Congleton

The town's name is of unknown origin. The first recorded reference to it was in 1282, when it was spelt Congelton. The element Congle might relate to the old Norse kang meaning a bend, followed by the Old English element tun meaning settlement.[2]

The first settlements in the Congleton area were Neolithic. Stone Age and Bronze Age artefacts have been found in the town.[3] Congleton was once thought to have been a Roman settlement, although there is no archaeological or documentary evidence to support this. Congleton became a market town after Vikings destroyed nearby Davenport.

Godwin, Earl of Wessex held the town in the Saxon period. The town is mentioned in the Domesday Book,[4] where it is listed as Cogeltone: Bigot de Loges. William the Conqueror granted the whole of Cheshire to his nephew the Earl of Chester who constructed several fortifications including the town's castle in 1208. In the 13th century, Congleton belonged to the de Lacy family.[3] 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.[3]

In 1451, the River Dane flooded, destroying a number of buildings, the town's mill and wooden bridge.[3] The river was diverted, and the town was rebuilt on higher ground.

Congleton became notorious in the 1620s when bear-baiting and cockfighting were popular sports.[3] 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. Legend tells that Congleton spent the money they were going to spend on a bible on a bear. This legend earned Congleton the nickname 'Beartown'. The chorus of 20th-century folk song "Congleton Bear",[5] by folk artist John Tams,[6] runs:

Congleton Rare, Congleton Rare

Sold the Bible to buy a bear.

During the Civil War, former mayor and lawyer, John Bradshaw, became president of the court which sent Charles I to his execution in 1649. His signature as Attorney General was the first on the king's death warrant.[3] A plaque on Bradshaw House in Lawton Street commemorates him. Almost opposite the town hall, the White Lion public house bears a blue plaque, placed by the Congleton Civic Society, which reads: "The White Lion, built 16–17th century. Said to have housed the attorney's office where John Bradshaw, regicide, served his articles."[7]

The Old Mill and the town corn mill photographed in 1902; the mill became unstable and Roldane Mill was built on the site in 1923. The mill was demolished in 2003, and sheltered housing is being built here.

King Edward I granted permission to build a mill. Congleton became an important centre of textile production, especially leather gloves and lace.[3] Congleton had an early silk throwing mill, the Old Mill built by John Clayton and Nathaniel Pattison in 1753.[8] More mills followed, and cotton was also spun. The town's prosperity depended on tariffs imposed on imported silk. When tariffs were removed in the 1860s, the empty mills were converted to fustian cutting. A limited silk ribbon weaving industry survived into the 20th century, and woven labels were still produced in the 1990s. Many mills survive as industrial or residential units.[9]

Congleton Town Hall was designed in the Gothic style by Edward William Godwin. It was completed in 1866.[10]

The Congleton parliamentary constituency is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It includes the towns of Congleton, Alsager, Holmes Chapel, Middlewich and Sandbach. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post system of election. The current MP is Fiona Bruce of the Conservative Party — the constituency has always been a safe Conservative seat. The previous incumbent was Anne Winterton, who sat in parliament alongside her husband Nicholas Winterton, the MP for neighbouring Macclesfield. After they were judged to have broken MPs' expense rules in 2008 by claiming for rent on a second home owned by a family trust, both stood down at the 2010 general election; their joint statement cited the hectic life of politics as part of their reason for standing down.[11]

Congleton forms the central portion of the Cheshire East unitary authority, located in the south-east of Cheshire. Before the abolition of Cheshire County Council on 1 April 2009, Congleton had borough status (originally conferred in 1272). The neighbouring village of Buglawton was incorporated into Congleton borough in 1936. From 1974 to 2009, Congleton borough covered much of south-east Cheshire.

For representation on Cheshire East Council, Congleton divided into two wards returning three members, Congleton East and Congleton West. Three of the six seats are currently represented by Conservative Party Councillors, with one Liberal Democrat and two Independents.[12]

The town has an elected Town Council[13] which was established in 1980. The town is split into two wards with 20 councillors elected every 4 years.

Brookside Mill, a textile mill that is being converted to residential units, on a brook leading to the River Dane in the centre of Congleton. Behind are trees on the steep northern bank

Mossley is sometimes classed as the wealthier part of town. Hightown is located before Mossley between town and the railway station. West Heath is a relatively new estate built in the early 1960s to the early 1980s. Lower Heath lies to the north of the town. There is also the town centre.[14]

In terms of physical geography, Congleton is located in the valley of the River Dane. To the south of the town lies an expanse of green space known locally as Priesty Fields which forms a green corridor right into the heart of the town – a rare feature in English towns. In terms of folklore, legend says that Priesty Fields gained its name as there was no priest performing services within the town. The nearest priest was based at the nearby village Astbury. It is told that the priest would walk along an ancient medieval pathway which ran between the fields at the Parish Church in Astbury and St Peter's Church in Congleton.[15]

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.

One of the most prominent industries during the nineteenth century onwards was Berisfords Ribbons, established in 1858.[16] It was founded by Charles Berisford and his brothers Francis and William. The brothers leased part of Victoria Mill, on Foundry Bank, owning the entire factory by 1872. By 1898, the company had offices in London, Manchester, Leeds and Bristol.

Congleton Market operates every Tuesday and Saturday from the Bridestones Centre.

Until about 2000, "Super Crystalate" balls, made of crystalate, were manufactured by "The Composition Billiard Ball Company" in Congleton. The company was then sold by its owner to Saluc S.A., the Belgian manufacturer of Aramith Balls. The name Super Crystalate was retained, but the manufacturing process was integrated into the standard process used for Aramith balls.[17][18]

Little Moreton Hall 4 miles (6.4 km) southwest of Congleton

The National Trust Tudor house Little Moreton Hall is 4 miles (6.4 km) southwest of the town.[19]

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.[20] 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.[21][22] 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.

The independently run 300-seat Daneside Theatre is on Park Road. The 400-seat Clonter Opera Theatre is based in the village of Swettenham Heath, 5 mi (8 km) north of Congleton. Founded in 1971, Congleton Choral Society is a mixed voice choir which regularly performs choral works at Congleton Town Hall and other venues around 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. It also contains an ancient log boat and gold and silver coin hoards.[23] Congleton Tourist Information Centre is on the town's High Street.

Congleton Park from the Jubilee Pavilion

The town also annually hosts a food and drink festival[24] promoting locally sourced produce/cuisine and a jazz and blues festival which showcases acts from across the UK. In 2019, Congleton held its first annual pride event.[25]

Congleton railway station in 1986.

Congleton is 7 miles (11 km) east of the M6 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 was opened by the North Staffordshire Railway on 9 October 1848. The line is now part of the Manchester to Stoke-on-Trent branch of the West Coast Main Line.[29] The Biddulph Valley line used to terminate in the town. The railway, which terminated at Brusnwick Wharf on the River Dane, carried freight traffic between Congleton and Stoke-on-Trent. The entire line was closed in 1962.[30]

The Macclesfield Canal, completed in 1831, passes through the town. 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. Having descended the 12 Bosley Locks over the course of about a mile (1.6 km), the canal continues through Congleton to a junction with the Hall Green Branch of the Trent & Mersey Canal at Hall Green. The canal is renowned for its elegant roving bridges, locally known as 'Snaily Bridges'. Congleton is one of few places in Britain where a road, canal and railway all cross each other at the same place. The nearest airport to the town is Manchester Airport, 20 miles (32 km) away.

Policing in Congleton is provided by Cheshire Constabulary. 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.

St Peter's Church, Congleton, from the southeast

The four Anglican churches in Congleton (They form a partnership in the Congleton Team Parish.[31]) are;

• St John's
• St Stephen's
• St Peter's
• Trinity

Congleton Town Council lists eleven other places of worship in the town:[32]

• Congleton Community Baptist Church[33]
• Brookhouse Green [Methodist] Church[34]
• New Life Church[35]
• Congleton Pentecostal Church[36]
• Rood Lane Methodist Church
• Spiritualist Church[37]
• St James' Anglican Church
• St Mary's Roman Catholic Church[38]
• Trinity Methodist Church
• Congleton United Reformed Church[39]
• Wellspring Methodist Church
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)

Historically Congleton has seen a wide range of Christian church denominations.

• The Friends' Meeting House closed in 1741.[40]
• The Wesleyan Methodist Trinity Chapel, in Wagg Street, was founded in 1766 and was rebuilt in 1808 and again in 1967; the Primitive Methodist Chapel was built in 1821 on Lawton Street, and rebuilt in 1890 on Kinsey Street; the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion Methodist chapel was founded in 1822; the Congleton Edge Wesleyan Methodist Chapel was built in 1833 and rebuilt in 1889; the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Brook Street was built in 1834; the New Connexion Methodist Chapel in Queen Street was built in 1836 and closed in 1969; the Primitive Methodist Chapel in Biddulph Road was built in 1840; the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Rood Lane was founded in 1861 and rebuilt in 1886.[40]
• The Unitarian Chapel in Cross Street was founded in 1687 near the Dane Bridge and in 1733 moved to Cross Street, with the present building constructed in 1883 and closed in 1978.
• The United Reformed Church (Independent/ Congregationalist) was built in 1790 on Mill Street, and then rebuilt in 1876 on Antrobus Street.[40]

• Congleton
• 
  Bluebells at Dane-in-Shaw Brook SSI.
• 
  Astbury Mere

• Listed buildings in Congleton

Friends of Congleton Park

• Head, Robert (1887). Congleton Past and Present. Robert Head.

Media related to Congleton at Wikimedia Commons

• Congleton Town Council website
• "Congleton" . Encyclopædia Britannica. 6 (11th ed.). 1911.
• Welcome to Congleton — dedicated tourism website for the Congleton area.
• Congleton website — Congleton's history and Congleton of the present day
• Congleton Museum — local history museum and education resource