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Coordinates: 53°09′43″N 2°13′01″W / 53.162°N 2.217°W
| Congleton | |
 Congleton Town Hall |
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Congleton
Congleton shown within Cheshire |
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| Population | 25,750 (2001) |
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| OS grid reference | |
| Parish | Congleton |
| Unitary authority | Cheshire East |
| Ceremonial county | Cheshire |
| Region | North West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CONGLETON |
| Postcode district | CW12 |
| Dialling code | 01260 |
| Police | Cheshire |
| Fire | Cheshire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament | Congleton |
| List of places: UK • England • Cheshire | |
Congleton is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, on the banks of the River Dane, and to the west of the Macclesfield Canal. It has a population of 25,750.[1]
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Congleton was once thought to have been a Roman settlement, although there is no archaeological or documentary evidence to support this theory. However, a number of neolithic and bronze age artefacts have been found in the town, and these can be viewed at Congleton Museum. The town is built on marshy land and the centre of population was once at modern-day Astbury.
In 1272 it received its charter to hold fairs and markets. King Edward I granted permission to build a mill. Congleton became an important centre of textile production, especially lace and leather gloves. The neighbouring village of Buglawton was incorporated into Congleton borough in 1936. From 1974 to 2009, Congleton borough covered much of south-east Cheshire. Following the abolition of Cheshire County Council on 1 April 2009, Congleton is now administered by the unitary authority of Cheshire East.
Congleton became notorious in the 1620s when bear-baiting was a popular sport. Congleton owned an old and rather decrepit bear and was unable to attract large crowds to their bear-baiting contests, but also lacked the money to pay for a new and more aggressive bear. It did however have a sum of money saved to buy a new bible. The town decided to use the money in the bible fund to pay for a new bear, and then replenished it with the income from the increased number of spectators. However, when the story was reported to neighbouring towns, it got corrupted and the legend grew that Congleton had sold its bible in order to buy a new bear.
A song called "Congleton Bear"[2] (by John Tams[3]) did the rounds of which the chorus ran:
From the time of this legend, Congleton has been nicknamed 'Beartown'.
Congleton's main landmark, a high outcrop of rocks known as The Cloud,[4] overlooks the Cheshire Plain. The Cloud Project in Congleton is a daily photographic record of The Cloud over a period of one year and also of Cloudside, Dane in Shaw, The Macclesfield Canal and surrounding areas. The Cloud is also the setting for the climax of the supernatural novel A Haunted Man by Stuart Neild, where the novel's hero, ghosthunter Boag-Munroe, is involved in a fight to the death.
The town of Congleton is broken up by the Congleton townspeople into six main areas. These are Buglawton, otherwise known as "Bug Town", the Bromley Farm estate, otherwise known as "Tin Town" due to the number of Anderson shelters built there during the war, Mossley which is sometimes classed as the posher part of town, West Heath which is a relatively new estate built in the late 1970s to the early 1980s, Lower Heath to the north of the town, and finally the town centre.
The principal industries in Congleton include the manufacture of airbags and golf-balls. There are light engineering factories near the town, and sand extraction occurs on the Cheshire Plain, although much of the town is now a dormitory for Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent. There are several weekly local newspapers: the paid-for Congleton Chronicle and free-sheets the Congleton Advertiser and Congleton Guardian. Local radio is broadcast from nearby Macclesfield-based Silk FM, Signal Radio from Stoke-on-Trent and BBC Radio Stoke.
Congleton railway station opened on 9 October 1848. It lies on the Manchester to Stoke-on-Trent branch of the West Coast Main Line.
Attractions near, but not in, the civil parish of Congleton include Little Moreton Hall, a National Trust Tudor house to the south of the town.[5]
Congleton is home to a local football team, Congleton Town F.C., known as the Bears, who play in the North West Counties League. Their ground is at Booth Street. There are also two cricket clubs, Congleton and Mossley.
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Congleton is a Cheshire market town, which was first mentioned in the ancient Doomsday Book.
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CONGLETON, a market town and municipal borough in the Macclesfield parliamentary division of Cheshire, England, on the North Staffordshire railway, 1571 m. N.W. by N. of London. Pop. (1901) 10,707. It is finely situated in a deep valley, on the banks of the Dane, a tributary of the Weaver. To the east Cloud Hill, and to the south Mow Cop, rise sharply to heights exceeding l000 ft. Congleton has no buildings noteworthy for age or beauty, save a few old timbered houses. The grammar school was in existence as early as 1553. In the 16th and 17th centuries the leather laces known as "Congleton points" were in high repute; but the principal industry of the town is now the manufacture of silk, which was introduced in 1752 by a Mr Pattison of London. Coal and salt are raised, and the other industries include fustian, towel, couch, chair and nail factories, iron and brass foundries, stone quarries and corn mills. At Biddulph, 3 m. S., in a narrow valley, across the border in Staffordshire, are several coal-mines and iron-foundries. The gardens of the Grange here are celebrated for their beauty. Congleton is served by the Macclesfield canal. The borough is under a mayor, 6 aldermen and 18 councillors. Area, 2 5 7 2 acres.
Congleton (Congulton) is not mentioned in any historical record before the Domesday Survey, when it was held by Hugh, earl of Chester, and rendered geld for one hide. In the 13th century, as part of the barony of Halton, the manor passed to Henry, earl of Lincoln, who by a charter dated 1282 declared the town a free borough, with a gild merchant and numerous privileges, including power to elect a mayor, a catchpole and an aletaster. This charter was confirmed by successive sovereigns, with some additional privileges. In 1524 the burgesses were exempted from appearing at the shire and hundred courts, and in 1583 the body corporate was reconstructed under the title of mayor and commonalty, and power was granted to make by-laws and to punish offenders. The governing charter, which held force until the Municipal Corporation Act of 1835, was granted by James I. in 1624, and instituted a mayor, 8 aldermen, 16 capital burgesses, a high steward, common-clerk and other officers. Charters were also granted by Charles II. and George IV. In 1282 Henry, earl of Lincoln, obtained a Saturday market and an eight days' fair at the feast of St Peter ad Vincula, and the market is still held under this grant. In 1311 a Tuesday market is mentioned, and a fair at the feast of St Martin. Henry VI. in 1430 granted to the burgesses a fair at the feast of SS. Philip and James. James I. confirmed the three existing fairs and granted an additional fair on the Thursday before Quinquagesima Sunday. Congleton suffered severely from the plagues of 1603 and 1641, and by the latter was almost entirely depopulated. On the whole, however, the town has steadily grown in population and commercial prosperity from the granting of its first charter. See Victoria County History, Cheshire; Robert Head, Congleton Past and Present (Congleton, 1887); Samuel Yates, An History of the Ancient Town and Borough of Congleton (Congleton, 1820).
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Categories: COM-CON | North West England
   | Pubs in Congleton - Pubs in Congleton : Pubs Galore |
| | Congleton Museum - Congleton Museum - ::New Page:: |
| | John Tams information. - www.johntams.info - The Essential John Tams |
| | The Towns Home Site - Congleton Cheshire UK - Congleton Home Page |
| | The Cloud Project - The Cloud Project in Congleton by MoniTone Design |
| | Mossley Cricket Club - Play-Cricket the ECB Cricket Network |
| | Welcome to Congleton - Visit South East Cheshire - Visit Congleton |
| | The Towns Home Site - Congleton Cheshire UK - Congleton Home |
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