| Astley | |
  Astley shown within Greater Manchester |
|
| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| UK Parliament | Leigh |
| European Parliament | North West England |
| List of places: UK • England • Greater Manchester | |
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, and Sheffield United F.C. player Michael Tonge.
