grade II* buildings in Trafford: the Church of St Margaret,^[73] the Church of St John the Divine^[74] and Hale Chapel in Hale Barns.^[75]

[edit] Transport

Altrincham railway station is the southern terminus of one of the lines of the Manchester Metrolink light rail system, which connects it with the centre of Manchester and locations in Greater Manchester such as Sale and Bury. The Metrolink service also serves the Navigation Road railway station. Metrolink services leave around every six minutes between 7:15 and 18:30, and every 12 minutes at other times of the day.^[76] National Rail services link Altrincham and Navigation Road stations with Chester via Northwich, and with Manchester via Stockport. Altrincham Interchange, next to the railway station, is a hub for local bus routes. Manchester Airport, the largest in the UK outside London, is 4 miles (6.4 km) to the southeast of the town.

[edit] Notable people

Altrincham has been home to notable people, both past and present. Helen Allingham lived in Altrincham and then Bowdon as a child.^[77] Alison Uttley wrote the Little Grey Rabbit books while living in Bowdon.^[77] The dramatist Ronald Gow lived in Altrincham in his youth and later taught at the local grammar school.^[77] It was the birthplace of the actress Angela Cartwright.^[78]

Altrincham is home to professional footballers (including Manchester United and Manchester City players), other sport stars, television personalities, particularly Coronation Street actors and music industry celebrities. Ian Brown and John Squire of the The Stone Roses both attended Altrincham Grammar School for boys.^[79] In addition, Paul Young from Mike and the Mechanics and Sad Café, lived in Altrincham until his death in 2000.^[80] Cricketer Paul Allott was born in Altrincham and played test cricket for England. Allott played for Lancashire between 1978 and 1991 and played his 13 tests between 1981 and 1985.^[81] Altrincham born Bill Speakman received the Victoria Cross for valour in 1951 in the Korean War.^[82] Sir Michael Pollock, an officer in the Royal Navy who rose to the position of First Sea Lord, was born in Altrincham.^[83]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Altrincham History Society.

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