The Locality of
Congleton Methodist Circuit

Congleton, The Borough

The borough of Congleton is situated in the pleasant countryside of south east Cheshire, 28 miles south of Manchester. The borough covers an area of 80 square miles (207 sq. km.) and consists of four main towns, Congleton, Sandbach, Middlewich and Alsager.

South Cheshire, and indeed much of Cheshire, is rich agricultural land, with dairy farms the chief activity. Congleton itself is an old market town, still with a town centre market. It was granted its charter for a market in 1272.

Only a mile or so from Congleton, over the border into Staffordshire, the landscape changes, as a result of a geological fault, with Biddulph and much of the Stoke area being heavily industrialised because of coal measures. (Congleton's rich farm land is due to a thick covering of glacial material, left after the last ice age).

Attractions in the area include Little Moreton Hall, said to be the finest Tudor building in the country, and Jodrell Bank, the world's largest movable radio telescope.  Congleton's fine half timbered coaching inn, the Lion and Swan, has seen many events over the years – not least, the arrival of the army of Bonnie Prince Charlie, 250 years ago.

(c) The Congleton Chronicle

See also the following external web sites 

• 'About the Borough' and 'Places to Visit', published by Congleton Borough Council, and

• The 'Congleton District Profile' published by Cheshire County Council.  ***see on***
   
    Note that: the information from Cheshire County Council is in PDF format.  You will need Adobe Acrobat reader.

Congleton, the Town

Congleton is an ancient market town known as 'Bear Town' because bear baiting used to be a popular sport there in Elizabethan times.  It's said that when the town's bear died just before their Annual Wakes celebrations the town used the money set aside to buy a bible, to purchase a new bear, so as not to spoil their celebrations! 

There are signs of settlement in the area dating back to Stone Age times. The Bridestones in the churchyard is a tomb, thought to have been built in Neolithic times.  Three miles east of the town is a hill owned by the National Trust called The Cloud, which provides great views from 1,000 feet up. 

Little Moreton Hall

Other Places in the Circuit

Lower Withington lies in an area of farming and quarrying.  The name means the village ('tun') in the willows ('withig').  The Methodist chapel was built in 1808.  On Rogation Sunday, the minister, the local vicar and their congregations, walk the local fields to bless the livestock and crops.  The brass band supports carol singers as they sing their way round the houses and farms at Christmas time.

Bosley lies in the valley of the River Dane, below the landmark hill top of The Cloud.  Scenic Bosley Reservoir nearby feeds the Macclesfield Canal.  There is a wood flour treatment works in the village.  The Methodist church was built in 1885, replacing a Wesleyan chapel dating from 1832.

The Cloud from canal

Davenport lies just north of Congleton.  The chapel was founded  in 1834.  The Venables family from Lightwood Farm were the driving force behind it.

Key Green Chapel lies on the northern slopes of The Cloud.  Methodism came in 1808, when a cottage was opened for preaching purposes.   

For the story of Congleton's development from early times, see external web site for a description of its entry in the Domesday Book and the many charters awarded to the town and its people.