Cheshire Cycleway
Congleton
by Alec and Val Scaresbrook
A bustling market town with plenty to offer cyclists, Congleton is known locally as Bear Town, because the money held for a new town bible was used to buy a bear instead. This was one of last towns to end bear baiting. Now a local micro brewery has given the name to its beers and its pub, The Beartown Tap.
Congleton was an established market town in medieval times and despite modern alternations to the town, it still retains its medieval street pattern. The oldest buildings are the medieval Old Kings Arms and two 17th century inns, the White Lion and Lion and Swan, all displaying their half-timbered construction. The town expanded with the development of the silk industry and mills were built here in the 18th century. In 1866 an unusual design of town hall was built, in Venetian Gothic style.
Early closing day is Wednesday and observed by most of the small shops, but the tourist information centre stays open. See the map below
Find this place marked in the centre of this map.