110px|Altrincham Old Market Place

Altrincham is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on flat ground south of the River Mersey about 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Manchester city centre, 3 miles (5 km) south-southwest of Sale and 10 miles (16 km) east of Warrington. As of the 2001 UK census, it had a population of 41,000. Historically a part of Cheshire, Altrincham was established as a market town in 1290, a time when most communities were based around agriculture rather than trade, and there is still a market in the town today. Further socioeconomic development came with the extension of the Bridgewater Canal to Altrincham in 1765 and the arrival of the railway in 1849, stimulating industrial activity in the town. Outlying villages were absorbed by Altrincham's subsequent growth, along with the grounds of Dunham Massey Hall, formerly the home of the Earl of Stamford, and now a tourist attraction with three Grade I listed buildings and a deer park. Altrincham today is an affluent commuter town, partly because of its transport links. It is also a centre for sport, home to Altrincham F.C. and an English Premier League ice hockey club, Manchester Phoenix. (more...)

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1775:

American Revolution: Patrick Henry made his "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!" speech to the Virginia House of Burgesses, urging military action against the British Empire. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Give_me_Liberty%2C_or_give_me_Death%21

1848:

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1879:

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1989:

Two researchers announced the discovery of cold fusion, a claim which was later discredited. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cold_fusion

2007:

Iranian military personnel seized 15 British Royal Navy personnel from HMS Cornwall, claiming that the British ship sailed into Iran's territorial waters. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Iranian_seizure_of_Royal_Navy_personnel

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