Altrincham

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Altrincham (pronounced "Oltringum") is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester in the north-west of England, approximately eight miles south-west of Manchester. Prior to the local government reorganisation of 1974, it was administered by Cheshire County Council and its postal address remains Cheshire, with many residents still preferring to regard it as part of that county.

It is bordered by the wealthy suburbs of Hale and Bowdon. Its population was recorded in the 2001 census as 40,695.

Altrincham is the terminus of one of the lines of the Manchester Metrolink light rail system, which connects it with Manchester.

It was the birthplace of the actress Angela Cartwright. The dramatist Ronald Gow lived here in his youth, and later taught at the local grammar school.

Once a thriving engineering town, Altrincham is now mainly residential. It has a number of local beauty spots including 18th-Century Dunham Massey Hall (owned by the National Trust) with its deer park. 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.

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, The Stone Roses and Jawless, and opera singer Martin Toal also reside there.

Altrincham is part of the paliamentary 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.

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