Alkrington

infobox UK place
country = England
map_type= Greater Manchester
latitude= 53.537206
longitude= -2.187873
official_name= Alkrington
population=
metropolitan_borough= Rochdale
metropolitan_county= Greater Manchester
region= North West England
constituency_westminster= Heywood and Middleton
post_town= MANCHESTER
postcode_district = M24
postcode_area= M
dial_code= 0161
os_grid_reference= SD875045
static_

static_image_caption=Alkrington Hall

Alkrington, or Alkrington Garden Village as it is less-knowncite web|url=http://www.middletonguardian.co.uk/neighbourhood/alkrington/|title=Alkrington|author=Anon|publisher="Middleton Guardian"|date=2005-05-23|accessdate=2007-06-22] is a suburban area located at the extreme south of Middleton, within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England.cite web |url=http://www.gmcro.co.uk/guides/gazette/gazframe.htm |title=A select gazetteer of local government areas, Greater Manchester County |author=Anon |publisher=Greater Manchester County Records Office |accessdate=2007-06-20]

Although now a district, Alkrington was once a township in the ecclesiastical parish of Prestwich-cum-Oldham, and a centre of the Anglican church.cite book |last = Brownbill |first = J |coauthors = William Farrer |title = A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5 |publisher = Victoria County History |date= 1911 |pages = 82-85 |isbn = 978-0712910552] Once rolling farmland, it was in 1886 when Alkrington was added to the then Middleton Borough, and developed into a premium residential area.

Alkrington is the site of Alkrington Hall and its accompanying woodland.

Manchester New Road (A664) runs through the suburb and has the affluent Woodside area to the West, bordering Alkrington Woods, and the bulk of the upmarket residential area to the East.

Notable people

The area has been home to a number of professional footballers over the years, notably Paul Scholes and Brian Kidd, both of Manchester United, and Ben Collett, a goalscorer in Manchester United's 2003 FA Youth Cup Final win. Nedum Onuoha of Manchester City F.C. also currently lives in the area.Fact|date=November 2007

Comedian Steve Coogan was also born and raised in Alkrington, and Bernard Manning lived in the area for more than 20 years. [cite web | title= Manning was no racist, says Asian neighbour | url= http://www.middletonguardian.co.uk/news/s/229/229637_manning_was_no_racist_says_asian_neighbour.html | publisher= Middleton Guardian | accessdate= 2007-08-27]

Top-10 band The Courteeners also hail from Alkrington Garden Village.

References