Market Place, Altrincham, Greater Manchester
Two carriages wait for passengers outside the Unicorn Hotel. The Unicorn was originally built in the early 19th century. It was a mail coaching inn. It had livery stables and was used as an Excise Office. George Massey, the proprietor of the Unicorn Hotel, set up the first gas-making plant in Altrincham in 1844 in order to light the frontage of the hotel. Lord Delamer built Altrincham's first town hall in 1849. It was joined onto the Unicorn at the side. Its clock tower can be seen to the right. Altrincham was established as a market town by charter in 1290. The town grew and became more industrial after the extension of the Bridgewater Canal to Altrincham in 1765 and the arrival of the railway in 1849. The Unicorn is now (2013)known as the Old Market Tavern.
