Congleton guidebook

"Congleton rare, Congleton rare, sold the town bible to buy a new bear."

This little rhyme dates back to Elizabethan times when bear baiting was a fashionable sport.

The town's bear had died just before the annual wakes festival, and money set aside for a town bible was used to buy a new creature so the celebration could continue.

Bear baiting may be a thing of the past, but the bear still makes an appearance on the town crest, and Congleton is often referred to as Beartown, with the local football team known as The Bears.

Located at the foothills of the Pennines, Congleton is on the edge of fabulous countryside but has a strong industrial heritage.

In the 18th century it was one of the UK's major centres of textile production.

Fustian cutting, cotton spinning, silk ribbon making and velvet production were all practised here, and you can find out more by visiting Congleton Museum.
 
Many of the architecturally interesting textile industry buildings are still around today, and some have been the subject of development over the past few years.

Congleton's 21st century industry is based around light manufacturing on industrial parks, including some big names such as Siemens, and its town centre is given over to retail heaven.

The central shopping area is pedestrianised, and still follows a medieval street plan.

Bridge Street and High Street are the main shopping parts, and here you'll discover a wide selection of national brands and quality independents. Many of the shops cater for the upper end of the market - you can buy bespoke furniture, unique pieces of art or exclusive jewellery.

People travel to Congleton from across the region to enjoy a day out, and the Macclesfield Canal which passes through the east side of the town helps to bring in tourists.

Congleton has an air of affluence, and a survey by Barclays Private Clients, in May 2003, named it as one of the 'real wealthiest places' to live in England, based on the average salary and local cost of living.

Parts of the town have become a dormitory for Manchester, with people commuting to the city but returning home to spend their salary at weekends.

This influx of homebuyers from outside the area has helped to push up house prices, but has also created a situation where many locals find it difficult to climb onto the property ladder.

The local authority is concerned about a growing 'affordability gap' and recent figures from the National Housing Federation suggest up to 4,000 Congleton people are on waiting lists for affordable homes.

However the relative wealth has made it difficult for Congleton to attract regeneration funding to address this issue.

Property in Congleton

  pic: Congleton town centre
The last census revealed that 39 per cent of all properties in Congleton are detached, more than 35 per cent are semis, 18.5 per cent are terraced and 7.1 per cent are flats.

More than 76 per cent of properties are owner-occupied and around 13 per cent are socially rented.

Here is a brief run through the property market in Congleton:

Town centre: Congleton has a wide selection of properties of all types, from terraces to fine examples of Georgian and Victorian architecture.

There have been a number of new developments here in recent years, from executive-style homes to much needed affordable housing.

Some of the attractive old industrial buildings have been converted into apartments, which have been bought by Manchester commuters and investors keen to rent to young professionals.

Proposed future developments include the old Bathvale Works site, which could provide 70 new homes, and the Sutherland Works site in Bromley Road, which could see another 60 properties.

It is believed first-time buyers make up about 20 per cent of all home sales in the town centre, but locals can find it difficult to climb onto the property ladder because prices are inflated by people buying from outside the area.

Mossley: One of the most desirable parts of town, so expect to pay more for a property here.

Buglawton: Proposals are being considered for a new road linking Buglawton with Dane Valley and Eaton Bank, which could lead to an increase in demand for properties in this area.

West Heath: This relatively new part of town is made up of homes built in the 1970s and 80s. It's particularly popular with families. 

Living Here

Transport:

Trains: Congleton Railway Station is on the Manchester to Stoke-on-Trent line.

Buses: Frequent bus links operate to all neighbouring towns.

Road: Congleton is just six miles east of the M6.

Air: Manchester Airport is approximately half an hour away by car.

Shopping:

  pic: Congleton town centre
Congleton is a great place to shop. The main shopping streets, Bridge Street and High Street, have a mix of quality independents and national chains.

There is an 11-stall indoor market and 84-stall outdoor market at the Bridestones Centre on Tuesdays and Saturdays. A farmers' market runs on the first and third Tuesday of the month.

Eating and drinking:

Congleton has lots of restaurants, cafes, wine bars and pubs including some exclusive eateries which have been named as among the best in Cheshire.

Particularly worth checking out is the award-winning French restaurant L'Endroit which is in Lawton Street.

Sports:

Congleton Leisure Centre, Worrall Street, has a swimming pool, fitness suite, sports hall and squash courts.

Astbury Golf Club is in Peel Lane, Astbury, and Congleton Golf Club is in Biddulph Road.

Congleton RUFC is based in Park Street.

Congleton Town FC, The Bears, play at Booth Street in Crescent Road.

Leisure and entertainment:

Clonter Opera Theatre, Swettenham Heath, is nationally renowned.

Daneside Theatre, Park Road, is an independent community theatre.

Congleton Museum in Market Square gives an insight into the town's industrial past.

Parks and open spaces:

  pic: park in Congleton
Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve in Davenport Lane has more than 50 acres of woodland surrounding a 15 acre lake.

The recently refurbished Congleton Park, in Park View, can be accessed from the River Dane which winds through the town.

Quinta Arboretum in Swettenham Village has more than 5,000 trees and many rare and significant species.