PROBATE VALUATIONS IN CONGLETON
The History of Congleton
Congleton was first used as an area for settlement in the Neolithic times (est. between 10,200 BC and 4500 to 2000 BC). Historical discoveries in the area have indicated that the site was occupied in both the Bronze Age (2500 to 800 BC) and the Iron Age (800 BC to AD 43). Unlike some of Cheshire, the Romans are not known to have many links with Congleton, but there are ties to the Vikings, who are known to have destroyed Davenport; eventually leading to Congleton becoming a market town in the local area.
The name of the town is believed to have originated from the Old Norse word ‘kang’ and the Old English word ‘tun’, meaning ‘bend’ and ‘settlement’ respectively. In the Domesday Book of 1086, the town was referred to as Cogeltone: Bigot de Loges. Around this time, the Earl of Chester owned Congleton, after being bestowed Cheshire by William the Conquer.
During the 13th century, the de Lacy family owned Congleton, with notable developments during this period including the construction of the castle in 1208 and Congleton obtaining market town status in 1272. Much of the town, including the mill, were later destroyed in 1451, when the River Dane flooded. After this, large parts of the town were built on higher ground.
In the early 17th century, the town became a well-known and notorious destination for sports like cockfighting and bear-baiting. The story of the town purchasing a bear from the sale of a bible is still well-known today. The 17th century also saw the addition of new infrastructure, with the construction of a mill and the White Lion public house.
The construction of the mill saw Congleton become a major producer of textiles through to the 20th century, with some industries surviving until the late 21st century. In 1980, just before the end of the woven label production, the first Town Council in Congleton was elected.