Congleton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Congleton | |
|
Congleton shown within Cheshire | |
| Population | 22,763 (2001) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Parish | Congleton |
| District | Congleton |
| Shire county | Cheshire |
| Region | North West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CONGLETON |
| Postcode district | CW12 |
| Dialling code | 01260 |
| Police | Cheshire |
| Fire | Cheshire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| UK Parliament | Congleton |
| European Parliament | North West England |
| List of places: UK • England • Cheshire | |
Congleton is a town and civil parish in Cheshire, England, on the banks of the River Dane, and to the west of the Macclesfield Canal. It has a population (2001 Census) of 22,763.
It is thought to have been a Roman settlement, and 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. Since 1974 Congleton borough has covered much of south-east Cheshire.
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"[1] (by John Tams[2]) did the rounds of which the chorus ran:
- Congleton Rare, Congleton Rare
- They sold the Bible to buy a bear.
From the time of this legend, Congleton has been nicknamed 'Beartown'.
Congleton's main landmark, a high outcrop of rocks known as The Cloud[3], overlooks the Cheshire plain. The Cloud Project in Congleton is a daily photographic record of The Cloud over a period of 1 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 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. There are several weekly local newspapers: the paid-for Chronicle and free-sheets the Congleton Advertiser and Congleton Guardian. Local radio comes from nearby Macclesfield-based Silk FM, Signal Radio from Stoke-on-Trent and BBC Radio Stoke.
The town of Congleton is broken up by the Congleton townspeople into 5 main areas. These are Buglawton, otherwise known as "Bug Town"[citation needed], the Bromley Farm estate (otherwise known as "Tin Town" due to the amount of Anderson shelters 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, and finally the town centre.[citation needed]
Congleton is home to a local football team, Congleton Town FC, known as the Bears, who play in the minor leagues. Their ground is at Booth Street. There are also two cricket clubs, Congleton and Mossley.[4]
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]
Contents |
[edit] Notable residents
- John Whitehurst Clockmaker and scientist
- Alan Garner Writer
- Emma Bossons Ceramic artist
- Laura Newton Cricketer
- David Boothroyd political researcher, author and Westminster City Councillor
- Ann Winterton Politician
- Mark Edwardson TV Presenter, BBC North West
[edit] Notes
- ^ http://homepage.ntlworld.com/paul.thorp/lyrcongl.htm Congleton Bear Lyrics.] Retrieval Date: 9 August, 2007.
- ^ John Tams information. Retrieval Date: 9 August 2007.
- ^ The Cloud: Congleton and Cheshire Landmarks - The Cloud Project and Photographic Portfolio. Retrieval Date: 9 August, 2007.
- ^ Mossley Cricket Club. Retrieval Date: 9 August, 2007.
- ^ Newspaper article. Retrieval Date: 9 August, 2007.
[edit] External links
- The Towns Home Site - 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
- Welcome to Congleton - Dedicated tourism website for the Congleton area.
- Congleton water tower TV transmitter station at www.the-moores.co.uk
[edit] See also
The Borough of Congleton, Cheshire | |
|---|---|
| Principal Settlements | Alsager • Congleton • Holmes Chapel • Middlewich • Sandbach |
| Civil Parishes | Alsager • Arclid • Betchton • Bradwall • Brereton • Church Lawton • Congleton • Cranage • Goostrey • Hassall • Holmes Chapel • Hulme Walfield • Middlewich • Moreton cum Alcumlow • Moston • Newbold Astbury • Odd Rode • Sandbach • Smallwood • Somerford • Somerford Booths • Swettenham • Twemlow |
Ceremonial county of Cheshire | |
|---|---|
| Cheshire Portal | |
| Unitary authorities | Halton • Warrington |
| Boroughs or districts | Chester • Congleton • Crewe and Nantwich • Ellesmere Port and Neston • Macclesfield • Vale Royal |
| Cities and towns | Alsager • Bollington • Birchwood • Chester • Congleton • Crewe • Ellesmere Port • Frodsham • Knutsford • Macclesfield • Middlewich • Nantwich • Neston • Northwich • Runcorn • Sandbach • Warrington • Widnes • Wilmslow • Winsford See also: List of civil parishes in Cheshire |
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