ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE, a parliamentary borough in the county of Lancaster, hundred of Saltford, and diocese of Manchester, on the northern bank of the river Tame, 6½ miles east of Manchester, and 197 north-west by north of London. The town is well built, containing many tasteful villas and handsome public edifices. It has three large churches; eleven dissenting chapels; a spacious town-hall; a good market-house; three banks; a savings-bank; a theatre; a mechanics' institute; with many week-day and Sunday schools. To supply in some respects the want of dispensaries and infirmaries, the working classes unite in paying a few pence weekly to a common fund, from which medicines are purchased, and the services of experienced medical men secured for their families. At a short distance to the north of the town are the infantry and cavalry barracks, erected in 1843 at a cost of £42,500; and the union workhouse, erected in 1851 at an expenditure of £12,000. Since the introduction of the cotton trade in 1769, this place has rapidly risen into importance. It enjoys many facilities for manufacturing industry, from coal being very plentiful in the neighbourhood, from three important railway lines passing through it, and from its being united by canals with Manchester, Huddersfield, and Derbyshire. In 1821 it had a population of only 9222, which in 1851 had increased to 29,798, chiefly engaged in spinning cotton yarn and weaving calico pieces by machinery in the numerous large factories. This town is of great antiquity, and still exercises many of its ancient feudal customs and manorial privileges. It is divided into four wards, governed by a mayor, eight aldermen, and twenty-four councillors; and since the Reform Act returns one member to the House of Commons. Market-days Tuesday and Saturday, and fairs on the 23d March, 29th April, 25th July, and 21st November.