Ashton-under-Lyne, Market town in Greater Manchester, England
Ashton-under-Lyne is a market town in Tameside, Greater Manchester, spreading across rising ground north of the River Tame. Streets lead down from the market square toward old industrial areas along the waterways, while residential neighborhoods climb the slopes.
The settlement belonged to the de Asshetons in medieval times and received a royal charter in 1414 for its weekly market and annual fair. During industrialization, the town grew into a center for cotton and coal production, leaving canals and warehouses along the waterways.
Residents call themselves Asht'nians and maintain a strong local identity reflected in pronunciation and town traditions. The market square remains a social center where people meet during shopping and exchange news.
The central market operates on Tuesdays and Saturdays with many stalls across one of the largest outdoor trading areas in the country. Walking from the train station into the center works well since main points of interest sit close together.
The Portland Basin Museum displays industrial heritage collections in a restored 19th-century warehouse at the junction of three canals. Nearby you can still see the old locks that once allowed goods transport between different water levels.
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