A TIMELINE OF THE HISTORY OF CONGLETON, CHESHIRE

By Tim Lambert

Neolithic Age c. 4,500 BC-1,800 BC Stone Ages farmers live in the Congleton area. They build the Bridestones.

Bronze Age c. 2,000 BC-650 BC Farmers live in the Congleton area

c 7th Century AD Saxons found a village at Congleton

1086 At the time of the Domesday Book Congleton or Gogeltone as it is called is a hamlet belonging to a Norman named Bigot

1272 Congleton is given a charter

1282 Congleton is allowed weekly markets and annual fairs

1349 At the time of the Black Death Congleton is a little town with a population of a few hundred

1451 Congleton is badly damaged by a flood

1600 Congleton is a little town with a population of about 1,000 and a grammar school

1603 Plague strikes Congleton

1641 Congleton is struck by plague again

1742 St Peter's Church is built

1752 A silk mill is built in Congleton. Silk manufacture becomes an important industry in the town.

1801 Congleton has a population of 3,861 making it a medium sized town

1833 Congleton gains gas light

1848 The railway reaches Congleton

1866 Congleton Town Hall is built. A cottage hospital is built. The silk industry is in decline.

1871 Congleton park opens

1881 A waterworks opens in Congleton

1901 Congleton has a population of 10,707

1902 A sewerage works opens in Congleton

1924 War Memorial Hospital opens

1975 A new library is built in Congleton

1976 Congleton Leisure Centre is built

1986 Daneside Theatre opens

2002 Congleton Museum opens

2011 Congleton has a population of 29,000