Population 9,693 (2011) Metropolitan borough Trafford Country England Metropolitan county Greater Manchester | OS grid reference SJ785925 Region North West Sovereign state United Kingdom Dialling code 0161 | |
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Ashton upon Mersey is an area of Sale in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. The population of the Trafford Ward at the 2011 census was 9,693. It lies on the south bank of the River Mersey, in the northwestern part of Sale, 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Manchester city centre.
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Map of Ashton upon Mersey, Sale, UK
Historically part of Cheshire, it became an urban district in 1895 under the Local Government Act 1894. In 1930, the Ashton upon Mersey urban district was abolished and the area became a part of the urban district of Sale.
History
A 4th century hoard of 46 Roman coins was discovered and is one of four known hoards dating from that period discovered within the Mersey basin. In the 18th century, it was thought that Ashton upon Mersey might have been the site of Fines Miaimae et Flaviae, a Roman station next to the River Mersey. However, this was based on the De Situ Britanniae, a manuscript forged by Charles Bertram, and there is no evidence to suggest any such station existed. "Ashton" is Old English for "village or farm near the ash trees", suggesting that Ashton upon Mersey is of Anglo-Saxon origin. The township is first mentioned in 1260.
The poet Lascelles Abercrombie was born in Ashton upon Mersey. Karl Pilkington, the author, radio and TV personality, attended Ashton on Mersey High School for many years. Andy Rourke of the Smiths, and Chris Sievey, the man behind The Freshies and Frank Sidebottom, are also from Ashton upon Mersey.