Congleton

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Map sources for Congleton at grid reference SJ854628

Congleton is a town in the county of Cheshire in the north west of 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 town 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 did the rounds of which the chorus ran:

The cheeses of Cheshire are famed, but beware

Of stories they tell of Congleton Rare

Congleton Rare, Congleton Rare

They sold the Church Bible to buy a new 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, overlooks the Cheshire plain. The Cloud is also the setting for the climax of the supernatural novel, A Haunted Man, by Stuart Neild, where the novels 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 and Signal Radio from Stoke-on-Trent.

Housing is varied, from large detached properties along Park Lane to more modest 1970s developments around the edges of the town.

[edit] External links

• The Towns Home Site - Congletons history and Congleton of the present day
• Congleton Borough Council
• Beartown - Huge resource for information about Congleton
• Pubs in Congleton - Listings and pictures of all pubs in Congleton

Ceremonial county of Cheshire
Unitary authorities:	Halton • Warrington
Boroughs/Districts:	City of Chester • Congleton • Crewe and Nantwich • Ellesmere Port and Neston • Macclesfield • Vale Royal
Cities/Towns:	Alderley Edge • Alsager • Bollington • Chester • Congleton • Crewe • Ellesmere Port • Frodsham • Knutsford • Lymm • Macclesfield • Middlewich • Nantwich • Neston • Northwich • Poynton • Runcorn • Sandbach • Warrington • Widnes • Wilmslow • Winsford See also: List of civil parishes in Cheshire