The social life of the town is vividly recorded, from the Botanical Gardens of 1831 to Victorian pageants and exhibitions, and Manchester United''s Old Trafford football ground. Fascinating photographs of Stretford during WW2 are included, showing war damage and the war work that made the town a target for enemy bombers. The authors have delved deep into the archives of the Trafford Local Studies Centre to create this expert introduction. Their work should be essential reading for anyone who cares to understand the origins, development and traditions of present-day Stretford.