Sale (pop. 55,234) is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England, 5.2 miles (8.4 km) southwest of Manchester City Centre. It lies on flat ground beside the Bridgewater Canal and the River Mersey, which forms its northern boundary with Stretford. The town borders Altrincham to the south and the city of Manchester to the east. Local areas include Brooklands, Sale Moor, and Ashton upon Mersey, which was a separate district until 1930. Sale was historically a part of Cheshire. The name first appears at around the turn of the 13th century, but the settlement is thought to be much older, possibly dating from the 7th or 8th centuries, during the Anglo-Saxon period. Evidence of Stone Age and Roman activity has been discovered in the town and its surroundings. Until the Industrial Revolution, agriculture was the main source of employment in the town. The arrival of the railway in the mid-19th century led to an influx of middle class residents and to Sale's growth as a commuter town. Although agriculture subsequently declined, other sectors such as the service industry expanded. The town's population growth resulted in it being granted borough status in 1935. In 1974, Sale became part of the newly created Metropolitan Borough of Trafford. It continues to thrive as a commuter town, but also has its own retail, real estate and business sectors. Sale is served by three stations along the Manchester Metrolink, and has access to the motorway network. Two of the town's main attractions are the Sale Water Park, which contains an artificial lake used for water-sports, and the Waterside Arts Centre. Sale Sharks, a Premiership rugby union club, was founded in Sale but is now based in Stockport. Sale Harriers Manchester Athletics Club also began in Sale but later moved to Wythenshawe. Notable past and present residents include physicist James Joule, singer David Gray, and Sale Harriers athletes Darren Campbell and Diane Modahl.