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Audlem

by Alec & Val Scaresbrook

Audlem is a lovely old canalside town that received a charter to run a market in 1295, although this ceased many years ago. The restored Market Hall in front of church was built in the 1700s and was sometimes referred to as the Shambles, or Butter Market, although it's not certain what was sold here. The large stone block to the right of the Market Hall is a bear stone, which would once have had an iron ring for tethering the town bear for baiting. The stone is a granite boulder from the last Ice Age, and thought to be either from the Mountains of Mourne in Northern Ireland or from the Cumbrian hills. The town also boasts a state of the art superloo, which needed a 10p coin to enter last time we visited, but that could be 20p now. It's at the entrance to the car park, opposite the fish and chip shop.

St James the Great church

This church stands prominently on a hill in the centre of the town, and is thought to be on the site of a Celtic burial ground. The oldest parts of this sandstone building date from the 13th century. On the side of the church there's an ancient mass dial (one of only five in Cheshire) which in Saxon times would have determined the time of church services.

Canal-side delights

Loiter by the canal for the colourful narrowboats, a museum, and a pint at one of the waterside pubs.See the map below