Besides great sights, an interesting history and many exciting destinations, Altrincham has a lot more to offer. Here you will find many helpful tips to enjoy your vacation in Altrincham.
Here you can find hotels in the area of Altrincham
Just type in your destination and get many different suggestions.
Sights in Altrincham
Altrincham is a town in Greater Manchester, England, 8 miles southwest of Manchester city centre in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, of which it is a nonmetropolitan district. Historically part of Cheshire, it is on the southwestern fringe of the Greater Manchester Urban Area.
Altrincham today is an affluent commuter town, partly as a result of its transport links. The M56 motorway passes to the west of the town, providing good road links with Preston, Liverpool, Warrington and the M6 motorway. The Metrolink tram system’s Altrincham line runs from Altrincham Interchange with bus services to Manchester city centre and Manchester Airport. Altrincham is also served by two railway stations on the MidCheshire Line: Altrincham and Navigation Road.
The main towns in the borough of Trafford are Sale, Stretford, Urmston and Altrincham. Of these, only Altrincham can lay claim to a historic town centre, the others being villages or having grown up around their parish churches. In the Middle Ages, Altrincham was a rural market town with a street market held on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The Market Place is still in existence but the street market has long since gone. A funfair used to be held twice a year in Altrincham; once around Easter and again in September.
Altrincham market hall is located in the Market Place and is a listed building. The hall was built in 1855 by local architect George Truefitt and has a distinctive clock tower. The market originally traded in butter, eggs and cheese but now sells a wide range of goods including fresh produce, clothes, household items and crafts.
Altrincham is home to several parks and open spaces including Stamford Park, Brookside Gardens, Oakfield Park, Victoria Park and Davyhulme Park. Stamford Park is the largest park in the borough of Trafford and is popular with dog walkers, families and joggers. The park has a boating lake, tennis courts, a putting green, a children’s play area and a cafe.
Brookside Gardens is a public park located in the centre of Altrincham. The park has a children’s play area, a bowling green, a putting green and a number of flower beds.
Victoria Park is located in the north of Altrincham and is home to a number of sporting facilities including a football pitch, a cricket pitch, a bowls green and a number of tennis courts. The park also has a children’s play area and a skate park.
Davyhulme Park is located in the south of Altrincham and is home to a number of different species of bird including ducks, geese, swans and herons. The park also has a fishing lake, a children’s play area, a skate park and a number of tennis courts.
Altrincham has a number of schools including Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, St Ambrose Catholic High School, Ely College and Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College.
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls is a selective state grammar school for girls aged 1118. The school was founded in 1901 and is located in the centre of Altrincham.
Altrincham Grammar School for Boys is a selective state grammar school for boys aged 1118. The school was founded in 1909 and is located in the centre of Altrincham.
St Ambrose Catholic High School is a selective state Catholic high school for boys aged 1118. The school was founded in 1960 and is located in the north of Altrincham.
Ely College is a state college for boys and girls aged 1118. The college was founded in 1971 and is located in the south of Altrincham.
Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College is a state Catholic college for boys and girls aged 1118. The college was founded in 1953 and is located in the north of Altrincham.
History of Altrincham
Altrincham is a town in England and the administrative center of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford. It lies on the River Mersey 12 miles southwest of Manchester, in the historic county of Cheshire and is traditionally part of the wider estate of Sale.
The first record of Altrincham being inhabited is from the Mesolithic era. A flint scraper from the site was discovered in Altrincham in 1896 and is now in the collection of the Manchester Museum. Mesolithic flint tools have also been found at Bowden Hey, near the River Bollin.
The Romans built a fort called Mamucium or Mancunium, which probably covered the area around the rivers Mersey and Irwell. This fort was part of a network of forts built to protect the northwest frontier of Roman Britain. In the late 3rd century, Roman Britain was threatened by invasion from the north, and the Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of a defensive wall to protect the country. The Antonine Itinerary, a 2ndcentury road map, mentions a place called Mannucio or Mannuceo, which may refer to Altrincham.
Altrincham was probably one of the places at which the Romans stationed troops to defend against the northern tribes. The Saxons arrived in the early 5th century and Altrincham was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Aldernecham, derived from the Old English for ‘homestead at the alders’.
The first church in Altrincham wasBuilt in about 1150, and dedicated to St. Mary. In 1290 William de Rochelle, the lord of the manor, rebuilt the church in the Decorated Gothic style.
By the early 14th century the manor of Altrincham had passed to the Stanley family, who were Earls of Derby. In 1315 Thomas, the third Earl, obtained a charter from King Edward II to hold a weekly market in the town; this market is still held every Thursday.
In 1557, Sir Hugh Davenport, a local landowner, built a house on what is now Davenport Green, close to the church. This house, which was destroyeis thought to have been the first brickbuilt house in Altrincham.
By the early 18th century, Altrincham was a thriving market town with a population of around 1,500. Theweekly market and four annual fairs attracted buyers from all over Cheshire and Lancashire. In 1745 James Brindley, the engineer, designed a canal to connect Altrincham with the River Mersey at Runcorn. The Bridgewater Canal was completed in 1761 and helped to increase the prosperity of the town.
The 19th century saw the coming of the railways. In 1849 the London and North Western Railway opened a branch line from their main line at Stockport to Altrincham. This made Altrincham an important commuter town for Manchester. In 1873 the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway opened a line from ChorltoncumHardy to Altrincham, which gave Altrincham a second railway connection to Manchester.
The 20th century saw further growth and development of the town. In 1902 the tramway system was extended from Manchester to Altrincham, and in 1909 the first electric trams ran between the two towns.
In 1937 Altrincham grammar school for boys was founded; this was followed in 1957 by a girls’ grammar school. Altrincham also has a number of primary and secondary schools.
Altrincham is twinned with St. Helier in Jersey and Oberursel in Germany.
Vacation in Altrincham
Just 9 miles from Manchester, Altrincham is a historic market town in the Borough of Trafford. The town’s name is derived from the Old English, meaning ‘settlement on the other side of the River Mersey’. With a population of around 55,000, Altrincham is the larger of the two principal towns in Trafford.
Altrincham is a vibrant and thriving town, with a wealth of independent shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. The market town is also home to a number of festivals and events throughout the year, making it a great place to visit at any time.
For those looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, Altrincham is the perfect place to relax and recharge. With plenty of green spaces to enjoy, including Dunham Massey Park and Sale Water Park, there are plenty of opportunities to get back to nature. For those looking for a more active break, Altrincham also offers a range of activities, from golf and tennis to cycling and walking.
Whether you’re looking for a quiet break or an actionpacked adventure, Altrincham has something to offer everyone. So why not come and explore all that this historic market town has to offer?
Other vacation destinations in England:
