Congleton Tourist Information

The small market town of Congleton lies on the River Dane, at the eastern edge of the Cheshire Plain and at the southern reaches of the Pennine Hills.

Congleton's main landmark, known as The Cloud, is a high outcrop of rocks overlooking the Cheshire Plain.

The ancient settlement was first mentioned in the Domesday Book and received a charter to hold fairs and markets in 1272.  After Congleton was given permission to build a mill by Edward I the town became an important centre for textile production, particularly leather gloves and lace.

Today the town manufactures golf balls and airbags and sand is extracted on the Cheshire Plain.  However, much of Congleton is a thriving dormitory town for Manchester.

Marton Church, near Congleton, is a fine black and white building dating from the 14th century.  Built  on a historic mound, it has a plaque proclaiming it to be the oldest timber-framed church still in use in Europe.

Jodrell Bank, part of the School of Pysics and Astronomy at The University of Manchester, lies to the north-west of Congleton.

Nearby are several magnificent country houses for tourists to visit including Little Moreton Hall, Gawsworth Hall, Lyme Park and Capesthorne Hall.