Congleton
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2008-05-31T16:47:21Z
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Reverted 1 edit by [[Special:Contributions/143.167.227.152|143.167.227.152]] identified as [[WP:VAND|vandalism]] to last revision by [[User:Snowy 1973|Snowy 1973]]. using [[WP:TWINKLE|TW]]
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{{infobox UK place|
|country= England
|official_name= Congleton
|latitude= 53.162
|longitude= -2.217
|population= 22,763<br />([[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]])
|civil_parish= Congleton
|shire_district= [[Congleton (borough)|Congleton]]
|region= North West England
|shire_county= [[Cheshire]]
|constituency_westminster= [[Congleton (UK Parliament constituency)|Congleton]]
|post_town= CONGLETON
|postcode_district= CW12
|postcode_area= CW
|dial_code= 01260
|os_grid_reference= SJ854628
|static_image= [[Image:CongletonTownHall.jpg|240px]]
|static_image_caption= <small>Congleton Town Hall</small>
}}
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'''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 ([[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]]) of 22,763.
[[Congleton railway station]] opened [[October 9]], [[1848]].
It is thought to have been a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] settlement, and in 1272 it received its charter to hold fairs and markets. King [[Edward I of England|Edward I]] granted permission to build a mill. Congleton became an important centre of textile production, especially lace and [[leather glove]]s. The neighbouring village of [[Buglawton]] was incorporated into Congleton borough in [[1936]]. Since [[April 1]] [[1974]], [[Congleton (borough)|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"<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/paul.thorp/lyrcongl.htm |title=Congleton Bear Lyrics|accessdate=9 August|accessyear=2007}}</ref> (by John Tams<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/paul.thorp/index.html|title=John Tams information|accessdate=9 August|accessyear=2007}}</ref>) 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 [[nickname]]d 'Beartown'.
Congleton's main landmark, a high outcrop of rocks known as The Cloud<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.nineandten.co.uk/ |title=The Cloud: Congleton and Cheshire Landmarks|work=The Cloud Project and Photographic Portfolio|accessdate=9 August|accessyear=2007}}</ref>, 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 [[airbag]]s 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 ''[[Congleton 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"{{Fact|date=November 2007}}, 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.{{Fact|date=August 2007}}
there is also an area called Lower Heath and High Town in Congleton
Congleton is home to a local [[football (soccer)|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.<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://mossley.play-cricket.com/ |title=Mossley Cricket Club|accessdate=9 August|accessyear=2007}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.thisisthesentinel.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?NodeId=158315&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231463&home=yes&more_nodeId1=158324&contentPK=17792368&page=4#views/Sentinel |title=''Sentinel'' newspaper article|accessdate=9 August|accessyear=2007}}</ref>
==Notable residents==
*[[David Boothroyd]], political researcher, author and Westminster City Councillor
*[[Emma Bossons]], ceramic artist
*[[Ian Brightwell]], former Manchester City and England Under 21 international footballer
*[[Mark Edwardson]], TV presenter, BBC North West
*[[Alan Garner]], writer
*[[Laura Newton]], cricketer
*[[Ann Packer]] and [[Robbie Brightwell]], husband-and-wife Olympic Gold Medallists
*[[Daniel Sturridge]], Manchester City footballer and England youth international
*[[John Whitehurst]], clockmaker and scientist
*[[Ann Winterton]], politician
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
*[http://www.congleton-cheshire.co.uk/home.htm The Towns Home Site] - Congleton's history and Congleton of the present day
*[http://congletontugofwar.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/ Congleton Tug of War Club] - National & World Tug of War Champions
*[http://www.congletonmuseum.co.uk/ Congleton Museum] - Local history museum and education resource
*[http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/towns/congleton/cheshire/ Pubs in Congleton] - Listings and pictures of all pubs in Congleton
*[http://www.welcometocongleton.com Welcome to Congleton] - Dedicated tourism website for the Congleton area.
*[http://www.the-moores.co.uk/MediaGallery/Default.aspx?directory=143 Congleton water tower TV transmitter station at www.the-moores.co.uk]
*[http://www.virtualcongleton.com Virtual Congleton] - Locally maintained non commercial site with information updated regularly.
*[http://www.CongletonTownFC.co.uk Congleton Town FC] - The latest news, updated regularly, on Congleton Town FC.
==See also==
*[[St Peter's Church, Congleton]]
{{Cheshire, Borough of Congleton}}
{{Cheshire}}
[[Category:Civil Parishes in Congleton, Cheshire]]
[[Category:Towns in Cheshire]]
[[Category:Congleton]]
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