Congleton
Encyclopedia
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
, to the west of the Macclesfield Canal
and 21 miles south of Manchester. It has a population of 25,750.
. Stone Age
and Bronze Age
artefacts have been found in the town. Congleton was once thought to have been a Roman
settlement, although there is no archaeological or documentary evidence to support this. Congleton became the local market town after Vikings destroyed nearby Davenport.
Godwin, Earl of Wessex
held the town during the Saxon period. The town is mentioned in the Domesday Book
, where it is listed as Cogeltone: Bigot de Loges. William the Conqueror granted the whole of Cheshire to his nephew the Earl of Chester
. In the 13th Century, Congleton belonged to the de Lacy
family. Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln
granted the town its first charter in 1272, enabling it to hold fairs and markets, elect a mayor and ale taster, have a merchant guild and behead known criminals.
In 1451, the River Dane flooded, destroying a number of buildings, the town's mill and wooden bridge. The river was diverted away from the town, and the town centre was rebuilt on higher ground.
During the Civil War
, former Congleton mayor and lawyer, John Bradshaw
, became president of the court which sent Charles I
to be beheaded in 1649. His signature as Attorney General was the first on the king's death warrant. There is a plaque commemorating him on Bradshaw House in Lawton Street.
Congleton became notorious in the 1620s when bear-baiting
, as well as cockfighting, were popular sports. The town was unable to attract large crowds to its bear-baiting contests and lacked the money to pay for a new, more aggressive bear. The town used money it had saved to buy a new bible
and it replenished the fund with the income from the increased number of spectators. It became legend that Congleton sold its Bible to pay for a new bear. The chorus of 20th century folk song "Congleton Bear", by folk artist John Tams, runs:
This legend earned Congleton the nickname 'Beartown'.
King Edward I
granted permission to build a mill. Congleton became an important centre of textile production, especially lace and leather gloves and lace. Congleton had an early Silk throwing
mill, the Old Mill built by John Clayton and Nathaniel Pattison in 1753.
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
. The town has an elected Town Council which was established in 1980. The town is split into two wards with 20 councillors elected every 4 years.
, 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 seven main areas. These are Buglawton, otherwise known as "Bug Town", the Bromley Farm estate, otherwise known as "Tin Town" due to the number of tin RSJs built there, Mossley which is sometimes classed as the posher part of town, Hightown, which is located before Mosley between town and the train station. 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.
s 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
.
Congleton Market operates every Tuesday and Saturday from the Bridestones Centre. There are 11 indoor stalls and 84 outdoor stalls.
The National Trust
Tudor house Little Moreton Hall
, lies to the south of the town.
Congleton Museum
is on Market Square in the centre of town. It was established in 2002 and is dedicated to Congleton's industrial history, and contains an ancient log boat and gold and silver coin hoards. Congleton Tourist Information Centre is on the town's High Street.
The independently-run 300 seat Daneside Theatre is on Park Road in the town. The 400-seat Clonter Opera Theatre is based in the village of Swettenham Heath, 5 miles north of Congleton.
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 CC and Mossley CC. There are two golf clubs in the town; the historic Congleton Golf Club which is an undulating 9 hole course with views over the Cloud End, and the 18 hole parkland course at Astbury.
Congleton Park is located along the banks of the River Dane just north east of the town centre. Town Wood on the northern edge of the park is a Grade A Site of Biological Interest and contains many nationally important plants. Congleton paddling pool was built in the 1930s and is open in the summer months.
Astbury Mere Country Park lies just to the south west of the town centre, on the site of a former sand quarry
. The lake is used for fishing
and sailing
and despite its name, is actually in the West Heath
area of Congleton, with the boundary between Congleton and Newbold Astbury
parishes lying further to the south.
and free-sheet the Advertiser, which is produced by the nearest daily newspaper, The Sentinel, based in Stoke-on-Trent, and which covers the town. Local radio is broadcast from nearby Macclesfield
-based Silk FM, Signal 1
and Signal 2
from Stoke-on-Trent and BBC Radio Stoke
, as well as Moorlands Radio
in Leek and Canalside Community Radio in Macclesfield, both community radio stations.
motorway, connected by the A534. It is on the A34
trunk road between Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester, and the A54 to Buxton
and the Peak District
. The A536
links the town with Macclesfield, with the A527 linking the town to Biddulph
and providing an alternative route to Stoke-on-Trent.
Congleton railway station
opened on 9 October 1848. It lies on the Manchester to Stoke-on-Trent branch of the West Coast Main Line
. It was revealed in The Sentinel newspaper on 7 September 2011 that the ticket office could be closed as part of Government budget cuts.
The Macclesfield Canal
passes through the town. It was completed in 1831. It runs 26 miles (42 km) from Marple Junction at Marple
, where it joins the Upper Peak Forest Canal, southwards (through Bollington
and Macclesfield), before arriving at Bosley
. The canal is renowned for its elegant roving bridge
s, locally known as Snake Bridges.
The nearest airport to the town is Manchester Airport, 20 miles away.
. The main police station is on Market Square.
Statutory emergency fire and rescue service
is provided by the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service
. Congleton Fire Station is on West Road, near the centre of town.
Congleton has a small hospital Congleton War Memorial Hospital which was built by public subscription in 1924. The town is also served by Leighton Hospital
in Crewe
, Macclesfield District General Hospital and the University Hospital of North Staffordshire
in Stoke-on-Trent.
Utility firm United Utilities
manages Congleton's drinking
and waste water.
Cheshire East
Cheshire East is a unitary authority area with borough status in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England.The borough was established in April 2009 as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England, by virtue of an order under the Local Government and Public Involvement in...
and the ceremonial county of Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England, on the banks of the River Dane
River Dane
The River Dane is a river mainly in Cheshire in the north west of England.The river rises in Derbyshire, close to the source of the River Goyt just to the south west of Buxton, on Axe Edge Moor...
, to the west of the Macclesfield Canal
Macclesfield Canal
The Macclesfield Canal is a canal in east Cheshire, England, one of the six that make up the Cheshire Ring.-Route:The canal runs from Marple Junction at Marple, where it joins the Upper Peak Forest Canal, , southwards , before arriving at Bosley.Having descended the 12 Bosley Locks over the course...
and 21 miles south of Manchester. It has a population of 25,750.
History
The first settlements in the Congleton area were NeolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
. Stone Age
Stone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
and Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
artefacts have been found in the town. Congleton was once thought to have been a Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
settlement, although there is no archaeological or documentary evidence to support this. Congleton became the local market town after Vikings destroyed nearby Davenport.
Godwin, Earl of Wessex
Godwin, Earl of Wessex
Godwin of Wessex , was one of the most powerful lords in England under the Danish king Cnut the Great and his successors. Cnut made him the first Earl of Wessex...
held the town during the Saxon period. The town is mentioned in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
, where it is listed as Cogeltone: Bigot de Loges. William the Conqueror granted the whole of Cheshire to his nephew the Earl of Chester
Earl of Chester
The Earldom of Chester was one of the most powerful earldoms in medieval England. Since 1301 the title has generally been granted to heirs-apparent to the English throne, and from the late 14th century it has been given only in conjunction with that of Prince of Wales.- Honour of Chester :The...
. In the 13th Century, Congleton belonged to the de Lacy
De Lacy
de Lacy is the surname of an old Norman noble family originating from Lassy . The first records are about Hugh de Lacy . Descendent of Hugh de Lacy left Normandy and travelled to England along with William the Conqueror. Walter and Ilbert de Lacy fought in the battle of Hastings...
family. Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln
Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln
Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln was a confidant of Edward I of England.In 1272 on reaching the age of majority he became Earl of Lincoln...
granted the town its first charter in 1272, enabling it to hold fairs and markets, elect a mayor and ale taster, have a merchant guild and behead known criminals.
In 1451, the River Dane flooded, destroying a number of buildings, the town's mill and wooden bridge. The river was diverted away from the town, and the town centre was rebuilt on higher ground.
During the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, former Congleton mayor and lawyer, John Bradshaw
John Bradshaw (judge)
John Bradshaw was an English judge. He is most notable for his role as President of the High Court of Justice for the trial of King Charles I and as the first Lord President of the Council of State of the English Commonwealth....
, became president of the court which sent Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
to be beheaded in 1649. His signature as Attorney General was the first on the king's death warrant. There is a plaque commemorating him on Bradshaw House in Lawton Street.
Congleton became notorious in the 1620s when bear-baiting
Bear-baiting
Bear-baiting is a blood sport involving the worrying or tormenting of bears.-Bear-baiting in England:Bear-baiting was popular in England until the nineteenth century. From the sixteenth century, many herds of bears were maintained for baiting...
, as well as cockfighting, were popular sports. The town was unable to attract large crowds to its bear-baiting contests and lacked the money to pay for a new, more aggressive bear. The town used money it had saved to buy a new bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
and it replenished the fund with the income from the increased number of spectators. It became legend that Congleton sold its Bible to pay for a new bear. The chorus of 20th century folk song "Congleton Bear", by folk artist John Tams, runs:
- Congleton Rare, Congleton Rare
- They sold the Bible to buy a bear.
This legend earned Congleton the nickname 'Beartown'.
King Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
granted permission to build a mill. Congleton became an important centre of textile production, especially lace and leather gloves and lace. Congleton had an early Silk throwing
Silk throwing
Silk throwing is the industrial process where silk that has been reeled into skeins, is cleaned, receives a twist and is wound onto bobbins. The yarn is now twisted together with threads, in a process known as doubling. Colloquially silk throwing can be used to refer to the whole process: reeling,...
mill, the Old Mill built by John Clayton and Nathaniel Pattison in 1753.
The neighbouring village of Buglawton
Buglawton
Buglawton is a suburb of Congleton, in the south-east of Cheshire. It was a parish and an urban district from 1894 until 1936, when it was incorporated in Congleton borough....
was incorporated into Congleton borough in 1936. From 1974 to 2009, Congleton borough
Congleton (borough)
Congleton was, from 1974 to 2009, a local government district with borough status in Cheshire, England. It included the towns of Congleton, Alsager, Holmes Chapel, Middlewich and Sandbach...
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
Unitary authority
A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
of Cheshire East
Cheshire East
Cheshire East is a unitary authority area with borough status in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England.The borough was established in April 2009 as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England, by virtue of an order under the Local Government and Public Involvement in...
. The town has an elected Town Council which was established in 1980. The town is split into two wards with 20 councillors elected every 4 years.
Geography
Congleton's main landmark, a high outcrop of rocks known as The CloudThe Cloud (Peak District)
The Cloud is a distinctive hill which lies on the border between Cheshire and Staffordshire just a couple of miles to the west of the Peak District National Park boundary.At in height, it is one of the highest hills in the area...
, overlooks the Cheshire Plain
Cheshire Plain
The Cheshire Plain is a relatively flat expanse of lowland situated almost entirely within the county of Cheshire in northwest England. It is bounded by the hills of North Wales to the west, and the Peak District of Derbyshire and North Staffordshire to the east and southeast...
. 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 seven main areas. These are Buglawton, otherwise known as "Bug Town", the Bromley Farm estate, otherwise known as "Tin Town" due to the number of tin RSJs built there, Mossley which is sometimes classed as the posher part of town, Hightown, which is located before Mosley between town and the train station. West Heath
West Heath, Cheshire
West Heath is a suburb to the west of Congleton, in Cheshire, England. It is the site of Astbury Mere Country Park.The West Heath area has three schools, with one of Congleton's two secondary schools, Congleton High School being based there....
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.
Economy
The principal industries in Congleton include the manufacture of airbagAirbag
An Airbag is a vehicle safety device. It is an occupant restraint consisting of a flexible envelope designed to inflate rapidly during an automobile collision, to prevent occupants from striking interior objects such as the steering wheel or a window...
s and golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
-balls. There are light engineering factories near the town, and sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
extraction occurs on the Cheshire Plain, although much of the town is now a dormitory for Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
.
Congleton Market operates every Tuesday and Saturday from the Bridestones Centre. There are 11 indoor stalls and 84 outdoor stalls.
Culture and sport
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
Tudor house Little Moreton Hall
Little Moreton Hall
Little Moreton Hall is a moated 15th and 16th-century half-timbered manor house southwest of Congleton, Cheshire. It is one of the finest examples of timber-framed domestic architecture in England. The house is today owned by the National Trust. It has been designated by English Heritage as a...
, lies to the south of the town.
Congleton Museum
Congleton Museum
Congleton Museum is a local museum in Congleton, Cheshire, northwest England, covering the history of the town of Congleton, on the banks of the River Dane.Congleton Museum Trust was established in 1985 by a group of people interested in local history...
is on Market Square in the centre of town. It was established in 2002 and is dedicated to Congleton's industrial history, and contains an ancient log boat and gold and silver coin hoards. Congleton Tourist Information Centre is on the town's High Street.
The independently-run 300 seat Daneside Theatre is on Park Road in the town. The 400-seat Clonter Opera Theatre is based in the village of Swettenham Heath, 5 miles north of Congleton.
Congleton is home to a local football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team, Congleton Town F.C.
Congleton Town F.C.
Congleton Town F.C. is a football club based in Congleton, Cheshire, England. They currently play in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division and are full members of the Cheshire County Football Association...
, 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 CC and Mossley CC. There are two golf clubs in the town; the historic Congleton Golf Club which is an undulating 9 hole course with views over the Cloud End, and the 18 hole parkland course at Astbury.
Congleton Park is located along the banks of the River Dane just north east of the town centre. Town Wood on the northern edge of the park is a Grade A Site of Biological Interest and contains many nationally important plants. Congleton paddling pool was built in the 1930s and is open in the summer months.
Astbury Mere Country Park lies just to the south west of the town centre, on the site of a former sand quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
. The lake is used for fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
and despite its name, is actually in the West Heath
West Heath, Cheshire
West Heath is a suburb to the west of Congleton, in Cheshire, England. It is the site of Astbury Mere Country Park.The West Heath area has three schools, with one of Congleton's two secondary schools, Congleton High School being based there....
area of Congleton, with the boundary between Congleton and Newbold Astbury
Newbold Astbury
thumb|AstburyNewbold Astbury is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, in the north-west of England. It is situated to the south of Congleton on the A34 road to Scholar Green; the A34 forms one side of the triangular village green...
parishes lying further to the south.
Media
There are several weekly local newspapers: the paid-for Congleton ChronicleCongleton Chronicle
The Congleton Chronicle is a weekly newspaper published every Thursday in the town of Congleton, Cheshire, England.Founded in 1893 by Robert Head at 11 High Street, Congleton, the newspaper still remains at that address and is the only independently owned paid-for newspaper in Cheshire.Today it is...
and free-sheet the Advertiser, which is produced by the nearest daily newspaper, The Sentinel, based in Stoke-on-Trent, and which covers the town. Local radio is broadcast from nearby Macclesfield
Macclesfield
Macclesfield is a market town within the unitary authority of Cheshire East, the county palatine of Chester, also known as the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The population of the Macclesfield urban sub-area at the time of the 2001 census was 50,688...
-based Silk FM, Signal 1
Signal 1
Signal One is a British Independent Local Radio station broadcasting from studios in Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent to Staffordshire and Cheshire on 96.4 , 96.9 and 102.6 MHz FM for Cheshire, Stafford and North Staffordshire respectively. It also broadcasts on the Stoke "UTV-EMAP Stoke-on-Trent"...
and Signal 2
Signal 2
Signal 2 is a British Independent Local Radio station broadcasting from studios in Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent to Staffordshire and Cheshire. The station is owned by UTV Radio and runs a "gold format" playlist. It is the sister station of Signal 1....
from Stoke-on-Trent and BBC Radio Stoke
BBC Radio Stoke
BBC Radio Stoke is a BBC Local Radio station in England, for the area of North and Mid Staffordshire, north east Shropshire and South Cheshire. The station began broadcasting programmes on 14 March 1968 as BBC Radio Stoke-on-Trent....
, as well as Moorlands Radio
Moorlands Radio
Moorlands Radio is a community radio station based in Leek in the Staffordshire Moorlands, England. It was granted the full time licence in the second round of community radio licensing by broadcast regulator Ofcom in February 2008...
in Leek and Canalside Community Radio in Macclesfield, both community radio stations.
Transport and infrastructure
Congleton is seven miles east of the M6M6 motorway
The M6 motorway runs from junction 19 of the M1 at the Catthorpe Interchange, near Rugby via Birmingham then heads north, passing Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Preston, Carlisle and terminating at the Gretna junction . Here, just short of the Scottish border it becomes the A74 which continues to...
motorway, connected by the A534. It is on the A34
A34 road
The A34 is a major road in England. It runs from the A6042 in Salford to Winchester in Hampshire. It forms a large part of the major trunk route from Southampton, via Oxford, to Birmingham, The Potteries and Manchester...
trunk road between Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester, and the A54 to Buxton
Buxton
Buxton is a spa town in Derbyshire, England. It has the highest elevation of any market town in England. Located close to the county boundary with Cheshire to the west and Staffordshire to the south, Buxton is described as "the gateway to the Peak District National Park"...
and the Peak District
Peak District
The Peak District is an upland area in central and northern England, lying mainly in northern Derbyshire, but also covering parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, and South and West Yorkshire....
. The A536
A536 road
-Route:Starting at the junction with the A34 in Lower Heath, Congleton, the road travels through the villages of Eaton and Gawsworth before entering Macclesfield...
links the town with Macclesfield, with the A527 linking the town to Biddulph
Biddulph
Biddulph is a town in Staffordshire, England, north of Stoke-on-Trent and south east of Congleton, Cheshire.-Origin of the name:Biddulph's name may come from Anglo-Saxon bī dylfe = "beside the pit or quarry"...
and providing an alternative route to Stoke-on-Trent.
Congleton railway station
Congleton railway station
Congleton railway station is a main line station serving the Cheshire town of Congleton. It lies on the Manchester to Stoke-on-Trent branch of the West Coast Main Line, in the United Kingdom....
opened on 9 October 1848. It lies on the Manchester to Stoke-on-Trent branch of the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
. It was revealed in The Sentinel newspaper on 7 September 2011 that the ticket office could be closed as part of Government budget cuts.
The Macclesfield Canal
Macclesfield Canal
The Macclesfield Canal is a canal in east Cheshire, England, one of the six that make up the Cheshire Ring.-Route:The canal runs from Marple Junction at Marple, where it joins the Upper Peak Forest Canal, , southwards , before arriving at Bosley.Having descended the 12 Bosley Locks over the course...
passes through the town. It was completed in 1831. It runs 26 miles (42 km) from Marple Junction at Marple
Marple, Greater Manchester
Marple is a small town within the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Goyt southeast of Stockport.Historically part of Cheshire, Marple has a population of 23,480 .-Toponymy:...
, where it joins the Upper Peak Forest Canal, southwards (through Bollington
Bollington
Bollington is a small rural town and civil parish in the county of Cheshire, , England, in the unitary authority of Cheshire East. It is located east of Prestbury. In the Middle Ages it was part of the Earl of Chester's manor of Macclesfield., and the ancient parish of Prestbury...
and Macclesfield), before arriving at Bosley
Bosley
Bosley is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 406. The village is on the A523 road about six miles south of Macclesfield...
. The canal is renowned for its elegant roving bridge
Roving bridge
A roving bridge, changeline bridge or turnover bridge is a bridge over a canal constructed to allow a horse towing a boat to cross the canal when the towpath changes sides...
s, locally known as Snake Bridges.
The nearest airport to the town is Manchester Airport, 20 miles away.
Infrastructure
Policing in Congleton is provided by Cheshire ConstabularyCheshire Constabulary
Cheshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing the English unitary authorities of Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton and Warrington. The force is responsible for policing an area of with a population of roughly 1 million.The Chief Constable of the...
. The main police station is on Market Square.
Statutory emergency fire and rescue service
Fire service in the United Kingdom
The fire services in the United Kingdom operate under separate legislative and administrative arrangements in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales...
is provided by the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is the statuory fire and rescue service for the English county of Cheshire, consisting of the unitary authorities of Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton and Warrington. It has 24 fire stations...
. Congleton Fire Station is on West Road, near the centre of town.
Congleton has a small hospital Congleton War Memorial Hospital which was built by public subscription in 1924. The town is also served by Leighton Hospital
Leighton Hospital
Leighton Hospital is a hospital located in the town of Crewe in the county of Cheshire, England. Together with Victoria Infirmary, Northwich, it forms part of the Mid Cheshire Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust.-Level of care:...
in Crewe
Crewe
Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...
, Macclesfield District General Hospital and the University Hospital of North Staffordshire
University Hospital of North Staffordshire
The University Hospital of North Staffordshire is a major teaching & research hospital in Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, England, near the border with Newcastle-under-Lyme...
in Stoke-on-Trent.
Utility firm United Utilities
United Utilities
United Utilities Group PLC is the UK's largest listed water business. The Group owns and manages the regulated water and waste water network in the north west England, through it subsidiary United Utilities Water PLC , which is responsible for the vast majority of the group's assets and...
manages Congleton's drinking
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
and waste water.
Notable people
- Emma BossonsEmma BossonsEmma Bossons is a ceramic artist and designer for Moorcroft Pottery.Bossons’ childhood years were spent living on a dairy farm where she developed a keen interest in watercolour painting...
, ceramic artist - Ian BrightwellIan BrightwellIan Robert Brightwell is an English former footballer, he played for six clubs, most notably spending twelve years with Manchester City...
, former Manchester CityManchester City F.C.Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
footballer and England U-21 internationalEngland national under-21 football teamEngland's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team.... - George Harold EardleyGeorge Harold EardleyGeorge Harold Eardley VC, MM was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
VCVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
MMMilitary MedalThe Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
, received the Victoria Cross in 1944 - Mark EdwardsonMark EdwardsonMark Edwardson is a TV news presenter for BBC North West Tonight, mainly presenting weekend bulletins. He is also a seasoned radio presenter having hosted the breakfast shows at BBC Radio Stoke and BBC GMR. He has since appeared in BBC One show DIY SOS and an episode of CBBC's Prank Patrol...
, TV presenter, BBC North West - Alan GarnerAlan GarnerWith his first book published, Garner abandoned his work as a labourer and gained a job as a freelance television reporter, living a "hand to mouth" lifestyle on a "shoestring" budget...
, writer - Dawn GibbinsDawn GibbinsDawn Gibbins MBE is a British entrepreneur who started commercial and industrial flooring company Flowcrete in 1982 in south Cheshire, England, with her late father, Peter Gibbins. She oversaw its international and domestic growth, covering 30 offices worldwide and 12 manufacturing sites in the UK,...
, entrepreneur - Brian Jensen, BurnleyBurnley F.C.Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
footballer - Laura NewtonLaura NewtonLaura Kelly Newton is an international cricketer . She appeared in 13 Test matches, 73 one day internationals and 3 Twenty/20 games for the England women's team...
, cricketer - Ann PackerAnn PackerAnn Elizabeth Packer MBE is a former British sprinter, hurdler and long jumper. She won a gold medal in the 800 metres at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo....
and Robbie BrightwellRobbie BrightwellRobert Ian Brightwell MBE is a former track and field athlete.He moved to England with his family in 1946 and grew up in Donnington, Shropshire...
, husband-and-wife Olympic gold medalists - Daniel SturridgeDaniel SturridgeDaniel Andre Sturridge is an English footballer who plays for Chelsea and the England national team. He is primarily a forward, but has been used on the right flank as a winger for Chelsea...
, ChelseaChelsea F.C.Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
footballer and England U-21 internationalEngland national under-21 football teamEngland's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team.... - John WhitehurstJohn WhitehurstJohn Whitehurst FRS , of Cheshire, England, was a clockmaker and scientist, and made significant early contributions to geology. He was an influential member of the Lunar Society.- Life and work :...
, clockmaker and scientist - Ann WintertonAnn WintertonJane Ann, Lady Winterton is a British Conservative Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Congleton from 1983 to 2010...
, politician
Primary schools
- Astbury St Mary's C of E School
- Black Firs Primary School
- Buglawton Primary School
- Daven Primary School
- Havannah Primary School
- Marlfields Primary School
- Mossley C of E Primary School
- Smallwood CE Primary School
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School
- The Quinta Primary School
External links
- Congleton Town Council website
- Welcome to Congleton — dedicated tourism website for the Congleton area.
- Congleton website — Congleton's history and Congleton of the present day
- Congleton Tug of War Club — National & World Tug of War Champions
- Congleton Museum — local history museum and education resource
- Pubs in Congleton — listings and pictures of all pubs in Congleton
- Congleton water tower TV transmitter station at www.the-moores.co.uk
- Congleton Town FC — the latest news, updated regularly, on Congleton Town FC.
- http://www.discovercheshire.co.uk/country-parks.aspx?refnum=CPK008®ion=1&mapCategory=PRK&mapBackLayers=PRK1P&mapBackE=363000&mapBackN=363000&mapBackMpp=160&mapBackSearchTxt=Discovercheshire website (Astbury Mere Country Park page) - interactive maps featuring full details of walking, cycling, riding and canoeing routes across Cheshire, as well as information on country parks - with downloadable directions]
- Accessible Walk around Astbury Mere Country Park (Discovercheshire site)
- Little Moreton Hall Circular Walk (Discovercheshire site)
- Congleton Fly Tying Club
See also
- Edward William GodwinEdward William GodwinEdward William Godwin was a progressive English architect-designer, who began his career working in the strongly polychromatic "Ruskinian Gothic" style of mid-Victorian Britain, inspired by The Stones of Venice, then moved on to provide designs in the "Anglo-Japanese taste" of the Aesthetic...
, architect of Congleton Town Hall - St Peter's Church, CongletonSt Peter's Church, CongletonSt Peter's Church, Congleton is in the town of Congleton, Cheshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield and the deanery of Congleton...