Congleton’s Heritage – March 2026

By Julie Elizabeth Smalley

Making comparisons? Proverbially, they shouldn’t happen. Yet contrasts between then and now, especially when a place is familiar, are not at all wrong but instead often intriguing. Let’s explore more of old Congleton, just over a century ago. What was new? What’s disappeared?

Picture the scene. In 1910 Edwardian Congleton was lit by gas (no electricity until 1931 - almost unimaginable nowadays). The sooty services of chimney sweep Alfred Tilley were still very much required. Amongst the many shopkeepers – grocers, drapers, cycle agents etc - was the memorably-named Charles Charlesworth, who along with Peter Dalyrmple, was a ‘travelling draper’. Added customer convenience!

In 1900 a Cattle Market had opened. By 1910 a public auction of animals was taking place every other Tuesday in Market Square. Also centre-town was the 17-strong Corporation Fire Brigade, with its fleet of three engines and a hose cart kept ready in the market place. Packed in too was the Borough Police Station, comprised of Chief Constable, 2 sergeants and 8 constables. Public officials were numerous. A sweet note was sounded by multi-tasking alderman, magistrate and chairman of boards Samuel Maskery, whose firm of confectioners made the renowned Congleton Gingerbread.

Military notes also sounded. Congleton headquartered a battalion of the Cheshire Regiment, namely the 7th Territorial Force. In 1905, in the former Albert Street, the Companies stationed here for training took ownership of a new £2,000 Drill Hall. The price tag included a family home for the sergeant-instructor plus offices, armoury, and reading rooms, besides the 50x100 foot ‘fine’ drill hall itself. This was to perform an important local role for the two world wars to come, before being relegated to a social/leisure centre, then ultimately (in 1976) demolition. Once critical, underneath a supermarket is where the site lies today.

Shortly after 1905, at a (safe) distance about three-quarters of a mile out of town, came the opening of the 40-bed West Heath Sanatorium. It’s now 1908. Sadly tuberculosis remained a chronic and debilitating, sometimes deadly disease, until the arrival of antibiotics. However, the benefits of recuperation, fresh air and sunlight were recognised in helping recovery. Already there was an 8-bed Cottage Hospital locally, whilst in 1900 the still-functioning paupers’ Workhouse gained a new 100-bed Infirmary. Active in the community fight against smallpox was a team of Public Vaccinators.

Commerce, civic institutions, defence, health… A ‘mere’ century or so ago is not really a long time, yet the social fabric, even in this briefest of snapshots, is utterly different. A hundred years into our future? Can’t imagine!