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Congleton
Coordinates: 53.162285° N 2.217645° W
Population	22,763 (2001)
OS grid reference	SJ854628
Parish	Congleton
District	Congleton
Shire county	Cheshire
Region	North West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CONGLETON
Postcode district	CW12
Dial code	01260
Police	Cheshire
Fire	Cheshire
Ambulance	North West
UK Parliament	Congleton
European Parliament	North West England
List of places: UK • England • Cheshire

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 (2001 Census) of 22,763.

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. The neighbouring town of Buglawton was incorporated into Congleton borough in 1936. Since 1974 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 [1] (by John Tams [2]) 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 nicknamed 'Beartown'.

Congleton's main landmark, a high outcrop of rocks known as The Cloud [[3]], 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 airbags 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 Chronicle and free-sheets the Congleton Advertiser and Congleton Guardian. Local radio comes from nearby Macclesfield-based Silk FM and Signal Radio from Stoke-on-Trent.

• John Whitehurst Clockmaker and scientist
• Alan Garner Writer
• Emma Bossons Ceramic artist
• Laura Newton Cricketer
• David Boothroyd political researcher, author and local councillor
• Ann Winterton Politician
• Mark Edwardson TV Presenter, BBC North West

• The Towns Home Site - Congleton's history and Congleton of the present day
• Congleton Museum - Local history museum and education resource
• Pubs in Congleton - Listings and pictures of all pubs in Congleton
• The Cloud Project - Congleton and Cheshire Landmarks - The Cloud Project and Photographic Portfolio
• Mossley Cricket Club - Local cricket club based in Congleton

The Borough of Congleton, Cheshire
Principal Settlements	Alsager • Congleton • Holmes Chapel • Middlewich • Sandbach
Civil Parishes	Alsager • Arclid • Betchton • Bradwall • Brereton • Church Lawton • Congleton • Cranage • Goostrey • Hassall • Holmes Chapel • Hulme Walfield • Middlewich • Moreton cum Alcumlow • Moston • Newbold Astbury-cum-Moreton • Odd Rode • Sandbach • Smallwood • Somerford • Somerford Booths • Swettenham • Twemlow