Congleton
Congleton is a town in the county of Cheshire in the north west of England, on the banks of the River Dane. It is thought to have been a Roman settlement, and in 1272 it received its charter to hold fairs and markets. King Edward I granted permission to build a mill. Congleton became an important centre of textile production, especially lace and leather gloves. It gives its name to the Congleton borough.
Congleton became notorious in the sixteenth century 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 did the rounds of which the chorus ran:
The cheeses of Cheshire are famed, but beware
Of stories they tell of the Congleton Bear
Congleton Bear, Congleton Bear
They sold the Church Bible to buy a new bear.
From the time of this legend, Congleton has been nicknamed 'Beartown'.
The principal industries in Congleton include the manufacture of airbags, ribbons and golf-balls. There are light engineering factories near the town, and sand extraction occurs on the Cheshire plain.
