Ashton-under-Lyne

Ashton-under-Lyne is a town in Greater Manchester with a population of 44,400 (2001 estimate). Ashton is the administrative headquarters of the borough of Tameside, and is located north-east of Manchester. The town was traditionally in Lancashire.

Related Topics:
Greater Manchester - Tameside - Manchester - Lancashire

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Famous people from Ashton include the footballer Geoff Hurst, the politician Margaret Beckett and journalist Simon Hoggart.

Related Topics:
Geoff Hurst - Margaret Beckett - Simon Hoggart

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The town was formerly the centre of a large textile (cotton spinning) and coal mining industry. Ashton's industries today include: engineering, food processing, leather, plastics, textiles, brewing, and the manufacture of diesel, gas, and oil engines.

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The River Tame and the Ashton Canal both run through the town. A major tourist attraction in Ashton is the Portland Basin Museum, which is based in a former warehouse next to the canal. Another place of interest in the town is the Museum of the Manchester Regiment.

Related Topics:
River Tame - Ashton Canal - Portland Basin Museum - Museum of the Manchester Regiment

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If it gets the go-ahead, an extension of the Manchester Metrolink tram system will be built to Ashton, possibly by 2010, but funding for this extension currently looks uncertain.

Related Topics:
Manchester Metrolink - Tram

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