Astley, Greater Manchester

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Astley
Astley, Greater Manchester (Greater Manchester)
Astley, Greater Manchester

Astley shown within Greater Manchester
OS grid reference SD699006
Metropolitan borough Wigan
Metropolitan county Greater Manchester
Region North West
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town MANCHESTER
Postcode district M29
Dialling code 01942
Police Greater Manchester
Fire Greater Manchester
Ambulance North West
European Parliament North West England
UK Parliament Worsley
List of places: UKEnglandGreater Manchester

Coordinates: 53°30′06″N 2°27′16″W / 53.5016, -2.4544

Astley is a large village and component area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. It is situated eight miles west of Manchester, just outside the larger town of Leigh, and straddles the busy East Lancashire Road, (A580), a major thoroughfare linking Manchester with Liverpool.

Astley was once part of the Lancashire coalfield, and had no fewer than four coal mines within it. The heritage if the mines is still reminant at the Astley Green Colliery Museum, in Astley Green, which still retains one of its mine shafts, a feature that can be seen from around the Astley Green area.

The village area also covers a number of smaller localities, including Blackmoor, Astley Green, Gin Pit, New Hall Farm and Cross Hillock.

Past residents include Matt Aitken, of Stock Aitken and Waterman fame, Sheffield United F.C. player Michael Tonge and local hero Chris Heslop

[edit] External links