12 The Chronicle, Thursday, 19th November, 2009. www.chronicleseries.co.uk

Glancing Back

Extracts from the “Chronicle” fi les

100 years ago The new skating rink in Cross Street continues to be well patronised daily. The popularity of the pastime owing to the excellent maple fl oor and ball-bearing skates, is rapidly increasing and the Congleton Rink is enjoying increasing and continuous support. The room, which is centrally situated, has a new American maple fl oor laid by a new process, which takes and excellent polish and is ideal for skating. Music is provided y a powerful Pathaphone. The uilding contains every convenience, including skating area, refreshment, cloak and skate rooms, etc, and comfortable accommodation is

rovided for non-skaters. Roller skating, which is so popular throughout the country, provides healthy exercise and recreation, and many of the local skaters are getting quite profi cient and clever on the

all-bearing wheels.

* * * At a meeting of the executive of the Macclesfi eld Boy Scouts’ Committee last week, a member of the Congleton troop was warmly

commended for conspicuous bravery in a recent fi re. The secretary read an extract from a letter he had received from Mr I Clennell, Scout master of the fi rst Congleton Troop as follows: “I wish to report that on November fourth one of our Scouts did a deed worthy of notice. A little girl was playing round a fi re on the Fair Ground when her dress caught fi re. Scout Gibson was passing at the time and rushed up and put it out, receiving burns on his hands and arms in doing so. Needless to say, we are proud to know that he was prepared.” The committee decided to send a letter to Scout Gibson commending him for his bravery, and the following has been received:

Dear Gibson, The committee have heard with great pleasure of your smart act of bravery on November 4th, and wish to commend you very heartily for the prompt way in which you rendered assistance even in spite of personal danger. You are the fi rst Scout in our area who has been reported for such an act of bravery, and we hope that you will always be prepared for future emergencies. Yours sincerely, Philip L Brocklehurst.

50 years ago Northwich Division police raced

Congleton Chronicle Established 1893 Founded by Robert Head

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to Congleton on Tuesday when three escaped prisoners abandoned a stolen car in Macclesfi eld and caught a bus to Crewe. Road blocks were set up at the Grove Inn, the roundabout, and Astbury, and as an added precaution, six patrol cars were standing by. The prisoners were caught however, before the bus reached the borough boundary. Macclesfi eld police chasing it in a shooting brake, swung in front of the bus as it was about to leave the Harrington Arms stop, and arrested the prisoners, who were travelling on the top deck. None of the men resisted. The men had escaped from the Isle of Sheppey open prison in Kent.

* * * Women and children dashed to safety in Sandbach yesterday (Thursday) afternoon, when an excited cow, which had escaped from the slaughterhouse, galloped through the centre of the town. The cow ran up Union Street, chased by Kenneth Bailey, (17), of Union Street, who works at the slaughterhouse. It nosed its way into the council offi ce yard, eluded many wood-be cowboys, including the public health inspector (Mr N A Rogers). Then into town it ran still pursued by Ken Bailey. Finally it entered an opening by Wakefi eld’s butchers shop in Hightown, and found it could go no further. Kenneth seized his opportunity and slipped a noose round its neck. The cow then returned quietly to the slaughterhouse, apparently resigned to its fate.

* * * Finance committee minutes approved by Congleton Town Council on Monday disclosed a proposal that the capital cost of the maintenance of land on The Cloud, which is being transferred from the estate of the late Lord Egerton of Tatton to the ownership of the National Trust, should be apportioned on the basis of £750 to Cheshire County Council, £750 to Staffordshire County Council, £250 to Leek Rural District Council and £250 to Congleton Borough Council. The committee resolved that subject the proposed appointment being agreed by the other authorities concerned, a sum of £250 be contributed by the borough council.

* * * “There’s nowt so queer as folk,” is a saying which never fails to prove true. The other day at the Crosses Cafe, owned by Coun Jim Haighton, when a customer was asked if he would like boiled potatoes, he replied: “What kind of boiled potatoes?”

* * * Congleton RD Council has made further progress towards the purchase of “Westfi elds,” the large house opposite the present council offi ces in Middlewich Road, Sandbach, which it is proposed should be used as council offi ces because present accommodation is inadequate.

25 years ago Kidsgrove artist Mr Owen Worrall has a commission which Leonardo de Vinci may well have envied. He has been engaged to paint a mural about 17ft long and 8ft high on a wall of what was the great hall at Great Moreton Hall, now a hotel. The room is about to be opened as an a la carte restaurant, following the opening of the Carvery some months ago, and is to be known as The Baron’s Table.

* * * Staffordshire has a new county publication, “Staffordshire History”. The fi rst article in the fi rst issue, by Peter Hayden, chairman of the Garden History Society, is devoted to Biddulph’s John Bateman. The article points out that, in fact, he had developed an interest in landscaping while still at Knypersley Hall, developing the grounds to the extent that visiting experts were highly impressed, particularly by the

rock-work which can still be seen. But, says Staffordshire History, the Grange Gardens are seen as the “greatest achievement, and are widely recognised as one of the most innovative and important British gardens of the 19th Century” featured in national magazines, specialised journals, and three television programmes as well as on the postage stamp. Mr Hayden says that during its later spell as a hospital, the staff of Biddulph Grange “always made a commendable effort to maintain the gardens on a small budget”, and until 10 years ago, their state was “surprisingly good”, although there were signs of deterioration. His article ends with this warning: “No adequate measures have been taken to protect the unique garden buildings, and their condition has consequently deteriorated at an alarming rate. The Chinese temple, which was in excellent condition 10 years ago, is a ruin; the tunnel which leads to it from the glen is in a dangerous state; and the extensive rock-work in various parts of the garden suffers regularly from unchecked vandalism. With every month that passes the task of restoration is made more diffi cult, while the costs, which would once have been modest, grows all the time. Biddulph Grange is an outstanding national monument. If it is allowed to deteriorate to a point where restoration ceases to be possible, the health authority will bear a heavy responsibility.”

* * * Congleton’s strong man Mr John Decker has bench-pressed his way into the attentions of the Guiness Book of Records listings. Earlier this year Mr Decker, (33), of Dale Crescent, achieved the remarkable feat of bench-pressing a 56lb barbell 1,000 times in less than one hour, in sets of 10 repetitions reaching a total weight of 25 tons.

* * * Details of the unique discovery of an Iron Age bog man have been reported to Cheshire County Council’s Planning Sub-committee by the county archaeologist Mr Richard Turner. The body was discovered at Lindow Moss, Wilmslow, and the well-preserved remains are now in the hands of the British Museum undergoing further study and preservation work.

* * * A plaque describing the accepted origin of Sandbach’s Saxon Crosses was approved by members of Sandbach Chamber of Trade and Commerce on Monday. The plaque formed part of the project to protect the crosses and explained their origins to the public, and the Chamber agreed to meet the cost of £525, although members said that it was more than they had expected.

This pictorial section of our “Glancing Back” feature looks back in history using old photographs of the area. We would welcome any photographs from readers, particularly unwanted pictures (from single photos to boxes full), which can be added to our archives rather than be lost to future historians. Treasured photographs will of course be returned. We welcome photographs from any part of

our circulation area.

This week’s old photos are more from Colin McLean’s collection of postcards. Does anyone have information about any of these images?

10 years ago Sandbach teenager Sarah Pidoux has scooped a major technology award. Sarah (16), who studies at Sandbach High School, was presented with a framed diploma and inscribed silver medal after beating 350,000 students to gain the top technology results at GCSE. Sarah’s top notch GCSE performance did not stop at technology. She gained nine “A”* and one “A” overall and is currently studying for A-levels in English literature, History, and Sociology.

* * * Only 34% of drivers interviewed in a recent survey admit to not knowing the latest Highway Code well.

* * * The in-patient waiting list at North Staffordshire Hospital shows “cause for concern”, as they estimate 183 behind the target for the end of October, the area’s health authority was told this week.