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The picturesque
town of Alsager lies to the east of Cheshire, near
the Staffordshire border.
Hidden
away at the centre of the town is the tree-flanked Alsager
Mere. This spring-fed lake, dating from medieval times, was
once the focal point of the town.
Today
Alsager Mere is almost entirely surrounded by houses, with
gardens running down to the waters edge, and is only accessible
to the public by two small fenced viewing platforms.
The ancient
settlement was mentioned in the Domesday Book but remained
a small farming village until the 19th century, when its rural
location and rail connections encouraged pottery works managers
from nearby Stoke-on-Trent to build their homes here.
Alsager
increased in size during World War II when a large armaments
factory was built just outside the town.
The town
is currently home to the Arts & Design, Contemporary Arts
and Sports Science departments of Manchester Metropolitan
University. However, the University intends to vacate the
site in the near future and the land will be sold for redevelopment.
The Trent
and Mersey Canal lies to the north-east of the town and forms
part of the Cheshire Ring Canal Walk and the South Cheshire
Way footpath.
Walkers,
cyclists and horseriders can also follow the Salt Line and
Merelake Way from Alsager to Hassall Green, with footpath
links to the Trent and Mersey Canal.
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Alsager
Salt Line and Merelake Way, Alsager
