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]
History
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.
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 known in the 1620s when
bear-baiting and
cockfighting were popular sports.[3][5] 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. A legend tells that Congleton spent the money they were going to spend on a bible on a bear, this legend is only partly true as only part of the fund to buy a new bible was used to buy a new bear.[5] The legend earned Congleton the nickname Beartown. The chorus of 20th-century folk song "Congleton Bear",[6] by folk artist
John Tams,[7] 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."[8]
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.[9] 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.[10]
The current hospital in Congleton was opened by the
Duke of York on 22 May 1924.[12]
Congleton elected its first Lady Mayor in November 1945.[13]
During the celebration marking 700 years of Congleton's Charter in 1972
Queen Elizabeth II and
Prince Philip visited Congleton in May, this was the first visit by a reigning monarch since the visit of
King George V and
Queen Mary in 1913.[14]
Congleton forms the central portion of the
Cheshire Eastunitary 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 urban district 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.[22]
The town has an elected
Town Council[23] which was established in 1980. The town is split into two wards with 20 councillors elected every 4 years.
Geography
Mossley is sometimes classed as the wealthier part of town. Hightown is located in Mossley.
West Heath is an 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.[24]
Congleton is in the valley of the
River Dane. 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. Folklore 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 of
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.[25]
One of the most prominent industries during the nineteenth century onwards was Berisfords Ribbons, established in 1858.[27] 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.[28][29]
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.[citation needed] 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.[31][32] 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.[33] 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.[34] Congleton Tourist Information Centre is on the town's High Street.
The town annually hosts a food and drink festival,[35] which promotes locally sourced produce/cuisine, with a jazz and blues festival which showcases acts from across the UK. In 2019, Congleton held its first annual pride event.[36]
Congleton hosts two annual musical festivals, Congleton Jazz and Blues and Congleton Unplugged.[37]
The town once hosted the
Congleton Carnival a one day carnival which was hosted once every two years.[38] In the past the carnival was regarded as one of the best local carnivals in England, and used to last for up to three days and feature floats and live music among another attractions.[39]
For six months in summer 2011 Congleton hosted an event called "Bearmania",[40] in which over sixty 5-foot fibreglass sculptures where placed around the town.[41] Over 26,000 people came to see the bears during "Bearmania".[40]
Local news and television programmes are provided by
BBC North West and
ITV Granada. Television signals are received from the
Winter Hill and the local relay transmitters.[42][43]
Congleton did have its own community radio station Beartown FM,[44] but this has now closed. There is an internet-only radio station, Congleton Radio, which started broadcasting on 25 June 2022.[45][better source needed]
Sport
Rugby union
Congleton is home to the third oldest rugby union club in the country, dating back to 1860. Currently fielding a mini and junior section and three adult sides,[46] the club held the world record for the longest continuous game of rugby ever played, at 24 hours, 30 minutes and 6 seconds. The club has also pioneered the development of 'walking rugby' for more senior players and has re-established a ladies' team, having previously had two of its women players represent England.[citation needed]
Congleton Tennis Club, one of the oldest in the country (founded in 1890), have occupied the same grounds throughout their history. The club has nine courts: six all-weather courts and three with artificial grass. Four of the courts are floodlit.[47]
Other sports
There are 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 nine-hole course with views over the Cloud End, and the 18-hole parkland course at Astbury. There is also a running club, Congleton Harriers, which meets weekly at Congleton Leisure Centre.[48] The club organises the Congleton Half Marathon[49] and in 2012 re-introduced the Congleton Quarter Marathon.[citation needed]
The
Biddulph Valley line used to terminate in the town. The railway ran from Stoke-on-Trent to
Brunswick Wharf, in the suburb of
Buglawton. Passenger services ended in 1927,[51] with freight services continuing until 1968 when the line was closed.[51]
Buses
Congleton is served by eight bus routes, operated by
D&G Bus and Hollinshead Coaches; there are no services on Sundays. Destinations include
Alsager, Macclesfield, Crewe and
Newcastle.[52]
Roads
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.
Waterways
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.[citation needed] Congleton is one of few places in Britain where a road, canal and railway all cross each other at the same place.[citation needed]
Air
The nearest airport to the town is
Manchester Airport, 20 miles (32 km) away.
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.[62]
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.[62]
Saint
Margaret Ward (died 1588), the "pearl of Tyburn", English Catholic martyr[71] executed during the reign of Elizabeth I for assisting a priest to escape from prison