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SANDBACH HISTORY 
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Below History Files (PDF Files) - Index to Files - History in Date Order. 

CLICK ON RIGHT OF TITLE TO DOWNLOAD PDF FILE OF HISTORY.

Index as a pdf (See Also Below for Index and History)

sandbach_history_index.pdf
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PDF FILE OF SANDBACH HISTORY Part 00 = History in Date Order to Statistics

sandbach_history_part_0_dates_to_statistics.pdf
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PDF FILE OF SANDBACH HISTORY Part 1 = #01 to C 

sandbach_history_part_1_a_to_c_in_words_new.pdf
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PDF FILE OF SANDBACH HISTORY Part 2 = D to F (Includes Fire Station History)

sandbach_history_part_2_d_to_f_including_fire_brigade_history.pdf
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PDF FILE OF SANDBACH HISTORY Part 3 = G to P 

sandbach_history_part_3_g_to_p_part_1.pdf
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PDF FILE OF SANDBACH HISTORY Part 4 = P to R (Includes Police History) 

sandbach_history_part_4_p_to_r_including_police_to_raf_cranage.pdf
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PDF FILE OF SANDBACH HISTORY Part 5 = Railway Station ​

sandbach_history_part_5_r_railway_station.pdf
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PDF FILE OF SANDBACH HISTORY Part 6 = R to S  ​

sandbach_history_part_6_r_to_s_-_ramblers_to_sweets.pdf
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PDF FILE OF SANDBACH HISTORY Part 7 = T to #12 ​

sandbach_history_part_7_t_to_12.pdf
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PDF FILE OF SANDBACH HISTORY Part 8 = #13 to End​

sandbach_history_part_8_13_to_end_-_pubs_to_end.pdf
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INDEX TO PDF FILES ABOVE. 
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SANDBACH HISTORY PART 0 = #01 Statistics to History in Date order
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#01. History in Date Order.
#02. Listed Buildings in Sandbach.
#03. Statistics.
#03a. Defibrillators in Sandbach
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SANDBACH HISTORY PART 1 = #04 Buildings A to C
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#04. Building and Business History (Including Transport Festival History).
#HA
Abbey Fields
Air Training Corps (1873 Squadron)
Almshouses
Arms of the Town Council of Sandbach
Ashfields House / Ashfields Dr’s Surgery
Ashfields Surgery on Middlewich Road
#HB
Banks in Sandbach
#B1. Barclays Bank
#B2. District Bank
#B3. Lloyds (and TSB)
#B4. Midland Bank
#B5. Nat West Bank
#B6. Northwich Building Society
#B7. Parr’s Bank
#B8. Royal Bank of Scotland
#B9. Sandbach Permanent Benefit Building Society
#B10. Sandbach Savings Bank


Baths (Swimming Baths)
Beer Bottler – Maskery
Beresford Transport / Ken Beresford (Offley House)
Black Acres House
Black Bear Hotel (see also Public Houses)
Bradwall
Bradwall Hall
Brick Works
Bridge House
Brook Bridge / Ford
Brookhouse
Brookside Hall
Brunner Mond Factory
Bypass
#HC.
Canal
Sandbach Cemetery
Cheshire Hurdles (Fences)
Sandbach Choral Society (Sandbach Voices / Belmont Choir)
(Sandbach Chronicle – See Newspapers)
SANDBACH CHURCHES HISTORY
#CH01. Baptise Church
#CH02. Bradwall Methodist Church
#CH03. Catholic Church
#CH04. Christ Church Wheelock
#CH05. Congregational Church
#CH06. Elworth Methodist
#CH07. Ettley Heath Primitive Methodist Church
#CH08. Congregational Church / Hope Chapel or Hope Street
#CH09. Grace Church
#CH10. Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness
#CH11. Light and Life Mission
#CH12. Methodist Chapel
#CH13. Providence Methodist Chapel / United Methodist Free Church – Welles Street, Sandbach
#CH14. Sandbach Heath Methodist Chapel
#CH15. St John’s Sandbach Heath
#CH16. St Mary’s Church Sandbach
#CH17. St Peter’s Church Elworth
#CH18. St Philips Hassall Green (The Pink Church)
#CH19. St Winefreds Church
#CH20. United Reform Church
#CH21. Wesley Avenue Methodist Church
#CH22. Wesleyan Chapel Elworth
#CH23. Wheelock Heath Baptist Church
#CH24. Wheelock Congregational Church
#CH25. Wheelock Independent / Primitive Church
#CH26. Wheelock Methodist Church (Wesleyan)
#CH27. Wheelock Methodist Chapel


Cinema in Sandbach
Clock manufacturers
Sandbach Concert Series
Congleton Rural District Offices (Crewe Road)
Co-operative Buildings
Council Chambers
Crewe Road
The Crown (See also Public Houses)
Crown Bank
Christmas Lights in Sandbach
Cycle Club (Elworth)


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SANDBACH HISTORY PART 2 = D to F
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#HD
Dingle Lake
#HE
Electricity
Elworth Park
#HF
Field House
SANDBACH /CHESHIRE FIRE BRIGADE INDEX
#FB00. Sandbach Fire Brigade a BRIEF History.
#FB01. Sandbach Fire Brigade a History.
#FB02. Sandbach Performance figures.
#FB03. Officers in Charge at Sandbach.
#FB04 Sandbach Fire Engines in Date order.
#FB05. Sandbach Firemen
#FB06. Cheshire Fire Stations – History, Appliances etc.
#FB07. Previous Cheshire Fire Appliances
#FB08. Current Cheshire Fire Appliances
#FB09. Historic Vehicle Collection – Based at Chester
#FB10. Historic Vehicles in Preservation outside Cheshire
#FB11. Fire Brigade Terms
#FB12. NW Air Ambulance history and incident around Sandbach
Flowcrete (Flooring Company)
Sandbach Folk Club


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SANDBACH HISTORY PART 3 = G to P
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#HG
Gandey’s Circus
Garden Trail
Gas Works / Gas Company Works
George Hotel (See also Public Houses)
Grammar School (See also Sandbach School)
Guides / Girl Guides / Brownies
#HH
Hackney’s Road Haulage
Hassall Road
Hawk Street
High Street to the hill
The Hill / Leonard Cheshire Home
HMS Vimiera
Hollies (Wesley Avenue)
Home Guard
Houndings Lane or Hownings Lane (Coldmoss Heath)
Hope Street (Number 11)
Hungerford Café and Shops
#HI
None
#HJ
C M Jefferies and Company Ltd
#HK
None
#HL
H J Lea and Sons Ltd
Dr Charles Latham
Leisure Centre
Leonard Cheshire Home (See The Hill)
Library
Literary Institute
Little Moreton Hall (Local Attraction)
Lower Chequer Inn
#HM
Malt Kiln (Bradwall Road)
Market History / Sandbach Market
Market Square
Market Tavern (See also Public Houses)
Marriott House
Masonic Hall
Middlewich Road (Including Magistrates Court)
Mills in Sandbach
Moston and the Moston Dragon
Motorway / M6
#HN
Newspapers (Local to Sandbach)
(List of Newspapers by Date)
#N1. Crewe Chronicle (Crewe Edition)
#N2. Sandbach Chronicle (Based in Congleton)
#N3. Congleton Chronicle (See also Sandbach Chronicle)
Nuclear Bunker (Congleton Road)
#HO
Offley House
Offley Road
Old Hall Hotel (See also Pubic Houses)
#HP
The Park / Sandbach Park


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SANDBACH HISTORY PART 4 = P to R
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#HP.
SANDBACH POLICE INDEX
#PC01. Sandbach Police History - Brief History
#PC02. Sandbach Police History - Full History
Post Office (Including Post box locations and Phone Boxes in Sandbach Past and Present)
Prings / John Pring and Son Ltd (Elworth)
Prisoner of War Camp (POW Camp)
Providence School (Chapel Street)
HQ
None
HR
Races at Sandbach / Sandbach Racecourse
R.A.F. Cranage


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SANDBACH HISTORY PART 5 = R = (SANDBACH) RAILWAY STATION
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History of Railway Stations in the Sandbach area.
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SANDBACH HISTORY PART 6 = R to S
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#HR
Ramblers / Sandbach Ramblers Football Club
Rookery Bridge Refining Company
Rotary Club in Sandbach
Royal British Legion (Sandbach Branches)
#HS
Salt Works
Sand Quarry (Arclid Quarry)
Savings Bank (See Banks)
Saxon Crosses (Monument)
SCHOOLS IN SANDBACH HISTORY
#SC01 Schools in Date Order
#SC02 Schools in Name Order A to S
#SC03 Sandbach High School / Sandbach Secondary School
#SC04 Sandbach School / Sandbach Grammar School
#SC05 Schools in Name Order S to Z
Scotch Common
Scouts in Sandbach
Scrap Merchants
Shackleton Toys
Simcox Printers
Street Names and when they were built
Swan Hotel (Swan and Chequers)
Sweet Shop (Market Square)


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SANDBACH HISTORY PART 7 = T to #12
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#HT
Territorial Drill Hall / ACC Army Cadet Centre
Theatrical Groups in Sandbach
Cremona Music Union
Britannia Theatre
Sandbach Amateur Dramatic Society 1894 to 1910
Odd Rode Amateur Operatic Society 1923 to 1924
Pantomime Group 1930’s
Hope Street Congregational Dramatic Society 1930 to 1948+
Sandbach Amateur Dramatic Society / Sandbach Players 1945 to 2006
(Brief History for full history see extra file)
Sandbach Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society / SADOS 2016 to 2020
Saxon Players 2020 to date (Were the SADOS)
Town Hall History
#Sandbach Town Hall Shows (# Years from 1891)
Transport Festival
Tunnels / Sandbach Tunnels
#HU
None (United Services see Royal British Legion)
#HV
None
#HW
Wakefield (Motor Engineer)
Wakes Fair / Sandbach Wakes Including List of Rides by Years
Warburton and Co (Agricultural Engineer)
War Memorial
Water Fountain
Water / Water Tower (Including Town Wells)
Water Works
C Welsby (Chemists / Photo Shop)
Wesleyan Chapel (See also Churches History)
Wheat sheaf Hotel (See also Public Houses)
Wheelock
Woolworth
Whittle Brothers (Coach Builders)
Wright’s Printers
#HX
None
#HY
Yeowood Farm
Yew Tree Farm (Murgatroyd Club)
#HZ
Zan Limited


#05. Sandbach Town Council – Including list of Mayor’s.
#05b. Cheshire East Mayors (County Mayor)
#05c. Town MP (Member of Parliament)
#05d. Sandbach Town Council 2017
#05da. Sandbach Town Councillors 1896 to Date.
#05db. Sandbach Town Council 2019 to 2023
#05dc. Sandbach Town Council Staff
#05dd. Cheshire East Councillors 2019 Election (Sandbach)
#05de. Biographies of some of the Councillors
#06. Foden’s History.
#07. E.R.F. History.
#08. Jennings Coachbuilders.
#09. Shops in Sandbach (see also separate file)
#10. Local Celebrities (Past and Present)
#10a. Celebrities who have visited Sandbach
#11. Thomas Hughes (Writer Tom Brown’s Schooldays)
#12. Town Cryer
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SANDBACH HISTORY PART 8 = #13. To End.
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#13. Pubs and Restaurants / Public Houses (Eating Places)
Ancient Briton
Bears Paw
Black Bear
Black Horse
Bull’s Head
Cheshire Cheese
Coach and Horses
Commercial Hotel (Elworth)
Commercial Hotel (Wheelock)
Crewe Arms
Cricketers Arms
Crispin Arms
The Crown
Forester’s Arms
Fox Inn
George
Glasshouse
Globe
Golden Lion
Iron Grey
Kings Arms (Market Square)
Kings Arms (Congleton Rd)
Kings Head
Legs of Man
Letters
The Limes
Lion / Red Lion
Lower Chequer / Lower Swan
Market Tavern
Midland Hotel
Military Arms
Nag’s Head (Elton)
Nag’s Head (Wheelock)
New Inn
Oddfellows Arms
Old Hall / Three Turns Inn
Plough and Harrow
Queen’s Arms
Railway Hotel
Red Lion (Sandbach)
Red Lion (Wheelock)
Ring O Bells
Rookery Tavern
Sandpiper
Swan and Chequers
Thatched Tavern
Wheat Sheaf
Food Establishments


#14. Market Charter
#15. Christmas Best Shop Window (Sandbach Town Council Award)
Including Best Dressed Market Stall Holder at Christmas Market (2016 to Date)
#16. Citizen of the Year (Rotary Club Award)
#17. Societies - Dated Lists.
#18b. SOCIETIES Chairperson.
#18. Awards by HM The Queen – New Years and Birthday Honours.
#19. War Memorial Names Sandbach, Wheelock, Elworth etc.
#19a Brereton Church of St Oswald
#19b Market Square War Memorial
#19c Elworth War Memorial
#19d Sandbach Cemetery – Brunner Mond
#19e Sandbach Heath (St John’s)
#19f Sandbach Methodist Church / Wesley Avenue
#19g Sandbach School
#19h Smallwood Church of St John the Baptist.
#19i Warmingham (St Leonard Church)
#19j Wheelock and Hassell
#19k Wheelock Heath Baptise Church
#19L The Fallen not on a Memorial
#19m St Mary’s Roll of Honour 1914-18
#19n St Winifred’s Church
#19o Foden Works 1914-18 casualties / 1939-45
#20. Postcard Manufacturers – Local Scenes / Views.
#21. Venerable Bede’s account of his time in the Midlands.
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                        HISTORY OF SANDBACH.
In Date Order
 Compiled by Stewart Green © 2013 to date.
     (Including information from publications by the Sandbach History Society)
           http://sandbachwhatson.weebly.com/
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SEE ALSO SANDBACH HISTORY PART OO (PDF File) 

The name Sandbach means 'The Sandy Valley of a Stream' in "Olde English".


Unkn Over the years the Welsh and the Danish had invaded this quiet town in Cheshire.
91BC Roman Republic Silver Denarius coins dated 91bc have been found in the town.
(2010 by Robet Bateman and his daughter)
OTHER ROMAN AND HISTORIC FINDS IN THE SANDBACH AREA.
(From the Portable Antiques Scheme www.finds.org.uk)
Neolithic Adze from Orangy Brown Flint (10,000-4,500BC) Recorded Apr 2007.
Neolithic Lithic (Spear Head) (10,000-4,500BC) Recorded Oct 2008.
Medieval Strap Ends (Date Unknown) Recorded June 2019.
Medieval Furniture Fitting cast in Copper Alloy and Iron in the Shape of a cup
(Date Unknown).
Post Medieval Dress Hook (Date Unknown) Recorded Jan 2012.
Post Medieval Strap Fittings (Date Unknown) Recorded Dec 2011.
Iron Age Coin (1200BC) Recorded Mar 2005.
Bronze Age Socketed Axehead (BC1000-800) Recorded Sept 2012.
2x Lead Alloy Spindle Whorl (Produced between AD43-1700) Recorded Apr 2015.
ROMAN BRITAIN 43AD to 410AD (Conquested not visited by Romans)
Roman Coins (Date Unknown) Found at Brook four miles from Kinderton Station
in 1820 by a Mole Carcher who struck a fused mass of 1,000 Roman coins
(Fused by Rust) near Brereton.
Roman Finger Ring (Date Unknown) Recorded May 2013.
AD
Roman Copper Alloy Dolphin Type Broach (AD43-65AD) Recorded Nov 2011.
Roman Copper Alloy Hod Hill Type Broach (AD43-70AD) Recorded May 2012.
Roman Spindle Whorl – Lead Alloy (AD43-1700) Recorded Dec 2011.
Roman Broach (AD50 -100) Recorded June 2019.
Hadrian Roman Coin (AD125-1538) Recorded Feb 2020.
MEDIEVAL PERIOD 400BC TO 1400- 1450)
Medieval Buckle – Copper Alloy (Date Unknown) Recorded Dec 2008.
Medieval Buckle – Copper Alloy (2nd) (Date Unknown) Recorded Dec 2008.
Medieval Spindle Whorl (Date Unknown) Recorded 30 Dec 2008.
Medieval Broach (1300-1500) Discovered 11 June 2011 (Metal Detector)
Post Medieval Crotal Bell (Copper Alloy) (Date Unknown) Recorded Dec 2008.
Copper Alloy Sestertius of Antonius Plus Coin (AD138-161) Recorded Feb 2015.
Spindle Whorl – Lead Alloy (ADc1100-1500) Recorded Jan 2012.
Spindle Whorl – Lead Alloy (ADc1100-1500) Recorded 15 Dec 2016.
Medieval Fleur-de-lis Mount (AD1100-1500) Recorded Jan 2012
Medieval Ampulla made of Lead (AD1100-1500) Recorded Feb 2012.
Medieval Buckle (AD1200-1400) Recorded Feb 2019.
Edward III Silver Halfgroat (1369-1377) Recorded Nov 2011.
Edward III Silver Penny (1280) Recorded Nov 2011.
Edward IV Silver Penny (AD1461-1470 and 1471-1483) Recorded Apr 2015.
Seal Matrix with Lion Rampant (AD1500-AD1700) Recorded Feb 2018.
Elizabeth 1st Silver Threepence (1566) Recorded Nov 2011.
James 1 Silver Penny Coin (AD1604-1619) Recorded Feb 2017.
Charles II Silver Threepence (AD1679) Recorded Jan 2012.
Thirty Pence Coin / Gun Money Coin to finance a campaign against William III
(May AD 1690 by James II) Recorded Feb 2019.
Charles II Copper Fathing (AD1690-1699) Recorded Aug 2014.
Copper Alloy Wheel from a post Medieval Pastry Jigger (AD1700-1800)
Recorded May 2016.
Silver Long Cross Penny Between Edward 1st and 3rd (1307 Edward 1 and Edward 2 /
1327 Edward 3) Recorded Feb 2016
c 43 to 82 A.D. A Roman Road from Middlewich to Chesterton passed through Sandbach.
Between 2005 and 2009 Alex York and a team of volunteers excavated the
Roman Road through Elworth and onto Malkin’s Bank on the Middlewich
to Chesterton link and has found links to Reeseheath, Whitchurch and Wrenbury.
He has also discovered the remains of a road near the M6 at Hassall.
In 2021 Metal Detectorists discovered a 49AD Julius Caesar Elephant Denarius
in the Sandbach area. These were produced for only a short time and were
campaign coins used to pay soldiers.
c 653 A.D. The Saxon Crosses were made to celebrate the marriage of Peada, Son of Penda,
King of Mercia to his bride Alchfleda, the daughter of Osway the Christian King of
Northumbria.
(First quoted in Earwaker’s History of Sandbach 1890 and is the story most
children in the area grew up with.)
9th Century A Minster is recorded in the Town but seems to have disappeared during the
late 9th Century. Like a number of other ecclesiastical foundations, Sandbach
may have become a victim of Viking raids but as Sandbach is far in land
this may not be the case as most Viking raids were on the East Coast by the sea.
1086 AD In the Doomsday Book the town was called SANBECD (or Sanbec).
This was the earliest evidence of a town in this part of Cheshire.
It records two entries.
(I have added Numbers after ii's to make it easier to understand)
1.
"The same bigot holds Sandbecd. Dunning held it and was free.
There is i (1.) hide reteable to the gelt and a virgate and a half so rateable.
The land is ii (2) carucates. There is a foreigner with half a carucate and iii
(3) serfs and there are two villeins with half a carucate. There is a priest
and a church. A wood half a league long and xi (11.) perches broad.
In King Edward's time it was worth iv (4) shillings; now viii (8) shillings".
2.
"The Earl himself holds Sandbec for two virgates and a half reteable to the
gelt and Clive for i (1.) virgate so rateable and Sutton for iv (4) virgates so
rateable and Wibaldelai for i (1.) virgate sorateable and Wever for i (1.)
virgate so rateable and Aculvestune for i (1.) hide so rateable. Six free men
hold these lands for vi (6) manors. The land is vii (7) carucates among
them. The whole was and is waste".
About 1200 The first church was built in Sandbach.
1260 The town was recorded as being called SONDBACHE from the Anglo Saxon
“sand baece” meaning sand stream or sand valley.
13th Century The land around Sandbach was held by Richard De Sandbache, who in 1230 was
High Sheriff of Cheshire. He unsuccessfully laid claim to the advowson of Sandbach
Church against Earl Randle de Blundeville.
Richard’s son John De Sandbache also claimed the right to the land winning the day
temporarily against the Abbey of Diemlacres, only to lose it soon after when the
dispute was carried to the King’s Bench and the case was won by the Abbot on
the evidence of the Doomsday Book which proved that the Earl Randle Meschimes
(Earl of Chester) had originally given the advowson to the Monks of Diemlacres.
An estate in Sandbach is called Abbey fields after the Abbey of Diemlacres.
When Richard de Sandbach died, this was the end of the family line as he didn't have
any male heir's. His only heir was a daughter called Elizabeth who became the wife
of John de Legh (the son of John de Legh, of Booths.)
John de Legh and Elizabeth only had one child. The child was again a daughter
called Matilda de Legh who eventually married Richard de Radcliffe of Ordsall.
The line of the manor again passed down through the distaff (female line) of this
new family the de Radcliffe's in about 1361 (See 1611). Richard also inherited his
father's estate.
The estate was finally purchased by Sir Randulph (or Randle) Crewe.
Mid 13th Century The area responsible by SandbachMinsterChurch could have extended towards
Middlewich and Davenhan (Near Northwich). By the mid 13th Century it was
reduced to an area around the Church with two chapelries at Holmes Chapel
and Goostry.
1570 The Lower Chequer Inn was built.
1578 It is mentioned in a publication that the excellent quality of Sandbach Malt Liquor
and Worsted yarns were made in quantity.
1578 A charter granted by Queen Elizabeth 1st to the town a market in 1578 on
application by Sir John Radcliffe, of Ordsell, in Lancashire.
1579 On the 4th May 1579 Sir John Radcliffe of Ordsall (In Lancashire) applied to hold
Fairs and Markets in Sandbach from Queen Elizabeth 1st. The market would be
held on Thursday with two fairs each year being held. One of these two dates still
takes place during the September 'Wakes'.
Sir John Radcliffe also applied for the right to establish a Court-Leet and a Court of
Pied-Powder.
1583 Gentlemen fined for playing bowls on Scotch Common.
1600's The George Hotel was built as the George and Dragon.
It is possible that the building was replaced in 1810 with the current structure.
1611 In 1611 Sir John Radcliffe became the last member of his family to hold the Manor
of Sandbach as he mortgaged it for the sum of £2,200 before eventually selling the
majority off it off . The family had held the manor for the last 250 years.
In a deed dated the 7th November 1611 the Radcliffe family sold the Manor's land
to Richard Steele, Hugh Moss, John Wright, William Shaw and other Sandbach
yeomen and land owners. The Manorial rights and the remaining lands were sold to
Sir Randolph (or Randle) Crewe.
1634 The Black Bear Public House was built.
1639 Black and white building built on Front Street.
3 Sept 1651 On the 3rd September 1651 whilst the September Fair was in full swing, a skirmish
took place at (What is now called) Scotch Common when a party of about 1,000
of the King's Cavalry, made up of a bunch of Scotsmen, came to Sandbach
after their defeat at the Battle of Worcester earlier in the day (on the 3 Sept 1651)
a skirmish that turned out to be Cromwell's final victory.
King Charles 2nd had been in France since the Battle of Naseby where he gained
support from the Covenanting Party in Scotland. In 1650 Charles returned and was
then crowned King of England in Scone, Scotland. Despite Cromwell's victory at
Dunbar, Charles decided to invade England resulting in the Battle of Worcester.
The pretender King had been in the town since the 22 August 1651 and on the
3 September Cromwell's army and the Kings army of Scotts met at Worcester.
After the battle the Kings army scattered with some of the Scotts, who had seen
action under David Leslie, attempting to pass through Sandbach on their way home.
Sandbach at the time was loyal to the Parliamentarians and seeing the poor state of
the Kings army, the town's folk set upon the army with poles from the Market stalls
and killed many of them. Those captured were stored in the Churchyard. The Rev.
Henry Newcome in his diary wrote on the 7th September 1651 that he had to preach
in the Churchyard on that Sunday due to the prisoners being in the church waiting
for Cromwell's Militia to come.
A story I was told when I was young is that the bodies of the dead were laid to rest
in a plot of land near Sandbach Heath, later called 'Pipers Hollow', the exact spot
that the M6 Motorway passes through the town and where the Saxon Cross Motel
used to stand.
On the occasion of the burial a lone piper, who it was thought to be dead, recovered
enough to play a lament while the bodies of his comrades were being buried. On
completion of this task he was also killed and buried along with his kinsfolk. It is
said that the Ghost of the Piper can be heard along that stretch of the motorway.
The area of land where the piper is buried along with his comrades has become
known as “Piper’s Hollow” and the meadow next to it is called “Scotch Meadow”.
An account of the incident on Scotch Common was recorded in one of the earliest
newspapers “The Mercurius Politicus” number 66 which refers to the incident as
follows:
“They so managed the business that, when the Scots offered to fire, they ran into
their homes and soon as that party was past which had the pistols and powder,
they fell upon the remainder of the troops and continued pealing and billing
them during the passage of all their horse.”
1660 Charity set up by local people that would eventually lead to the "Almshouses” (See
Almshouses).
1661 St Mary's Church was built (See above for more details)
28 Sept 1677 SANDBACH SCHOOL ESTABLISHED. (see 1851)
We know that SandbachSchool was Founded on the 28th September 1677 by
Richard Lea and Francis Welles it is surrounded in 18 acres of land on the
Crewe Road. It was what they called an “Endowed School” for children between
the ages of eight and eighteen.
1680 Two public houses were built in this year. "The Crown" and "The Market Tavern".
17th Century During the 17th Century Sandbach was noted for the quality of its Ales, which
were popular in London. Production of a Sandbach Ale seems to have ceased
by the late 19th Century.
1733 The building that now houses the Leonard Cheshire home on "The Hill" was built.
1740 Marriott House built. It was originally called "The Commons House". (see 1897)
1760 and 1860 Between these two dates shops in the High Street (Chatwins etc.) were built.
1760 Police Station built on the Market Square (Now Godfrey Williams Delicatessen).
The Police entered from the rear of the building (Now the St Mary’s Hall Side)
and had the top floor of the building (Now a Hairdressers) as their rooms with
the station in the basement. It is possible that the cells were situated there or
were accessed via a tunnel to the OriginalTown Hall which had cells under the
Magistrate’s court.
1760 Church House on the Market Square was built. In 1972 it was rebuilt.
1775 Canal built at Wheelock by James Brindley.
1785 Sandbach Wesleyan Society formed.
19th Century Sandbach was a busy coaching point with 'The Royal Sovereign' coach running to
(1800's) London on a daily business, with the 'Rocket' taking its passengers to Liverpool and
Birmingham. Another coach 'The Nettle' journeyed daily to Manchester and
Nantwich.
Stopping off points.
THE ROYAL SOVEREIGN The George.
THE ROCKET The George.
THE NETTLE The Wheat sheaf yard.
COACHES
GEORGEHOTEL 1834 Timetable
12.30pm (Every Day) To London – The ROYAL MAIL from Liverpool
2pm (Tuesday to Sun) To London – RED ROVER
10pm (Every Day) To London - ERIN GO BRAGH
Various Times Each day. To Liverpool from London.


WHEAT SHEAF 1834 Timetable
7.30am (Mon, Wed, Fri and Sat) To Manchester –
ROYAL WILLIAM via Middlewich.
8pm (Mon, Wed, Fri and Sat) To Nantwich – ROYAL WILLIAM.
__________________________________________________________________________________
TURNPIKE ROADS
Sandbach also had some Turnpike roads with Toll Bars on them in the following places ;-
Sandbach at the Middlewich Road end of Abbey Road.
Wheelock at Crewe Road, opposite the churchyard.
The Black and White Toll cottage is still standing.
Crewe Green at the junction of the Crewe and Sydney roads.
Holmes Chapel at London Rd, about 100 yards on the Brereton side.
At the Cross-roads at Saltersford on the far side of the RiverDaneBridge.
Betchton beyond the New Inn on the Newcastle Road
and at the Junction of Chells Hill Road.
SANDBACH TOLL ROADS INFORMATION
Nantwich to WheelockWharf (http://www.turnpikes.org.uk/English%20turnpike%20table.htm)
Act of Parliament = 56 Geo3 c15
Date from 11 Apr 1816 to 1875
Length in Miles = 9
Main Gates = 3
Side gates and Bars 1848 = Unknown
Income from Tolls = 291
Total debt 1838 = 140
Average income per gate = 97
Modern Road Names A49 to A5020


Sandbach To Congleton (http://www.turnpikes.org.uk/English%20turnpike%20table.htm)
Act of Parliament = 5/6 will4c37
Date from 1835
Length in Miles = 8
Main Gates 1840 = 3
Side gates and Bars 1848 = 2
Income from Tolls = Unknown
Total debt 1838 = 3250
Average income per gate = Unknown
Modern Road Names A534 (Congleton Road)


Runcorn and Northwich (http://www.turnpikes.org.uk/English%20turnpike%20table.htm)
Act of Parliament = 59 Geo3 c85
Date from 1819
Length in Miles = 9
Main Gates 1840 = 3
Side gates and Bars 1848 = Unknown
Income from Tolls = 78
Total debt 1838 = 3800
Average income per gate = 26
Modern Road Names A533 (Middlewich Road)


Span Smithy, Linley Lane (Elton, Sandbach) Through Church Lawton to Talk.
(http://www.turnpikes.org.uk/English%20turnpike%20table.htm)
Act of Parliament = 28 Geo3 c104
Date from 1788
Length in Miles = 8
Main Gates 1840 = 3
Side gates and Bars 1848 = 2
Income from Tolls = Unknown
Total debt 1838 = 2520
Average income per gate = Unknown
Modern Road Names (Main Route) A533 Middlewich Road
(Via A5011 and A5 Arclid, Church Lawton to Stoke)


Span Smithy, Booth Lane (Elton, Sandbach) and Winsford through Middlewich and Stanthorn.
(http://www.turnpikes.org.uk/English%20turnpike%20table.htm)
Act of Parliament = 26 Geo2 c84
Date from 1753
Length in Miles = 12
Main Gates 1840 = 3
Side gates and Bars 1848 = 4
Income from Tolls = 876
Total debt 1838 = 400
Average income per gate = 292
Modern Road Names (Main Route) A533 Middlewich Road (Via A5018)


TURNPIKE ROAD HISTORY
Established in England and Wales from about 1706 they were used to pay to maintain roads rather like the toll roads of today. Each Road was set up by an individual “Act of Parliament” and by the 1830’s there was about 1,000 trusts and over 30,000 miles of road with 8,000 toll gates.
Between 1873 and 1878 most of the trusts were wound up by General Acts of Parliament.
__________________________________________________________________________________
c1809 The Wheelock Mill was constructed starting the Textile Industry in Sandbach.
1809 Sandbach Congregational Sunday School opened.
In 1909 on the anniversary of the school they held a service on the
12 and 15 September in celebration.
1810 The first Town Hall was built in Sandbach.
In 1882 Thomas Hughes (.b. 20 Oct 1822 .D. 22 Mar 1896 - The writer of
Tom Brown’s Schooldays) was appointed to a County Court Judgeship in
the Chester District in July of that year an appointment that included
Sandbach and worked out of the Town Hall.
1815-16 Saxon Crosses collected from all over the area to be rebuilt in the Market Square.
1816 The Market Square and the yard of the Malt-Kiln in Bradwall Road were cobbled.
30 May 1825 On the 30 May 1825 the first stone was bought for a new Bridge in Sandbach
(Later named Brook Bridge). It had been bought by Charles Whittingham and
was laid by William Smith the Builder on June 22 1825.
On the 3 November 1825 the Last Stone of the arch was laid by William Smith
and William Dickinson in the presence of Mr William Cross Snr at 10am.
On the 13 December 1826 (or 1825) the “Cinter” or Centre stone of the Battlement
was laid by Francis Johnson Ford Esq. one of the Magistrates of the
Hundred of Northwich, Cheshire.
Under a Copper Plate Mr Ford deposited one Half Crown, One Shilling,
one Sixpence and one Silver Sheffield “Jobu” with a value of sixpence.
Also deposited was one Copper Penny and one Half-Penny.
(See Ford)
1835 Nationally, Local Government came into being with the introduction of the
“British Municipal Corporations Act”.
This act led to the formation of the SANDBACH URBAN SANITARY DISTRICT
which operated between 1875 and 1894.
1836 An Independent (Congregational) Chapel was built in Hope Street in 1836.
In 1860 a Sunday School and burial ground were added to the site.
In 1893 an extension was added to house a new Schoolroom (Later used as
the Little Theatre by the Sandbach Players).
1837 Christ Church Wheelock opened.
5 Sept 1837 The Hope Street Chapel was opened and dedicated by Preacher Reverend J Hill
of Oxford and the Reverend Samuel Luke of Chester.
Sandbach in 1837 SANDBACH AT THIS TIME from a leaflet by E Wakefield.
No railway station in the town (see 4 May 1842) although a line had been opened
into Crewe in September 1937 which was then just a few houses and more a village
than a town.
The Literary Institute had not even been thought of and where the fountain
now stands outside this was a large garden.
There were no street lighting apart from the odd oil lamp and no pavements
in the town.
The Roads were cobbled like the Market Square is today with the Town Hall
in the Market Square (Where the War Memorial now Stands) which had
the Crosses opposite which had only just been restored to the town.
The George was the principal inn of the town and was the straight stopping place
for the London to Liverpool Stage Coach which came to the town three times a week.
High Street was only a narrow lane while Church Street and Hawk Street were the
main streets in the town.
At the rear of the newly built Hope Street Chapel were “Dickenson’s Gardens” a
Show place for Sandbach.
1838 Sandbach Celebrated the Coronation of Queen Victoria at Westminster Abbey
on the 28 June 1838 with an event on the Market Square.


1840 The Manchester to Crewe railway opened. (see railway).
1842 The South Porch of St Mary's was destroyed.
4 May 1842 SANDBACH STATION
The first train to run on this line was on the 4th May 1842 from
Manchester to Sandbach while the first train to Crewe didn't run until
the 10th August 1842 with six trains running a regular service.
The Rev. John Armitstead wrote in 1860 that there were seven trains
each way daily calling at the Sandbach and Holmes Chapel stations.
1843 Commons or Newfield Silk Mill built for John Woolley.
1844 Two "Poor Houses" on The Hill replaced by Workhouse in Arclid. (See Almshouses)
1846 On the 1st September 1846 the Rev. W Sylvester from the Hope Street Chapel
died (Aged 69).
On the day of his funeral the whole town turned out with all the shops shutting
in respect for the well-loved Preacher. A tombstone was paid for by public
subscription and laid on his grave in the Hope Street Chapel graveyard
(Now the Car Park to the side).
1847 - 1849 Sir George Gilbert Scott (.b. 13 July 1811 .D. 27 Mar 1878) reconstructed
St Mary's Church. (Built the Albert Memorial in London)
1850 The gate house at SandbachSchool was built by Sir George Gilbert Scott.
1850 Silk factory built on "The Hill" along with Mill Row (Chimney Row) houses for the
workers.
1850 In 1850 there were Twelve establishments recorded as Hotels, Inns, Taverns,
or Beer Houses.
1851 SANDBACH SCHOOL NEW BUILDING
The school moved onto its present site in 1851 when a building designed
by Sir George Gilbert Scott was finished. (see 1677)
1853 The 1st Public baths were opened in Sandbach on Newcastle Road.
1854 The Savings Bank was opened next to the Literary Institution (Now the Lloyds
Bank). It was built by Mr Thomas Stringer and designed by Jas Harrison.
1857 The Literary Institution was built by Sir George Gilbert Scott.
1857 Miss Sarah Sibson died leaving enough money to build St John's Church Sandbach
Heath.
1857 A New Country Police Station was erected in Bold Street at a cost of £800 with an
edifice of Brick and Stone. It has offices, cells and a residence for the chief officer.
In 1914 William Lawson was the Sergeant in charge with 6 men.
1859 Providence School built in Chapel Street. (Now the Scout Hall).
1860's Sandbach had 713 Houses and a population of 3252.
Its business was as shoe makers for the Manchester and Liverpool Markets and
Silk-throwsting activities.
Its buildings included, a Head Post Office, Railway station, Corn exchange, Banking
office, 3 Chief Inns, a Market place, A Town Hall, a County Police Station, a
Savings Bank (in the Tudor Style), Public Baths, a Fire engine station, a Church, 4
dissenting Chapels, a Grammar School, large national schools. It also had a weekly
market on a Thursday, an Easter Fair (Easter Tuesday) and Fairs on the Tuesday
after 12 September and on the 28th December.
Also in the market square are the Ancient Crosses.
1860 Brook Mill Opened.
12 June 1861 St John’s Church in Sandbach Heath was consecrated.
1862 Sandbach Industrial Co-operative Society (Limited) formed.
The “Sandbach Industrial and Co-operative Society Ltd No 2 Branch” was at
462 Crewe Road Wheelock now the Magus Electronics building.
1865 20 Almshouses were built in Sandbach on Newcastle Road. They were designed by
Sir George Gilbert Scott at a cost of £2,500.
1866 Wheelock Railway Station was opened (see 1930).
1866 The auctioneers Hilditch and Sons opened.
In 2004 it is being run by Andrew Hilditch at a different location.
1868 Salt works opened in Wheelock.
1870 George Hancock retired from the business, officially but still acted as a consultant
when the company became (Edwin Foden) FODEN AND HANCOCK.
1870 - 1880 Manchester District Bank built next to the Wheat sheaf Hotel.
Established in Manchester in 1829 the bank had branches in Sandbach,
Holmes Chapel and Elworth as part of 400 branches by 1906.
1871 Wesleyan Society open a Sunday school building on Church Street behind what is
now the Wesleyan Chapel (See 1872)
22 July 1871 Coroner for Mid Cheshire Mr Dunstan resumed the inquest into the death of
Joseph Birley and Samuel Hamerton who had been killed in a Railway Accident.
The Court was held at the Commercial Hotel, Sandbach.
1872 Wesleyan Chapel opened in Wesley Avenue. (See 1871)
24 Feb 1873 PC James Green (.b. 1836 .D. 24 Feb 1873) was murdered while on duty and
his body was dumped in the Trent and MerseyCanal near Elworth.
He was the first Cheshire officer to be killed on duty and is now buried
at St Peter’s Church along with his wife Ann.
A bridge in Moston is known as “StabbersBridge” after the event.
Born in Handbridge, Chester James Green had been a member of the
Cheshire Force for six years and was stationed at Bradwall near Sandbach.
It was while he was on plain clothes duty observing a James Buckley a farm worker,
known larcenist and petty pilferer of Moss Green near Elworth that PC Green was
attacked and dumped in the canal at Moss Bridge (Oakwood Lane / Moss Lane).
Buckley was arrested by Superintendent Rowbottom who found him working on
his farm with a bruised forehead, face, a lacerated nose and two black eyes
which the criminal put down to a branch falling on him while he was pruning
the tree.
At his trial evidence of tools including a garden fork were presented with
blood stains on them which specialists were unable to say had human blood
on them and Buckley said they were in fact pig’s blood.
After a 10 minute deliberation the jury acquitted Buckley of the murder a
clear case of injustice when a guilty man is set free due to a lack of evidence.
1874 Gas Works built near Brook Street Silk Mill.
1875 Williams delicatessen was opened for the first time. In 2004 it was being run as
Godfrey Williams and Son (David) and now is run by Godfrey’s grandson Daniel.
1875 -77 The area round the St Mary's church closed for extension work on the cemetery to
take place.
1876 The Town Water Fountain was moved due to the extension of the churchyard.
1876 The company “Foden and Hancock” changed to EDWIN FODEN AND SON.
1877 Sandbach Industrial Co-operative Society (Limited) built a factory and shops in
Bold Street.
1877 Andrew Martin (Timber Merchant and Saw Mill) – Established in 1877 at
Wheelock Nr Sandbach. They continued until after 1933.
1879 The Market moved from Market Square to the Common.
April 1885 An inquest was held into the death of Mr John Seaman (Aged 49) who died
after the paraffin lamp he was turning down exploded. This was one of
three deaths from the same cause that year that coroner Mr Deputy-Corner Blunt.
(20 Apr 1885 Gloucester Citizen Pg 3)
1885 to 1886 George William Latham (Liberal) (Crewe CONSTITUENCY) became the first MP
for the area representing Sandbach.
SANDBACH URBAN SANITARY DISTRICT 1875- 1894
1886 Sandbach Cricket Club was Formed.
4 Oct 1886 Living at Bradwall Hall was Mr George W. Latham M.P. who died on the
4 October 1886. Known thru-out Cheshire he was the founder of the
Bradwall Reformatory (Institute for Reforming Juvenile Offenders).
He suffered for many years from the most painful Malady and after
his death in 1886 his funeral was probably the largest public ceremony
in the town up until this date.
Mr George W. Latham was the area’s first M.P. representing the Crewe area
Between 1885 and 1886. After his funeral he was buried at St John’sChurch,
Sandbach Heath.


1888 The 2nd Town Hall was built. (In 1891 it was demolished)
Also used as a Magistrates Court with Police cells underneath.
1889 The Foundation Stone of the present Town Hall (3rd building) was laid
on the 2 July 1889.
September 1889 The local newspaper reported that the Snapes “BRITANNIA” Theatre
Started a second season of plays on Scotch Common Sandbach.
The season started on the 16th September 1889 with the play “The Dark City”
And ended on the 9 November 1889 with the two plays “Monte Christo” and
“Oliver Twist”. This would have been a portable theatre possibly in a
big tent which toured the country.
A report in the 8 May 1875 Chester Observer showed that Mr Snape had
applied to erect a theatre on the Common which had been rejected despite
having been to the town before.
1890 The Wheat Sheaf Hotel opened.
1890 J.P. EarwakerEsq. M.A.,F.S.A. published a book called the "History of Sandbach".
1890 Water fountain in the centre of the town donated by Lord Crewe. It was erected in
the middle of the Roundabout outside the Wheat sheaf Hotel.
c1890 Sandbach Cricket Club was founded on Crewe Road in about 1890.
In the 1980’s PICCAR took over the assets of the Foden Company and
decided to sell off the Cricket Ground at the top of Wells Street / Green Street
which has also held numerous Company sports days.
In the early 1980’s (before July 1984) the club moved to the former Fodens Company
Sports ground who had now moved all its sports activities to Elworth.
In 2005 an offer was put to the club by Morris Homes a housing company for
the land to build on and it was decided to sell the grounds in the town centre and
move to Hind Heath Road, Ettley Heath with a new playing field and pavilion
built by Termax who had no end of trouble building the pavilion as the ground
had an underground stream and sinking sand which collapsed drains in the area.
Oct 1890 The 3rdTown Hall was opened.
(Tuesday before 29 Oct / 1 Nov 1890 Newspaper coverage)
1891 Waterworks built near Dingle Lake. A Water tower was also constructed near the
Common. The Water Tower was demolished in 1962.
The Water Tower was designed by William W Wyatt (Civil Engineer of Whitchurch)
and was built by John Stringer (District Surveyor and Engineer) with a design that
resembled WindsorCastle.
1891 Sewage works opened on "The Hill". (see 1908)
1891 DingleLake created by Mr Walter Lea with an island in the middle.
1891 2nd Town Hall demolished.
2nd Town Hall in background.
1892 The Hungerford Café and Private Hotel opened next to the Town Hall.
Over the years the building has been a Co-op store (Closed 1994) and various
other shops and businesses.
19 Sept 1892 A new fountain in the middle of the town of Sandbach was handed over officially
to Lord Crewe. The fountain is positioned in the middle of the roundabout by the
Literary institute.
1893 The CONGLETON CHRONICLE started. It would later produce a version
called the SANDBACH CHRONICLE that continues to date.
In 1902 the Sandbach Chronicle was published and printed by Robert Head
(Or Robert Hend) with Miss Harriet Jones, Local Publisher (Saturday)
based in HighTown, Sandbach.
1893 On Wednesday the 30 August 1893 the Cheshire Agricultural Show was
held at Sandbach.
19 Sept 1893 On the 19 September 1893 Miss Manchester laid the foundation stone of a new
School building next to the Hope Street Chapel.
The extension was opened in early 1894 at a total cost of £850.
The building later became the home of the Sandbach Players until the Chapel
found Dry Rot in the building and they decided to sell the old School room.
1894 Mr W.J. Harper, R.A.I. (Lonson) wrote a history of Sandbach book
called “Old Sandbach”. Published in 1894 by James Hitchings at
Excelsior Works, Printers at Market Street, Hanley it was available for One Shilling.
1895 The Swan Hotel rebuilt by Mr John Stringer.
1896 “Wrights” the printers started in the town. The company produced leaflets
and publications at its Middlewich Road works for 117 years before it
closed in 2013.
Before its closure the company produced brochures for Bentley, Nissan, Michelin,
Odeon Cinemas, British Airways, Wrights Pies and since 2009 have sponsored and
produced leaflets and programmes for Foden’s Band.
In June 2012 the company went into administration but was rescued by
Andrew Schne the managing director who bought out the company.
However, on the 31 July 2013 the company went into liquidation and closed its
doors for the last time.
1897 The number 4 Branch of the Sandbach Industrial Co-operative Society (Limited)
opened in premises at the Top of "The Hill".
1897 The Marriott family donated land (Now the Park) and their house (Marriott House,
now the library) to the town.
It was described as a “TechnicalSchool, PublicGardens and PleasureGardens”
and was opened in November that year.
1897 The Town Celebrated the 60th Anniversary of Queen Victoria’s Coronation.
(From Sandbach Past and Present)
On the 22 June 1897 (Tuesday), Queen Victoria celebrated her Diamond Jubilee
Sandbach celebrated with a Methodist March.
Taking part were groups from the Primitive Methodist Sunday School and the
United Free Church
1899 Mr R.W. Tomlinson wrote a history of Sandbach book.
1899 R. A. TOMLINSON (A relative of R. W. Tomlinson who wrote the history
of Sandbach) Owned a building in High Street which was a Printers,
Bookseller and Stationer.
The building also housed the Sandbach Branch of
“THE MODERN CIRCULATING LIBRARY”
with the latest novels from the best authors as soon as they are published.
Books could be borrowed at a cost of 2d for four or seven days according
to the value of the book.
The shop also provided a Photographers which produced -
“Artistic Photographic Views of the District”
The company provided two series of Albums of Views each containing
18 Views of Sandbach and District from special photographs by
Valentine and Sons, Dundee at a price of One Shilling for each Series.
16-17 May 1900 INTERNATIONAL EVENT.
The “Relief of Mafeking” happened when British Soldiers were in South Africa
defending it from the Dutch settlers known as Boers who wanted independence
from Britain.
Unable to stop the Boers the British were penned in at the small African township
called Mafeking.
The town had been left under siege for 217 days until it was finally given its
freedom by the relief forces.
The British troops in the town were Commanded by Lt. Gen. Robert Baden-Powell
(Later founded the Scout Movement) who was made a national hero as he kept the
troops moral high and refusing to surrender.
The event was transmitted to Reuters in London at 9.17pm on Friday the
18 May 1900.
This was the event that eventually led to the formation of the FODEN’S BAND
which came into existence from the old Sandbach town band and Wheelock
Temperance Society Band who had been playing during an event to celebrate
the event at Mafeking.
26 May 1900 LOCAL EVENT IN SANDBACH
At 3pm on the 26 May 1900 Mr Francis Poole led a procession from Sandbach to
Elworth that included the “Sandbach Volunteer Brass band”.
Decorated floats and a new Foden Steam Traction engine joined the procession
and it was suggested by nearby Sandbach Chairman of the Council Cllr. H Billyard
that in the evening, all should meet on Sandbach Common for an informal
get together.
It was suggested that the bands lead the procession back to Sandbach and they
marched through Wheelock where they were joined by the Wheelock Temperance
Band. After various speeches it was planned to march back to Elworth for the
Evening bonfire, led by Wheelock Temperance Band.
However a local public house in Sandbach, offered free drinks to band members on
this day. Some of the Temperance members felt that by accepting this offer it was
seen as being against their beliefs and so they decide to take their instruments back to
Wheelock and failed to continue with the planned march back to Elworth.
The return event had groups depicting the Army and Navy leading a parade to
Elworth where a bonfire had been built on which effigies of the Boer leaders,
Kruger and Kronje were to be burned rather like Guy Fawkes on the 5 November.
The members of the Sandbach Volunteer Band also decided not to return to Elworth
as the offer of free drinks was too tempting and they stayed in the public House.
The organisers were not pleased at this snub to the celebrations and vowed that
Elworth would have its own independent band for these occasions. They met together
in the “The Commercial Hotel” in Elworth to discuss this new venture. Mrs Danvers
of the “Commercial Hotel” gave the first “Golden” Guinea towards the fund with
John Pring of “Wiremaster”, Thomas Plant a local gentleman, John Poole a boot and
shoe manufacturer and Edwin Foden all donated to the fund along with numerous
other local people.
In “The history of Fodens Motor Works Band” published in 1936 as a promotion
leaflet for the company, it described the events of the march and says –
“A vigorous demand for a Military March was passed down the line.
Not a trumpet or a drum was heard!
Jim Davies, a founder member told Allan Littlemore that the Wheelock Temperance
Band was tired and it had volunteered to go home and the procession returned
without musical honours.”
“Indignation, brought the Elworth leaders together on the very same night ….
Resolved forthwith that Elworth henceforth should be musically independent –
resolved also that a public subscription should be raised for the purpose of organising
and equipping a BRASS BAND.” The Band in question became FODEN’S BAND.
1901 The Park was opened in Sandbach.
27 May 1901 WHIT WEEK - DingleLake opened in Sandbach with a "Grand Swimming Gala". Mr Walter Lea was the Proprietor.
26 June 1902 Medal issued with the date 26 June 1902 and the words Saxon Crosses on it.
The reason for the medal is unknown. It is Possible it is to commemorate
the original date of the Coronation of King Edward VII which was planned
for the 26 June but due to the King getting appendicitis it was postponed
until the 9 August and many of the commemorative items were left with
the original date.
(c/o Sandbach Past and Present)
1902 The Boys Brigade was formed in Sandbach – 1st Sandbach and 1st Wheelock
Companies were formed. They were founded by the Reverend E. Hampden-Cook
from the Hope Street Chapel and lasted for over eight years meeting every
Wednesday at the Hope Street Sunday School. The group also had an annual
Summer camp at the Seaside.
On his retirement in 1912 the Boys Brigade held a reunion celebration of past
and present members to wish the Reverend Hampden-Cook well in the future.
1906 A. W. Dickenson's Exors, Ironmongers of 27-29 High Street, Sandbach were
established in 1906.
19 July 1906 An Express Goods Train from Manchester on the London and North-Western
Railway caught fire after passing through Sandbach Station.
July 1907 Dr CHARLES LATHAM died on the (6th or) 7 July 1907.
A prominent local physician, surgeon and registrar who worked in
Sandbach and a monument to him was erected outside the Town Hall on the
17 April 1908.
The reason for the monument is unsure but it is said that he would
treat the poor for no charge and so when he died a public collection
was made by the town with many of the poor (and rich) giving as much
as they could afford in memory of this kind doctor.
The Monument was later moved to the Park and now it finally situated
outside the Ashfield Primary Care Centre (Middlewich Road).
On the 3rd November 1867 the doctor, a member of the Royal College of Surgeons
(MRCS) delivered triplets to the wife of a brass dealer which was reported
in “The Lancet”.
Born in 1816 the third son of Richard and Sarah Latham he was also the nephew
of John Latham (1761 -1843). He went to ManchesterHospital to serve a
5 year apprenticeship with Scottish surgeon, Dr John Robertson.
He then became a dresser at Manchester Infirmary before moving to London to
obtain his MRCS and LSA at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.
Dr Latham then returned to Sandbach to become a partner with Mr Sutton.
On the 29 March 1842 he was appointed medical officer for the
Sandbach Relief District a position he held for 57 years before he retired
on the 22 December 1899.
On the 25 March 1845 Charles Latham was appointed to be the medical officer
to the District after the Workhouse was opened. This was another role he held for a
long period of 60 years.
For 30 years he was the public Vaccinator and surgeon to the
Bradwall Reformatory from its foundation in 1873 until the 19 March 1903.
Before his death he was also the registrar of births and deaths in the town,
handing over this duty to his son in 1888.
Dr Charles Latham (.b. 1816 .D. (6th or) 7 July 1907.)
1843 Married Miss Mary Newnham Cobbe
(Daughter of William Venables Cobbe of Hough, Near Wybunbury)
1845 Son Richard Venables Latham
1849 Son William Henry Latham
1851 Daughter Catherine Maria Latham
1852 Son George Frederick Latham
1854 Daughter Louisa Mary Latham
1856 Son Harry Newham Latham
1857 Son Francis Gordon Latham
(see Mr George W. Latham M.P. 4 Oct 1886)






1908 Sewage works closed on "The Hill". (see 1891)
17 April 1908 Monument to Dr Charles Latham unveiled outside the Town Hall. (See above)
Platform dignitaries were Colonel John Kennedy (Brookside, Arclid),
Mr Ezra Harthern (Blackacres), Mr E Holland (Hounding’s Lane),
Reverend John Richard Armistead (Vicar and Chairman of the Memorial Fund
Committee), Mr J M Yates (Hassell Hall) and Mrs Kennedy who unveiled the
memorial. She was the wife of Colonel Kennedy and sister to the
Reverend Armitstead.
1910 1910 Sir Ernest Craig speaking in Sandbach on the Market Square a number of
pictures show him talking from the back of a carriage outside some shops
on the Market Square. In attendance were Mr Arthur Alcock the Sexton of
St Mary’s Church, Mr Billie Mainwaring the Undertaker (Double Fronted Shop
at the Centre of the Picture), Mr E.R. Foden and Mrs Furnival in the doorway
of her sweet shop.
(MP for Crewe 1912 to 1918 and 1924 to 1929 = Sir Ernest Craig, Bt - Conservative)


(Speech by Sir Ernest Craig - From Sandbach Past and Present)
Ernest Craig had been a pupil at SandbachSchool as a boarder in Mr Imrie’s House
in the Headmastership of Mr Evans and Mr Chambers and was the first of its pupils
tobecome a Member of Parliament.
1910 The Dingle Lake froze over and was used as a skating rink.
1 Oct 1910 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND WIN THE DOUBLE.
On the 1 October 1910William Halliwell conducted the band in the second
major competition of the year and winning first place with both gave them a
unique Double Win in the Brass Band World with the “British Open Championships”
and now the National Championship trophies in their cabinet it would not be done
again for many years and in 2012 they did it all over again (See 20 Oct 2012)
WINNING TUNES
“Acis and Galatea” by Handel arranged by C Godfrey (British Open 5 Sept 1910)
“Gems of Schubert” (National Championship 1 Oct 1910) arranged by
William Rimmer.
1911 CREWE ROAD JUNIOR SCHOOL opened.
Designed by A Price and Son it was constructed by John Huxley of Malpas in 1911.
In 1933 the school had room for 450 students.
By 2013 it was the SandbachCommunityPrimary School.
1912 Congleton Chronicle started.
June 1912 New Wesleyan Chapel opened at Elworth. Costing £1,700 of which £1,200
was donated by the late Edwin Foden’s estate.
Miss A Foden opened the Chapel door and Miss H Hollinshead opened the
Sunday School door with the service afterwards conducted by the
Rev F.L. Wiseman.
23 April 1913 King George V and Queen Mary visited Sandbach. They were accompanied by the
Marquis of Crewe, K.G.
A Special Medal was made for the tour with a picture of the King and Queen on
the Head and the tail side was the date they visited each town on their tour.


(Visit of the King and Queen in 1913. Band at front not Foden’s Band see below)


The Pewter Medal for Sandbach included the Saxon Crosses on one side and the
King and Queen on the reverse. In 1977 one of the coins was discovered by
Mr George Kesteven (Aged 41) of Abbey Road when he was at the Malkins Bank
Tip along with a number of other coins.


(Coin c/o Sandbach Past and Present)
23 April 1913 am FODEN MOTOR WORKS BAND PLAY FOR KING AT CREWE.
The FODEN band played for King George V and Queen Mary by Royal Command.
E.R. Foden decided that nothing was too good for the band and so he purchased a
new set of uniforms in the “Prussian Style” for the band in 1912 to be worn on stage.
These new uniforms were put to good use when in 1913 it was announced that
King George and Queen Mary would be visiting the North West and Midlands in
April 1913 to see the “Industrial North” and would be staying at Crewe Hall the
residential home of the Marquis of Crewe.
A request for the band to play in front of the King and Queen and a programme was
put together with the assistance of Lady Crewe.
On the morning of the 23 April 1913 the band travelled by Steam Wagon to Crewe
Hall where they got into their new uniforms and at 9.30am they played the following
programme in front of the hall.
PROGRAMME
Overture from Bohemian Girl (Balf)
Merry Widow Selection (Lehar)
Selection from Tannhauser (Wagner)
The Lost Chord (Sullivan) (Cornet Solo Edwin Firth)
Selection from Yeomen of the Guard (Sullivan)
Waltz from The Dollar Princess (Fall)
After the band had played this selection of music the Marquis of Crewe was
instructed to convey their Majesties congratulations and asked the band if they would
be prepared to play the following day at 9am with a much longer programme.
This they did.
Selection from William Tell (Rossini)
Waltz from Salome
Cleopatra (Damare) (Cornet Solo Edwin Firth)
Evening Bells
Waltz from Inspiration
March from The King’s Courier
Selection from The Quaker Girl
March ‘Honest Toil’ (Rimmer)
Overture from Light Cavalry (Suppe)
Waltz from The Merry Widow (Lehar)
Overture from Tancredi (Rossini)
March from Harlequin
After the event the King and Queen congratulated William Halliwell and the band
and as the Royal Cortège left Crewe Hall, Foden’s played the National Anthem.
The King and Queen then went to Congleton for a short visit as part of their tour
of Cheshire. A decorated canopy was erected in-front of the Town Hall where they
were welcomed by the Mayor Councillor W I Fern and the Mayoress Miss Fern.
1913 Elworth Cricket Club was founded as the Mount Pleasant Cricket Club.
In 1927 the club moved to its present location on London Road,
Elworth with a tenancy agreement with the Poole family who owned the land.
The first team captain was Francis Poole.
In 2013 the daughters of Francis Poole (Jennie Woodham, Val Corbett and
Chrissy Boyd agreed to sell the land to the Cricket club for £45,000 an
amount that Allan Littlemore its oldest serving member (Joined in 1951)
started fundraising for in August 2012 reaching its target in September 2013.
£10,000 was donated by Sandbach Town Council in April 2013.
1914 POPULATION (1914 Kelly’s Directory Pages 552 to 556)
URBAN DISTRICT WARDS East 2,707; North 1,975; West 1,041
SANDBACH ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH 4,171 and Sandbach Heath 1,258
Parish Clerk William Nock
Sexton Arthur Allcock
1914 POST OFFICE – Post, M.O., T and Telephone Express Delivery Office,
Bradwall Road (Letters should have Cheshire Added)
Postmaster William M. John
Letter arrive from all parts of the Kingdom at 3 and 5.45am, 12.45pm,
3pm and 6.15pm and are delivered at 7am, 1.10pm, 3.15pm and 6.30pm.
Letters are dispatched from Sandbach at 10.30am, 11.15am, 3pm, 9.30pm and 10pm.
Money Orders are granted and paid from 8am till 8pm (Opening Hours)


(Post Office opened after 1902 and before 1914) 1932 Picture location in Bradwall Road.


One lady recalled that during this period of time because mail was delivered
on size she wanted to send a copy of the local Chronicle to her relative and
regularly put the paper through her Mangle (To squeeze clothes dry) to
make it smaller.
1914 URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL
Meetings at the Town Hall on the 2nd Monday in the Month at 7pm
CHAIRMAN Alfred Ernest Poole
VICE CHAIRMAN James Proudlove
EAST WARD RETIRE FROM OFFICE (Changed at outbreak of War)
James Buckley April 1915
Charles Wardle April 1915
George Boulton April 1916
Matt. Hassall Eardley April 1916
Edward Butler April 1917
Walter Lea April 1917
NORTH WARD RETIRE FROM OFFICE (Changed at outbreak of War)
Alfred Ernest Poole April 1915
Arthur Buckley April 1915
George Newall April 1916
James Proudlove April 1917
George Wright April 1917
WEST WARD RETIRE FROM OFFICE (Changed at outbreak of War)
Ralph Ruscoe April 1915
Alfred Price April 1916
Edward Holland April 1917
OFFICIALS
CLERK Alfred Edward Stringer of 3 Crewe Road.
TREASURER John William Twigg of the
Manchester and Liverpool District BankLtd, High town
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH Robert Riddell M.B., C.M. Edinburgh of
West View, Crewe Road.
SURVEYOR AND SANITARY INSPECTOR John Rowland Price of
16a Welles Street
MARKET INSPECTOR AND RATE AND WATER RENT COLLECTOR
Amos Wood of 7 High Street.
POLICE SERGEANT William Lawson with 6 men.
FIRE SUPERINTENDENT Edmund Allen with 10 Men.
1914 CHURCHES
St Mary’s Rev. Canon John Richard Armitstead
St John’s Rev Charles Edward Muckleston
St Winefrede Catholic Chapel Rev. Patrick Kearney
Congregational Hope Street Rev William Plaskett
Primitive Methodist (Welles St) Rev David Rogers
United MethodistChurch (Bradwall Road) Rev. Arthur Lee
Wesleyan (Seaman’s Bank) Rev William Brookes
Wesleyan (Sandbach Heath) Rev William Brookes
1914 SCHOOLS
George William Braddock (School Attendance Officer) at Park Lane, Sandbach
Council – Chapel Street (erected 1874) Miss Jane Cheetham (Mistress)
Miss Mary Ann Wood (Assistant Mistress)
Council SeniorSchool, Crewe Road (Built 1912 – or 1911)
Arthur Maskelyne (Master)
CreweRoadSecondary School (NowPrimary School)
Grammar School at Wheelock Rd S.W. Finn M.A. (Headmaster)
Miss A Henrietta Harris (Private School) at 59 High Street, Sandbach
The Square (Built 1841) William Nock (Master)
Miss Annie Robbins (Mistress)
Sandbach Heath (erected 1866 and enlarged 1891) Arthur William Allen (Master)
Miss Maude Newall (Mistress)
Miss Annie Hoole (Infants Mistress)
Sandbach School (Built 1677) Private School with some pupils sponsored
in Crewe Rd.
St Mary’s Church – National Day School (Built in 1841 and closed in 1961)
Wheelock Primary (1871 OldBuilding / 19 Nov 1973 New Building)
1914 NEWSPAPERS.
Crewe Chronicle
12 Welles Street, Sandbach – John Frost agent (Published Fridays)
Sandbach Chronicle (Robert Head Publisher and Printer)
Jessie and Miss M A Wood 7 HighTown, Sandbach, Local Publisher
(Published Saturdays)
Sandbach Guardian (Mackie and Co Limited publisher and Printer – Saturday)
Miss Mary J Jones Agent at HighTown, Sandbach
Sandbach and Middlewich Advertiser (Swain and Co Limited – Proprietors
and Printers – Friday) 43 Middlewich Road, Sandbach
1914 DAIRY
By 1914 Sandbach had its own Dairy with the
“Lancashire Hygienic Dairies Limited” based on Congleton Road.
There was also a Lancashire Creameries Limited
at Bosley, North Rode near Congleton. Shepherds Dairies Limited at
63 Market Street, Crewe and 6 Witton Street, Northwich.
The Lancashire Hygienic Dairies Limited was based in Manchester and produced
“Superior Pasteurised Cream” which was sold all over the area. As a company it
possibly started prior to 1898 when it issued shares in the company.
10 Mar 1914 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT – SandbachTown Band (Paid £15)
1 Concert
May 1914 St Winefride’s Roman Catholic Church opened on Middlewich Road.
22 June 1914 Mr G Venables the Vice Chairman of Sandbach School’s Governors was killed
when he was knocked down by a bicycle rider outside his home.
7 July 1914 The Sandbach Urban District Council clerk read a letter from the
Secretary of the National Relief Committee in London asking for Sandbach
to open a fund to keep the people of Belgium alive. This was adopted by the Council.
1914-18 World War 1. The Great War between Britain and Germany
28July 1914 to 11 November 1918.
“Abbey Fields” a large House on an estate accessed from the Middlewich Road
near Abbey Lane was converted into a Hospital for the wounded.
The Reverend William Plaskettfrom the Hope Street Chapel not only looked
after Sandbach and Wheelock but was also the Free Church Chaplin at Abbeyfields.
His wife and daughter Rene also worked in the Hospital as VAD auxiliary nurses.
It was also a sad time for the Reverend Plaskett and his family as their eldest son
William Chris Plaskettwas killed in the fighting (29 July 1916).
Another VAD Nurse working at the hospital was Millicent Eva Ash who lived at the
Lakes Farm in Ettley Heath. Later she married Ted Johnson.
FAMILY - Father William Ash born in 1860 farmer in Ettley Heath with his
wife Grace Ash (.b.1863 in Sandbach) and their children Nesta Lillie Ash
(.b.1883 in Sandbach), Norman Ash (.b. 1890 in Sandbach) and
Millicent Eva Ash born in 1894 in Sandbach. (Details from the 1901 Census)
(Millicent Eva Ash)
At the age of 13 Millicent’s mother died leaving the family to work together
with their father on the farm and Millicent had to leave school and education
behind. She helped out by selling the families vegetables outside the Town Hall
on the market.
Millicent worked with EssbaTwemlow the daughter of Sam Twemlow who
later married Jack Hawthorne and lived opposite the Grange.
They both learnt the basics of medicine working with very primitive treatments
including the use of Iodine, Sulphur and Soap and Water to make sure the hygiene
levels were kept. Miss Ash remembers that there were a number of suicides at
the Hospital when the soldiers were unable to recover from their wounds and
the terrible traumas they had witnessed at the front.


Picture from Sandbach Past and Present website.
Aug 1914 The War Office ordered 10 Steam Wagons from Foden’s Motor Works
at three days’ notice making the employees work over the Bank Holiday Weekend
and later the Wakes weekend to finish the order.




19 Aug 1914 It was suggested by Sandbach Urban District Council that surplus funds
from the Dramatic Society (Possibly Sandbach Amateur Dramatic Society)
were donated to the Relief Committee. It was not confirmed that this
happened in minutes from the Council files.
Aug 1914 Men of all ages signed up to join the forces.
SANDBACH SCHOOL
At SandbachSchool they published “The Sandbachian” which included a list of
those who had joined up to fight in the war. The magazine was published
three times a year and then reduced to one edition a year until after the war.
More than 200 students signed up with 35 students and one Master being killed.
After the war the names of the fallen were put on a memorial in the school chapel.
The first ex pupil to be killed in action was Second Lieutenant Alfred John Haughton
who had been at the school between 1892 and 1898. He was in the Cricket XI
of 1896 and 1898 and the Football XI in 1897. A. J. Haughton was a member
of the 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry and was killed on 24 July 1915
at Flanders (Arrived in France and Flanders17 April 1915).
In late May 1915 the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Battalions were part of a force that was
sent to slow the German assault on the Bellwaarde Ridge the last battle of the
Second Battle of Ypres.
Keiser Wilhelm II inspired a branch of the “Miniature Rifle Association” that
included 16 year old William George Upton who won many rifle shooting
competitions and was also a keen pilot. The School’s Rifle Club for many
years featured in the Sandbachian (School Magazine published three times a
year before the war and once a year between 1915 and 1918. It was at this time
printed by Eachus and Son, The Square, Sandbach) over many editions.
William Upton took part in class debates and was able to pinpoint British Troops on
a Map of France during Geography lessons.
However, on the 4 October 1918 at the age of 20 William George Upton died
when his plane a Sopwith Camel was shot down five miles over enemy lines
during a fire-fight over Roulers in Belgium.
He is buried at DadizelleCemetery in Belgium and commemorated with a
plaque in St Mary’s Church (On the Right when looking at the altar).


Miniature Rifle Association.
12 Sept 1914 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT – Sandbach
Sandbach Co-op Society’s Fate (Paid £12)
Commencing 1.45pm. Play in Procession (Tea Provided)
27 Sept 1914 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT – Sandbach
One afternoon concert for the National Relief Fund.
If wet 4 Oct 1914
October 1914 Belgian Refugees are welcomed into Sandbach with some of them going to work
in the Foden Factory. Ernest Wakefield a Pattern Maker of Eva Street, Elworth
(Lived with his wife and two young daughters at the time) had attended evening
classes to learn French and was given the task of interpreting for the Belgium
employees at the works.
Two of the women refugees who came over from Antwerp (Antwerpen)
joined the Red Cross Working parties to help raise funds for the
Abbey Field Hospital in Sandbach.
Madam Philomena Deliagewho now lived at HighTown, Sandbach
having previously lived at Boervase Street, Antwerpen (Antwerp) and
Madam Maria Van Lyntwho was staying at Wheelock House, Wheelock and
originally had been at 154 Sg. Horbrocksn. Antwerp.
28 Oct 1914 Samuel Bolshaw Killed in action.
(Sandbach Methodist Church and on the Market Square Memorial)
NUMBER Private 1st Battalion Kings Royal Rifles
DIED / AGE – Killed in action on the 28 Oct 1914.
BURIED Unknown
FAMILY His father had died before his son’s death while his mother lived
in Middlewich Road, Holmes Chapel.
He managed a Butcher’s shop in 8 Welles Street, Sandbach for
his Aunt Mrs Mary Bolshaw, who he had lived with since the age
of 12. He attended CranageSchool and had been a member of
the School Choir.
He later trained as a butcher.
At the start of the 20th century Samuel joined the army and served in
Egypt, Malta and Gibraltar for seven years.
He was one of the Crack Shots in the Regiment and in one year
he won the battalion prize.
He then left the army when his Uncle John Edward Bolshaw died
and his aunt asked him to take over the butchers shop as manager for her.
On the 4 August 1914 he received his papers instructing him to re-enlist
which he did at Winchester.
Samuel was one of the first men in Sandbach to be killed in Action.
20 Dec 1914 FODENS BAND CONCERT at Sandbach (Venue Unknown)
In Aid of the War Relief Fund.
On the 14 December 1914 (Monday) Sandbach Urban District Council were
asked if they could let the War Relief Committee use the Town Hall
Free of Charge in the event that it was raining on the day of the event, next Sunday.
This was granted unanimously.
1915 (Date Unkn) Pickford’s ordered 50 steam wagons from Fodens.
1915 (Date Unkn) Foden’s issued a badge in 1915 to all employees with the words
“On War Work” inscribed on it to stop people thinking the workers were
not doing their best for the war effort. Some Suffragettes pinned white feathers
on those young men not in uniform as a sign of cowardess and this badge gave
the employees some security from this misconception.
1915 (Date Unkn) Workers at Foden’s demanded an extra 5/- a week for a 54 hour week
(on Top of their current wage of £2 a week). This didn’t go down well with the
Foden family and many who had joined a Union were asked to leave the union
or be sacked. The Union held a mass meeting where 304 people to 13 voted to strike.
The Foden family decided however to bring in “Black Leg” labour and issued an
ultimatum to its workers to return to work or be sacked.
The workers had to survive on 17/6 a week on strike pay. (see June 1915)
3 Feb 1915 The Crewe Parliamentary Division Recruiting Committee applied to the
Sandbach Urban District Council on the 21 Jan 1915 to hold a recruiting meeting
on the 3rd Feb 1915 at the Town Hall (Free of Charge).
March 1915 Pub house opening hours in industrial areas in March 1915 were reduced to
stop all day drinking from 5am in the morning to 12.30pm at night to 12 noon
until 2.30pm and 6.30pm to 9.30pm. In rural areas the opening hours stayed
the same allowing all day drinking.
May 1915 The Chronicle recorded the death of Frank H Knowles aged 35 the licensee
of the New Inn at Betchton.
He had died while out shooting rabbits. His body was found by Ernest Leese a
local boy who found the body in Love Lane said that a gun was by the man’s side.
West Cheshire Coroner Mr J C Bate and the jury decided that death was due to
accidental causes.
June 1915 Foden workers returned to work by June 1915 with the Union gaining a 2/- increase
and the reinstatement of sacked workers. One exception was Jim Wakefield
(the brother of Edward) who went on to work for Rolls Royce.
11 Aug 1915 A £1 reward was offered by the Superintendent of the Bradwall Training School,
Sandbach for the apprehension of John James Stanfield who absconded from the
Reformatory on the 8th instant (11 Aug 1915 Poster) and is supposed to have
enlisted, or to have gone to Belfast.
Any information to be sent to the School (Tel 40 Sandbach) or to Superintendent
of Police, Police Station, Middlewich.


28 Sept 1915 A detachment of the 3/7th Territorial Battalion Cheshire Regiment under
Major Taylor visited Congleton on the Monday in connection with a
Recruiting Rally of the Western Command after marching from Macclesfield.
On the Tuesday morning (28 Sept 1915) they visited Sandbach and were given a
Grand Military Smoking Concert in their honour at the Town Hall in the presence
of the Mayor of the Town. There will also be a boxing competition and local
personality Ex-Sergeant, now Pioneer Noah Kennerly, of the Cheshire Regiment
depot appeared in new patriotic sketches.
Oct 1915 Sandbach Council formed themselves into a Committee for the purpose of
sending Christmas Presents to all the men from Sandbach who were serving
at the front. By November packages for Soldiers and Sailors were being sent
to the Dardanelles in order to reach them by Christmas.
Each parcel contained a card bearing the Cheshire Coat of Arms and inscribed
“From the Ancient Town of Sandbach to her gallant sons at home
and abroad, who have answered the call and are fighting, or eager to fight, on
sea or land, for liberty, for freedom, for motherland and home, wishing them
a happy Christmas and joyful homecoming. God Save the King 1915”.
Nov 1915 MP for theEddisbury area Captain Harry Barnston announced that as he was a
Soldier in the Cheshire Yeomanry, fighting for his country and at the
same time the area’s MP he would return the cheque for his work as a
Member of Parliament as he was unable to do his constituency duty.
He had in reality always put the cheques into a separate bank account,
only spending it on public services as he is strongly opposed in principal
to the payment of Members of Parliament.
He was however Sir Harry Barnston, 1st Baronet MA JP DL son of
Major William Barnston of Crewe Hall and Mary Emma King.
In 1906 he stood unsuccessfully in Stockport but was elected for Eddisbury,
Cheshire from 1910 until his death on the 27 February 1929.
He became a Controller of the Household from 1921-1924 and Nov 1924 to
Jan 1928. In 1924 he was created a Baronet.
Nov 1915 Figures were released of those effected by Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria and
Typhoid Fever in the town with Sandbach having 17 cases compared with 94
in Congleton.
Nov 1915 Mr S Maskery and Co (Bakers) announced that with great regret that due to an
increase in the cost of Raw ingredients that he would have to increase the cost of
his Congleton Gingerbread. A tin of 1½lb would cost 1/10d, a 3lb tin = 3/7d,
4½lb = 5/3d and a 6½lb tin costs 7/6d.
Special tins for the troops were also available with Christmas Boxes to Soldiers
and Sailors in the Dardanelles and Egypt via Parcel Post costing 2/9d, 3/6d, 5/1d
and 6/9d.
Some of those who received the Christmas Parcels sent letters to
Cllr James Proudlove the Chairman of the Sandbach Urban District Council
thanking them for the gift.
D.W. Beard of the Royal Flying Corps,
Private H Bowyer in the Trenches,
Private T Vine,
Private Cecil Mason of the 2/7 Battalion Cheshire Regiment,
Chas Cooke of the Machine Gun Section, 8thSouth Lancashire Regiment,
T Pratt writing from France,
Private Albert Bullock attached to the Second Irish Guards,
Private A Mainwaring,
Captain A Chapman,
PrivateAPass,
Private J T Snelson of the 3rd Battalion 7thCheshire Regiment,
Private H Morrey of the 68th Welsh Division, Cyclist Company.
Nov 1915 In Macclesfield the British Motor Bus Company who ran the local service
started to employ lady conductors on their routes after Cheshire County Council
set up a committee to promote the employment of women in agriculture and
other jobs in the area including on the railway with female booking clerks,
ticket collectors and carriage cleaners. The bus routes probably included trips
to Sandbach and Crewe, similar to those run today.
8 Dec 1915 On Wednesday the 8 December 1915 the Headmaster of Sandbach School,
Headmaster Sidney Wallace Finn MA was officially appointed “Attesting Officer”
under Lord Derby’s Scheme to recruit soldiers in the area.
On the 9th and 10th December (Thursday and Friday) men flocked to
SandbachSchool to be attested and classroom A was turned into a recruiting room.
(see Below)
Dec 1915 Khaki Armlets were distributed to the men of Sandbach who had attested under
Lord Derby’s Scheme in the Town Hall on Wednesday evening.
The Town Hall was full of those who waited their turn to receive the symbol
of Patriotism.
The first wave of recruits under the Derby scheme were encouraged to join up
in December 1915 and had until the 29th January to report to their unit.
If they needed more time before joining up they had until the 30 December 1915
to lodge an appeal to be placed in a later group of recruits.
(Reprinted in Sandbach Chronicle 31 Dec 2015)
Lord Derby was appointed British Minister of War between 1916 and 1918 and
had been brought into the Wartime Coalition Government in 1915 when he was
given the job of being the public face on the issue of Conscription after he had
proved his support in Liverpool during August 1914 when he encouraged the
idea of the PALS BATTALIONS where men from a town could all serve
together in one unit.
Asquith appointed Lord Derby as Director-General of Recruitment in 1915 and
he unveiled what became known as the DERBY SCHEME which was a recruitment
policy where young men could give their “Assent” to being called up if needed
with Single men being called up first and the government promising to only call up
Married Men last.
In the Spring of 1915 enlistment averaged 100,000 men per month but this figure
was dwindling and it was soon decided to raise the upper age limit in May 1915
from 38 to 40 years old. On the 15 July 1915 the Government passed the
National Registration Act to discover how many men were between the age of
15 to 65 and who were eligible to be enlisted. The act, like the census of 1911
asked for occupations so the Government could decide who were needed on the
home front and who could be asked to join up. By Mid-September 1915 the results
showed that there were 5 million males of military age who were not in the forces
or in “Starred” (or Protected, High or Scarce skill) Jobs.
On the 11 October 1915 (Edward George Villiers Stanley) Lord Derby’s Scheme
(or officially the “Group Scheme”) started to recruit single men to join the war
and men aged between 18 to 40 with events in public places to recruit those who
wanted the chance to enlist voluntarily or attest (Sign up) with an obligation to
be called up later with the last date of the scheme to sign up being the
15 December 1915.
Once signed up the volunteers were segregated into groups. Those who
volunteered but wanted to defer service were put into “Class A” while those who
wanted to join immediately were put into “Class B”. Class A men were paid a day’s
army pay for the day they Attested and were given a grey armband
(or Khaki Armlets) with a red crown on it to signify that they had volunteered
and were officially transferred to the Section B Army Reserve before being
sent hometo await their call up.
Those who were Called up were done so according to age groups from
Single Men born in 1897 = Group 1 to those born in 1875 = Group 23
and Married Men born from 1897 = Group 24 to those born in 1875 = Group 46.
They were then mobilised between (Group 1) the 28 Mar 1916 and (Group 46)
the 13 June 1916.
(See also http://www.1914-1918.net/derbyscheme.html)
In some areas like Sandbach the scheme was popular however it didn’t produce
enough men to satisfy the demand with only 350,000 putting their names forward
and so in January 1916 Conscription was introduced via the Military Service Act.
24 Dec 1915 DEATH IN WW1
NUMBER Pte 58191 20th Battalion Canadian Infantry(Central Ontario Regiment)
DIED / AGE – Killed in Action 24 Dec 1915 Aged 23.
It was with great sadness that the Foden Motor Works Band learned of the death
of its first ex member of the band during World War 1.
Pte 58191 HARRY BOWYER was serving in the Canadian Infantry
(Central Ontario Regiment) as a bandsman and stretcher-bearer.
On the 24 December 1915 he was attending wounded soldiers when he was
killed at the age of 23.
He is buried at RidgeWoodMilitaryCemetery, in West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
(Grave number II K1) and like Edwin Firth (.D.1 June 1918) he is commemorated
on the Elworth War Memorial.
The second son of Mr and Mrs John Bowyer of East Elworth Harry served his
apprenticeship in the blacksmith’s shop at Foden’s Motor Works in Elworth
and joined the Brass Band along with his father John Bowyer (Dates Not listed).
He had also been a keen sportsman and played football as a half-back and
won 6 medals, which he distributed to his family before he left to find employment
abroad.
In 1912 Harry emigrated to Toronto in Canada where he found employment with
a Military Band.
In 1915 the Contingent arrived at Shorncliffe and Harry obtained leave to see his
family in Elworth the first time in four years. On the 14th September 1915 his
regiment was sent to France where he played with the band and was a
stretcher bearer on the front.
On the 24 December 1915 while he was attending the wounded he was killed.
Captain Nicholson wrote to his parents – “All I can say is that in my opinion a more
glorious sacrifice could not be made by a soldier and a gentleman as he was.
It was a terrible shock to me and my heart goes out to you and I want you to know
that he will be remembered by me and his comrades as a brave soldier
and true friend.
1916 (Poss Jan) Private Enoch Gater of 69 Park Lane, Sandbach sent a letter back home to his
parents telling them of a narrow escape he had while serving with the
Cheshire Regiment. A large piece of Shrapnel caught a cigarette box he had
in his left breast pocket and bounced off it towards his hand grazing it which
undoubtedly saved him from serious injury. Enoch intended to send home the
Cigarette box to his family as a souvenir.
POSSIBLE FAMILY in 1911 Census at 45 Sandbach Heath (The Hill).
Enoch Gater (Head) .b. 1852/3 (Aged 59) in Kidsgrove (Steam Engine Fitter 1901 /
Turner at Chemical Works 1911) (Died 1925 aged 72 in Sandbach)
Martha Gater (Wife) .b. 1859 (Aged 52) in Sandbach
Married 27 Years. Children Born to family 10. Children still alive 5. Children died 5.
Leonard Gater (Son) .b. 1892 (Aged 19) in Sandbach
(Apprentice Turner at Foden Motor Works)
Enoch Gater (Son) .b. 1897 (Aged 14) in Sandbach (Bricksetters Labourer)
Samuel Gater (Son) .b. 1900 (Aged 11) in Sandbach (At School)
(Also on St Mary’s List of Soldiers with an Ernest andJamesGater)
Harold Gater (Son) .b. 1901 (Aged 10) in Sandbach (At School)
ST MARY’S SANDBACH GRAVE
Enoch Gater .b. 1896 .D. 4 May 1965
Also in the Grave are –
James, Mary, Martha and Miriam your children who died in infancy.
John Gater their son .D. 5 Apr 1905 aged 24 (.b. 1881).
It is possible that this is a family grave and it was the grave of (Father) Enoch Gater
(.D. Jan 1925) who’s family is that above along with his Son Enoch who died in 1965
when the names were re-registered in the church records.
Those who died in infancy are 4 of the 5 children noted in the 1911 Census.
By the 1901 and 1911 Census John Gater had moved out of Sandbach.
1916 Private Tom Shaw has been awarded the Military Medal.
The son of Mrs Shaw of Wheelock who was informed of the glad tidings by
Lieutenant Thompson who wrote -
“Private Shaw has been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the
recent offensive and for the following incident: after being wounded he took
his gun into a dangerous position to repel a counter attack and by his behaviour
rallied his team under heavy machine-gun fire.”
Private Shaw had been injured in the arm by shrapnel.
He was a former employee of Brunner Mond at Malkins Bank.
Jan 1916 Sandbach Urban District have granted licences to the
Crosville Motor Bus Company for four buses, eleven drivers
and eight conductors to cover the town.
(14 Jan 1916 Nantwich Guardian Page 4)
Jan 1916 Sandbach Urban District have allowed the use of a room at
Marriott House to the Free Gardeners for a meeting of delegates at the usual fee.
(14 Jan 1916 Nantwich Guardian Page 4)
Jan 1916 The Ley (Land Temporarily under Grass) at Sandbach Park was let to
Mr Harry Young of the Commons for £6 per year.
Feb 1916 Zeppelins were seen flying over Sandbach prompting the town to start
“Blackout procedures”.
1916 Women started working at Foden’s as many of the men had been called up.
21 May 1916 British Summertime started by act of Parliament. The Idea of British Summertime
was campaigned for by William Willett to allow more time for Farm workers to
work in the fields during daylight hours.
23 May 1916 A large Circus appeared in the town on the 23 May 1916 (Tuesday).
It was decided that SandbachSchool should have an extra holiday in the afternoon
of the Circus to allow the pupils to attend the entertainment.
(Venue not mentioned but possible behind the GeorgeHotel where various fates
were held)
27 May 1916 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT – Sandbach May Festival
A picture has come to our attention which shows what happed to the “Prussian Style
Uniforms” that were worn by Fodens band but had to be abandoned because of their
association with the Great War (Purchased in 1913). It shows Joiners at Fodens
Motor Works winning first prize at the Sandbach Festival with a mock up
German Zeppelin on top of a Steam Wagon wearing the uniforms along with
other soldiers in costume.
A Parade went from Elworth via the Market Square
(Picture of float above outside the Black Bear on the Market Square)
The festival raised £538 which after expenses was reduced to £371.00
of which £300 was donated to make a Y.M.C.A. Hut in France to be named
the “Sandbach Hut”.
The event also crowned its first MAY QUEEN in Sandbach.
She was Barbara Sophia Foden aged 12, the daughter of William Foden.






8 June 1916 WAR RELIEF FUND
Chairman Mr Alfred Ernest Poole
(1914 Chairman of Sandbach Urban Council)
Below are some of the cases featured in their files.
Mrs Elisabeth Bowen of Crewe Road, Sandbach had been given an allowance
of 3/10 Per week. She was by now working at Brunner Mond where she
was earning 3/23 per week and so it was suggested that her allowance be
suspended while she was working at Malkins Bank. (8 June 1916 Meeting)
Joseph Chambers was being given an old aged pension from the fund, but
his wife was earning a little money by taking in washing and so the
committee resolved to reduce their payment.(8 Dec 1916 Meeting)
Mr James Lees of 25 Forge Fields who had joined the Cheshire Regiment on
the 10th December 1915 was discharged from the army on the 24 July 1917.
He applied to the War Relief Fund on the grounds that he was unable to keep
his wife, 5 children with the eldest child being 4 years old on a pension
of £2 a week as he was unable to work. He had been a chemical labourer
before he joined the army. The War Relief Fund felt they were unable to help
him as it was not a case for the Committee. (3 January 1918 Meeting)
20 July 1916 Lieutenant Donald Wainwright Beard (Service Number 839)
(Born and Bred in Elworth near the Midland Pub and possibly played Cricket
for Elworth Cricket Club.) gained the Military Medal for his action on this date.
He was a WW1 Pilot who shot down 8 German planes and was awarded the
Military Medal (Established 25 March 1916 for Non-Commissioned officer’s
/ below commissioned rank it was the equivalent of the Military Cross)
for this action.
Born on the 20 May 1895 in Elworth.
The 1911 Census puts the family in Elworth.
(Father) John W Beard .b. 1857 inOldham and he was
a Commissioning Agent in Agriculture.
(Mother) Mary G Beard .b. 1870 in Sandbach
Herbert C Beard .b. 1893 inElworth and was an
Engineering Draftsman’s Apprentice.
Annie G Beard .b. 1894 inElworth
Donald WainwrightBeard .b. 1896 inElworth an
Engineers Fitter’s Apprentice.
Neville Beard .b. 1899 inElworth
Elizabeth Beard .b. 1901
Amy Beard .b. 1904
On the 20 August 1913 Donald Beard joined the RFC as a Mechanic
with 4 Squadron.
By 1916 he was flying as a rear gunner and on the 20 July1916, he was
in a Royal Aircraft factory B.E. 2 during a number 4 Squadron mission
with Captain Copeland as his pilot. Unfortunately, he was wounded by an
attacking Pfalz E1 which Sergeant Donald Beard shot down before he grabbed
the controls and flew the plane home earning himself the Military Medal
(Serial No 839) and a chance to do Pilot training.
(No 4 Squadron formed at Farnborough in 1912 as part of the Royal Flying Corps
and moved to Netheravon just before the Great War where it stayed during the
First World War. Useful Aircraft of the Squadron were sent to France under
Major G.H. Rayleigh on the 16 August 1914 where they carried out reconnaissance
missions supporting the British Expeditionary Force with
Lieutenant G.W. Mapplebeck flying the first mission on the 19 August 1914
searching for German Forces over Gembloux in Belgium.
Other aircraft of the squadron were used to carry out Anti-Zeppelin patrols.)
After training on the 26 November 1917 Donald Beard was assigned to 11 Squadron
as a Sergeant Pilot flying a Bristol F2 Fighter (1916 made Sergeant,
Service Number 839).
On the 9 March 1918 with Sergeant H.W. Scarnell as his rear gunner they
shot down a Pfalz D III and six days later an Albatross DIII and two other planes.
A week later with Second Lieutenant H.M. Stewart as his Gunner they set a D.V.
on fire.
On the 3 April 1918 Donald Beard was commissioned as a Temporary
Second Lieutenant with his final mission of WW1 on the 9 May 1918 when he
destroyed a Pfalz D III and downed another plane.
In the London Gazette of the 31 December 1920 Donald relinquished his commission
for health reasons connected to his active service days.
Between 1926 and 1936 Donald sailed from Argentina to Cape Town.
He was also a member of the Port Elizabeth Light Aeroplane club until he left
Port Elizabeth (in South Africa) in December 1930.
Between the wars Donald Beard married Stella Marie Gladys Londt who he met
on a ship when he was delivering a Foden Steam Tractor to Koster, Transvaal.
At the time she was 18 years old and so they waited until she reached 21 and
married in England (1931-2) possibly in Darlington in 1932.
Unfortunately, Stella died on the 27 December 1933 in a Car Crash aged 22.
They had a daughter called Sally who died on the 1 January 1934. The reason for
her death is not reported but it was possibly from injuries in the same crash as her
mother.
The 1939 Sandbach Urban District Council register has Donald living
with Marjory J Beard.
In WW 2 he became a Commissioned Officer from the 18 November 1940 as a
flying officer but by the 22 January he was assigned to administrative duties
due to ill heath, something he had suffered since the end of WW1 (1918)
and finally resigned as a Pilot Officer on the 13 March 1942 with a brief
return to duty until the 8 April 1947.
One possible date for his death is in December 1980 at the age of 85 in Haringey,
London. (Tbc) (Dec 1980 as Donald Wainwright Beard)
DONALD’S VICTORIES
Date Time Unit Aircraft Opponent Location
1. 20 Jul 1916 Unkn 4 B.E.2c Pfalz E (DES)
2. 09 Mar 1918 1130 11 Bristol F.2b (C4846) Pfalz D.III (OOC) Douai
3.15 Mar 1918 1115 11 Bristol F.2b (C4846) Albatros D.V (DES) Rumilly
4. 15 Mar 1918 1115 11 Bristol F.2b (C4846) Albatros D.V (OOC) Rumilly
5. 15 Mar 1918 1115 11 Bristol F.2b (C4846) Albatros D.V (OOC) Rumilly
6. 22 Mar 1918 1835 11 Bristol F.2b (C4846) Albatros D.V (DES) Quéant
7. 09 May 1918 1220 11 Bristol F.2b (C807) Pfalz D.III (OOC)Albert-Combles
8. 09 May 1918 1225 11 Bristol F.2b (C807) Pfalz D.III (DES) W of Combles
Donald Beard.
His war record is available at
www.forces-war-records.co.uk/records/5344368/serjeant-d-w-beard-british-army-royal-flying-corps/


12 Sept 1916 The results of the Christmas Present Fund were announced with money collected
totalling £77/9/1 which provided 362 parcels and 33 plum puddings for Soldiers
and Sailors from Sandbach fighting abroad.
A further meeting was arranged for the 20 September 1916 when the subject
of presents was raised again. Groups involved were the ladies sewing committee,
Belgian Relief Committee, the Red Cross Committee, Mr Hancock and
Mr William Foden as well as ministers from the local churches.
12 Dec 1916 Sandbach Urban Council allowed the “Sandbach Wakes” to take place on the
Common for one week for the sum of £17 as long as Mr Patrick Collins closed
his show and sideshows at lighting restriction time. The Council also asked
for a £50 deposit as a guarantee of Mr Collins sticking to the conditions they
had laid down.
14 Dec 1916 POST OFFICE
Nationally the hours of the Post Office were being reduced to cater for the lack of
Postmen to deliver the mail and to sort it. Sandbach was asked to reduce its hours
to 9 per day and a letter was sent to the Postmaster on Bradwall Road and the
Sandbach Urban Council to this effect. It also said that it may be necessary to
reduce the hours and Postal Services further should the war continue.
By March the Council had asked the “Secretary General Post Office”, London
About extending the hours again to which he replied that ‘In consequence of
depleting the staff and the imperative need for economy, it was not possible to
modify arrangements now in force in the direction of extensions of service.’
(13 March 1916)
Feb 1917 Rationing introduced in Britain.
25 May 1917 George Wright the Chairman of the Sandbach Urban Council lent 3 sets of bowls
and 2 jacks for the wounded soldiers to use at Abbey Fields with arrangements
being made for the Marriott House Green to be available free of charge for soldiers.
4-7 Sept 1917 The Crewe family (Lord Crewe) who had purchased the Manorial rights to Sandbach
sold the Sandbach properties they owned in a sale that took place on the 4th, 5th
and 7th of September 1917 at the Town Hall at 11am and 3pm each day by
auctioneers, Messrs Frank Lloyd and Sons.
The sale included buildings and land owned by the family.
It is possible that the sale was needed due to gambling debts by the Crewe family.
The map of property to sold included some alternate names for streets in the area.
Seaman’s Bank became Wesley Avenue
Narrow Lane became Offley Road.
PROPERTY SOLD IN THE SALE
1) The Temperance Hall Mr John Beech for £200
2) Mrs W Mainwaring’s House in the Square also used as the Liberal Club
Mr H Beech £480
3) The Lilly Works in Crewe Road Mr John Henry Jennings for £1,325
4) Portions of the Premises occupied by Mr J Warburton and others
Mr E R Foden for £960
Offices of Mr H Ferrand Clerk to the Congleton Union Guardians
Congleton Union Guardians for £200
Businesses occupied by Messrs Johnes and F Allman in Hightown
Mr F J Poole for £600 and £400 (2 Lots)
Shops in Hightown and High Street Mr Poole (Tenant) £500
Mr C Wardle (Tenant) £1,200
Mr J J Hawley (Tenant) £460
Mr Lightfoot (Tenant) £480
Messrs Wood (Tenants) £760
Mr J Johnson (Tenant) £470
Mr Higgins (Tenant) £470
Mr Frank Alcocks Shop (Tenant) £380
Mr Daniel Clowes (Tenant) £360
Houses in Sandbach Mr F Wakefield and Mr Morrison £452.10s
The School House Miss Harris (Tenant) £520
Hungerford Café, Shop and Land next to it (Next to Town Hall)
Mr Foden (of Elworth) £3,725
Mr Scutcheon’s Boot Shop Mr Scutcheon £520
TOTAL AMOUT RAISED £90,854
1917 Due to the sale of the estate of Lord Crewe the supervision of the Common was
taken over by the Town Council.
18 Aug 1917 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT – SandbachHospital Fate
and Pageant (Paid £15)
The event was to raise funds for the Hospital based at Abbey Fields on
Middlewich Road.
Nov 1917 NATIONAL NEWS – School children in two North East English Villages went
on strike to protest that they wouldn’t go to school unless they could have
free school meals.
18 Jan 1918 On Friday the 18th January 1918 the Children of Sandbach School were taken
by their teachers to a lecture and picture show in the afternoon by Mr Mock
at the Town Hall on “War in the Air”.
1 June 1918 Edwin Firth killed in action at a place called Varennes, North West of Amiens on the
1 June 1918 while returning to the trenches a shell exploded just outside some woods
killing Edwin and his party, he was only 29 Year’s old.
Edwin had been the principal Cornet Player with Foden’s Band up until his last
tour of duty
www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/bygones/11688328.Tragic_tale_of_a_top_wartime_trumpeter/
28 June 1918 New Ration Cards were to be issued by teachers at SandbachSchool who were
working for the Food Control Office.
July 1918 Sunday Schools were suspended in Sandbach due to an outbreak of Influenza.
The epidemic became one of the most serious global epidemic in recorded history.
15 July 1918 Butter, Marge, Lard, Meat and sugar were added to the Ration list.
20 July 1918 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT – AbbeyFieldsHospital,
Sandbach (Paid – Gratis)
The concert was for wounded soldiers at the Hospital.
18 Aug 1918 FODENS MOTOR WORKS BAND CONCERT– Sandbach Hospital Fate (£15)
J H Broad (Secretary). (Tea Provided)
25 Oct 1918 On Wednesday afternoon (23rd October 1918) all the boys from the school
and all other students from the town were taken to a Lantern Lecture at the
Town Hall given by Mr Mock on the subject of “War on the Land”.
EXTRA INFO.
This would have been like a slide show with a narrative given by the lecturer
and possibly as it was a lantern show some of the glass slides may have had
animated parts to them allowing a moving illustration to the lecture rather
like an early form of animation.
11 Nov 1918 On the 11 November 1918 War officially ended at 11am with a cease fire.
It was an opportunity for all the churches to put aside their differences and to
join together for a “UNITED THANKSGIVING SERVICE” at St Mary’s Sandbach
on the 17 November at 3pm when Fodens Band would provide the musical
entertainment and various ministers would take part doing readings and prayers for
the congregation. (see below)
17 Nov 1918 UNITED THANKSGIVING SERVICE at St Mary’s ParishChurch3pm.
Opening Voluntary “Lead Kindly Light” played by Fodens Band
Conductor Mr Hines.
HYMNS
1. All People that on Earth do dwell.
2. Psalm XLVI God is our Hope and Strength.
3. Psalm XCVIII O Sing unto the Lord a new Song.
4. Psalm XLVII God me merciful unto us.
5. Hymn 165 and 376
O God our Help in Ages Past
Now Thank we all our God.
7. Hymn - Oh King of Kings Whose Reign of Old.
8. The Hallelujah Chorus Played by Fodens Band
9. The Trumpet of Victory Played by Mr W Nock on the Church Organ.
10. The National Anthem
11. Concluding Voluntary Played by Fodens Band.


1919 WHEELOCK held a Peace Celebration celebrating the end of the Great War.
1919 Mr Fred Hackney started his haulage business in Sandbach in School lane, Elworth
with 2 Commer vehicles and the 2nd ERF to be produced.
After the war when all vehicles had been commandeered for the movements of
essential equipment etc. by the Government in the 1950’s after they were returned to
their owners with the Denationalisation of haulage, Fred Hackney acquired the
Tower Garage (Named after the Water Tower near where the Fire Station
now stands) in Sandbach off Congleton Road where he stayed until the end
of his business.
Wherever possible over the years he had used lorries made in the town by ERF
or Foden.
In 1933 Mr Hackney purchased the fourth vehicle built by the newly formed
ERF company of Sandbach.
Fred Hackney also owned a Barrel Organ and a 1916 Showman’s Traction Engine
one of the oldest surviving vehicles of its kind Registration number DO1932.
“Enterprise” was built in 1916 by John Fowler and Co (Leeds) Ltd it worked up
and down the country and when it was purchased by Hackney’s it became a familiar
attraction at events in Sandbach.
This Traction Engine came into its own soon after its boiler had been refitted when
in 1974, “Enterprise” was brought out of retirement to power the lighting at the
E.R.F. Works at Middlewich. It was originally used to power Hobby Horses on
Fairgrounds and was driven to Middlewich one Friday by Fred Hackney, his brother
Harold and grandson Simon Rigby.
Fred Hackney also owned the Petrol Station on the site and by the 1980’s with profits
declining they sold the site to Texaco who continued on the site until after 2000.
The Nissen Hut on the site of the garage was demolished on the 14th December 2017.
1919 ZAN works in Wheelock Mills, Wheelock opened by Mr R.B. and Mr E.L. Hovey.
#####################################################
1919 Tom Whitfield Houghton Biography.
2nd Lieut. T.W. Houghton (Tom Whitfield Houghton) .b. 1897 in (.b. Runcorn or)
Bradwall, Congleton District, Cheshire and by 1903 living at36 Marsh Green Road,
Elworth. This was the house of his aunt, Mrs A Houghton who had only moved into
the house that year (1903) and stayed there until the 1980’s when she was forced to
leave the property.
His father was John Houghton an illegitimate child who was brought up by his
Grandparents for a couple of years until a tragic accident happened when his
Grandmother fell down the stairs and broke her neck. When John was older he went
to work as a cooper (Barrel maker) in the bleach industry at Runcorn and after the
war was also one of those walkers who took part in the Kinder Scout Trespass on the
24 April 1932. At the age of 45 John was called up to the
Cheshire Regiment 2nd E.C.V. Cheshire Rifle Volunteers where he became a
Sergeant and was injured at Gallipoli, brought back to England where he never really
fully recovered from his experience.
John had two sons John, known as Jack and Tom.
Tom Houghton was educated at SandbachPrimary School (Sally Lunn’s?)
(about 1906 to 1909) and was an old boy of SandbachSchool (1909 to 1913).
Tom went on to train as a teacher at the Crewe and Alsager Collage where he met a
girl who he hoped to marry after he had returned from the forces.
He then did a term as an Assistant Schoolmaster at the Seaman’s MossSchoolin
Altrincham and in 1915 joined the Cheshire Regiment, Machine Gun Corp,
a regiment his father had also joined and both he and Tom served together
in Ypres, France before Tom was posted to another company.
Tom saw service in France, Libya, Syria, Egypt and Palestine where he died in 1919
of Amoebic Dysentery caused by contaminated food and water.
He was reburied in the DamascusCWGCemetery.


#####################################################
1920 The Sandbach Advertiser (Newspaper) was published on a Friday.
It was Published from 1920 to 1942.
21 May 1921 The Sandbach Branch of the British Legion was formed.
On the 21 May 1921, the Sandbach Branch of the British Legion was formed
out of the “Comrades of the Great War” organisation in the town
(The same date nationally). Its first President was Captain Herbert P. Rigby.
The Legion was given Royal Status in 1925 becoming the Royal British Legion
a charter that was updated at various times.
July 1921 A new Super Cinema was proposed for the town in Congleton Rd.
The plans were however turned down.
16 Apr 1922 The War Memorial was unveiled on the 16 April 1922 at 3pm by
Lieut Colonel John Kennedy, C.M.G., D.S.O., of the Black Watch
on the Market Square.
He was the son of Colonel and Mrs Kennedy of Brookside, Arclid.




1922 The Tamworth Herald announced that Lord Crewe had donated historic lands in
Sandbach to the town including Scotch Common and the Market Tolls.
29 Mar 1926 On the 29 March 1926 a Library in Marriott House was opened on Scotch Common.
1926 INFO By 1926 Sandbach had four newspapers covering events.
Crewe Chronicle (Sandbach Edition) - Published Saturday
Sandbach Guardian - Published Wednesday and Saturday
Sandbach Advertiser - Published Friday
Weekly Sentinel - Published Saturday
1926 1926 was also the year of the General Strike by the TUC.
1930 Wheelock Railway Station closed (see 1866).
1930 The Sandbach Congregational Amateur Dramatic Society was formed.
(Hope Street Chapel – Became the United ReformChurch)
July 1931 A Box of Matches in the pocket of the wicket keeper caught fire when they were
hit by a ball in a Sandbach Cricket fixture. (7 July 1931 Aberdeen Journal Pg 6)
July 1931 In July 1931 the Reverend Robert West formed a Controlled group of Baden-Powell
Scouts known as the 14thSW Cheshire Scouts. Mr Robert West was the
Scoutmaster until he left the Hope Street Chapel in 1932.
1931 The 124th Anniversary of the Congregational Church in Sandbach (Hope Street)
The Rev Sydney M Barry, Secretary of the Congregational Union of England
and Wales gave the service along with Sandbach Vicar Rev R.T. West.
Special music and songs were sung by Mrs H Healey of Middlewich.
18 Feb 1933 Captain H.P. Rigby was elected president of the Sandbach Branch of the
British Legion with Mr A W Lees being reappointed Secretary.
1933 By Easter 1933 the company of E.R. Foden was formed (ERF).
1933 “Sandbach the Official Guide” issued. A guide to the Town it included a
brief history and adverts for local businesses and was published by the
Sandbach Urban District Council.
28 Aug 1934 Sandbach Cemetery was opened on the Hill, Sandbach Heath with a United Service
on the 28 August 1934 at 7.30pm. The gates were officially opened by the
Chairman of the Council, Councillor Thomas Platt J.P.
22 Jan 1935 An R.A.F. Aircraft crashed near Elworth killing the pilot. (Staffs Sentinel)
1936 Woolworth opened a shop in the High Street.
8 May 1937 Elworth Park was opened. It included a concert by the Foden’s Motor Works
Brass Band with Harry Mortimer conducting.
1939 In February / March 1939 the first women fire (person) man started at Sandbach fire
station.
Mar / Apr 1939 The Sandbach Townswomen’s Guild was founded.
In 1979 the guild was still going and celebrated its 40th Anniversary with BBC TV
Look North presenter Felicity Goody joining Chairperson Muriel Farnsworth Smith
and founder members at the celebration meeting.
3 Sept 1939 (“We are at War with Germany” Speech) to 8 May 1945 (Germany Surrendered)
SECOND WORLD WAR
1st September 1939 Germany invaded Poland.
14 May 1940 On the 14 May 1940 the Local Defence Volunteers were formed by the Government
to defend our shores from invading German Armies.
The Volunteers later became known as the Home Guard on the 23 July 1940 and
the TV programme nicknamed them “Dad’s Army”.
On the 11 November 1944 the Home Guard were disbanded.
Sandbach had its own unit led by Colonel Findlow.
The S Company of the 11th Battalion Cheshire Home Guard was made up
with staff from the Foden Factory with Lt J. E. Foden taking part.
Along with about 70 members of staff.
Although they were official disbanded in 1944 the members of the group held
reunions in the town for many years and the Foden Band played at a number of
them including a concert on the 8 January 1971 and the 7 January 1973 which
they did for free. I know that when the band went on tour with ENSA they travelled
in Home Guard Uniforms so it may be possible that some or all of the band members
were a part of the Home Guard in Sandbach.
22 Nov 1940 On the 22 November 1940, Harold Penketh the first Cousin of Valetta Cranmer
(Nee Penketh whose father was Jim Penketh the brother of Harold) who in
later life was a well-known person in Sandbach who ran a choir in the town.
Pilot Officer Harold Penketh was born on the 20 May 1920 and joined the RAF until
his Spitfire X4593 crashed on land east of the Holme Fen National Reserve
(Holme Lode Farm, Holme) on the 22 November 1940 during a routine training
flight with members of 266 Squadron while he was trying to recover from a dive.
The crash was witnessed by Maxey Stacey and Tony Redhead who returned to
the site when a dedication stone was unveiled in September 2016.
The remains of the plane were being restored for display at the
Pathfinders Museum at RAF Wyton after they were excavated between
the 5th and 11th October 2015.
FAMILY TREE
Jim Penketh (Married Nancy) / Emma / Bill / Mary / Tom / Sydney / Aaron (Singer married Pianist Helena)
▼ ▼
Harold Penketh (Son of Jim and Nancy Penketh) / ▼
▼
Valetta Penketh (Born in Sandbach the daughter of Aaron Penketh (Singer) Married Helena (Pianist)) Married Roger Cranmer


26 Apr 1941 A Bomb was dropped on Wheelock. The Parachute mine dropped by the
Germans blew a crater 57 feet across by 22 feet deep and destroyed
many nearby houses.
30 Nov 1941 Foden’s Band played for the “Sandbach Warship Week” when the town
officially adopted a warship “HMS Vimiera”. (see below)




1941 In December 1941 the town adopted HMS Vimiera in a civil ceremony after a
successful “Warship Week National Savings Campaign”
(29- 30 November to the 6 December 1941 raised £168,000.)
The aim of the Warship Week in Sandbach was to raise £120,000 to buy of Corvette
and included a Procession, Exhibition at the Literary Institute, Entertainments and
a slogan competition.
The event was opened by Sir Francis Joseph on the Saturday for the parade.
(18 Oct / 8 Nov / 15 Nov 1941 Crewe Chronicle)


1941-1942 Just outside Sandbach at BETCHTON a Decoy Bunker was in operation.
It was designed to act as a Decoy to deflect enemy bombers away from the
RAF Base at Cranage. The decoy was a “Q type” night decoy which was
lit up to look like the Royal Air Force Base at Cranage (known locally
as Byley Airfield http://www.rafcranage.org.uk/history-of-raf-cranage.html) .
Jack Bowser (.D. May 2015) was the last survivor of the 4 men who manned
the decoy.
1943 British Pathe filmed a sequence about Sandbach and Great Budworth.
The film featured the Old Hall, Saxon Crosses and St Mary’s Church.
By 1943 By 1943, Sandbach had set up a money raising fund for the town to purchase
a Spitfire for the RAF to help in the war against Germany and to be able to
defend Britain.
On the 10 April 1943 the Crewe Chronicle noted that the Brereton War Savings fund
had joined the “Sandbach Wing’s for Victory Fund”.
This was not the only fund in the town as the Foden Motor Works had their own
“Foden’s Spitfire Effort” (Crewe Chronicle 19 Oct 1940) and a local group raised
money for local charities including the “Foden’s Spitfire Effort” which it split its
funds between in March 1941 (15 March 1941 Crewe Chronicle).
6- 13 May 1944 Sandbach held a “Salute the Soldier Week” in the town.
The Sandbach Urban District Council organised the event and the
Sandbach Trustee Savings Bank (Hightown) was opened daily from 11am to 5pm
for the receipt of deposits to the fund and also for the sale of Savings Certificates
and Stamps.
16 June 1944 When the Americans entered the war some of the US soldiers were billeted in the
Sandbach area with their headquarters based at the Wheat sheaf Hotel and the
Old Hall. The dates of their arrival are sketchy but one website puts them in the
town on the 16 June 1944 when the 3525 Ordnance Medium Automotive
Maintenance Company were in Sandbach and they were still in the town on
the 13 July 1944 when they were here alongside the 178 Ordnance Battalion
Headquarters and Detachment. They were in Sandbach in preparation for
the D Day Landings (Operation Overlord) which was being planned by
Winston Churchill and the heads of the Army, Navy and Airforce alongside
General Dwight D Eisenhower (Later President of the USA between the 20 Jan 1953
and the 20 Jan 1961) and General George S Patton who were planning their part of
the operation at Peover Hall. During his time in Cheshire, General Patton visited
troops at Tatton Hall, Airmen at RAF Cranage as well as at Sandbach when he
dropped into the Old Hall and to see the servicemen in the town.
As D Day was on the 6 July 1944, at Normandy it is possible that the USA troops
in Sandbach were part of the following group used to back up the equipment and
were flown into France and Belgium from the nearby RAF Cranage.
#########################################
June 1945 Winston Churchill the Prime Minister visited Sandbach and gave a speech on the
Congleton Road towards the street side of the Town Hall (Sandbach Chronicle
article about the event in the 28 June edition, Actual date not recorded).
He had disembarked at a siding in Ettley Heath. (Film exists of the visit and
a copy is held by the Sandbach History Society)
1946 Sandbach Urban District Council sent out a Certificate to all Service Personnel
from the Town of Sandbach. The wording goes as follows;-
“The Townspeople of Sandbach present to ….. This Certificate in
Appreciation and Gratitude for the devoted service you have rendered in the
cause of Freedom and Justice for the benefit of humanity generally.
Your contribution to Victory is a source of pride to your fellow townsmen,
and on their behalf the Urban District Council tender to you sincere thanks”
The certificate was then signed by F.T. Blease, Chairman of the Council and
the Clark of the Council at the time.
KNOWN CERTIFICATES Issued to;-
Kenneth Chester (Prisoner of War and served in the Cheshire Regiment)
J. Minshull (Gunner and diver in the Royal Navy)
The Town of Helsby also issued these certificates and it is thought that each town,
village or city produced their own certificates in thanks to their own brave
servicemen.
1946 The Sandbach Amateur Dramatic Society (Sandbach Players) were formed.
1947 Cath Jones converted her father’s cabinet making shop in Congleton Road into a
Music studio. It opened in August 1947 (See 2000)
1948 The Second Edition of the Sandbach Town Council Official Guide was published
by the Urban District Council.
1948 Clifford Welsby opened "Welsby's Chemists" at 1 Crewe Road.
Nov 1948 Sandbach Round Table formed.
Founded by Mr Louis Marchesi as a national organisation in 1927 the Sandbach
branch was the brainchild of Fred Bennett a company secretary at the Zan Works
in Wheelock.
Mr Bennett and Mr Charles Lowe were joined by Chris Peyton and Joe Lewis
from ERF, Harold Charlesworth and Cecil Rigby, Solicitors at the Co-op Café,
(Later the Price City building) and later 15 more members.
1948 The Sandbach Round Table officially started in 1948 with its Charter
being granted in May of 1950 when they met at the Market Tavern.
The Group then met at the Old Hall and then the Wheat sheaf by 1953.
In 1957 the Round Table started the famous Ox Roast during Wakes Week.
In 1970 they also started organising the Christmas Lights.
By 2003 the group had moved back to the Market Tavern for their meetings.
They also help Father Christmas seeing children around the town in their annual tour.
CHAIRMEN
1948 Mr Chris Peyton
1953 Mr Charles Lowe
(TBC)
2003 Steve Walsh
12 Jan 1954 BBC LIGHT PROGRAMME “WOMAN’S HOUR”
Interviewed Mrs Mary Ferguson from Sandbach Cheshire on Namesakes.
4-12 Sept 1954 WHEELOCKHEATHBAPTISTCHURCH 250th Anniversary Celebrations.
The Church was founded in 1704 with the Present Church erected in 1860.
(Hassall Road between Coppice Road and Sandy Lane)
1955 The BBC Radio Programme “Down Your Way”, came to Sandbach.
15 May 1955 Sandbach Churches held a procession for “Rogation Day” (Days of Prayer and
Fasting around the 25 April) starting at the top of The Hill at 2.15pm and hope
to reach the church at 3pm.


#################################################################################
7 July 1956 FODEN CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS.


FODENS Ltd Celebrated its 100th Anniversary with a Gala Day at the Sports Ground in Sandbach.
The day started with a procession led by Foden’s Band followed by various trucks and floats with events throughout the day including sports and the day ended with a concert and firework display. The Foden Band and parade would march from the Foden Works to the Foden Sports Ground at the top of Welles Street / Green Street, Sandbach.
Some of the men at the Foden Motor Works formed “The Beard Club” which vowed to grow a beard until after the event to give that authentic look to their costumes. President of the society Mr J Hollingshead (Drawing Office) was joined by Mr D.V. Lloyd (Engine department), Mr S Harrison (Buying department), Mr N Hollinghshead (Buying department) and Harry Bayley took part in the group.
After the Procession from the works in Elworth the party continued at the Sports Ground at the top of Welles Street / Green Street with various games for employees to take part in.
Events also included -
CHILDREN’S CORNER
Hobby Horse (For Youngsters), Donley / Pony rides, a miniature Railway, Durham’s Royal Punch and Judy show, Yoxani Clowns, The Sensational Lesters in their Trapeze Acts, Model Locomotive and Train.
INSIDE LARGE MARQUEE
Joe Marsh in Comedy Juggling Act, Clifford Hough with Magic for Young and Old, Yoxani and his performing Animals and Birds accompanied by Mr Arthur Bailey and Compere Fred Yoxall.


PROCESSION
1) Centenary procession banner carried by two members of the Beard Club in period costume (Mr J Hollonshead and Mr N Hollinshead).
2) Fodens Motor Works Band.
3) Heavy Horse-drawn Passenger Coach (Mr John Stringer, Somerford)
4) Light Horse-drawn Passenger Coach (Fodens Limited)
5) Landau (Mr W Proctor, Hanley)
6) Phaeton (Mr W Proctor, Hanley)
6a) Shooting brake (Mr W Proctor, Hanley) Members of the Beard Club and Ladies Committee in Period Costume will ride in the horse drawn vehicles.
7) Penny Farthing cyclists (Mr J Keaton and Mr K Hockemhull)
8) The Red Flag Bearer (1865 act requiring a flag bearer to walk in-front of a mechanical road vehicle) – (Mr Rex Harrison)
9) Foden Traction engine No 1174 (Drivers Mr G Nicholas and Mr Whittingham)
10) Foden Traction engine No 2654 (Drivers Mr W Foster and Mr P Davies / Owner Barlow Brothers of High Leigh)
10b) Threshing Machine (Owner Mr W Davies of Holmes Chapel)
10c) Binder (Owner Mr W Davies of Holmes Chapel)
10d) Baler (Owner Mr W Davies of Holmes Chapel)
11) 1898 Butler “Quad” Veteran Car (Owner Mr J Broadhead of Bollington)
VARIOUS CARS AND FODEN VEHICLES (12-52)
53) 1939-46 Crusader Tank loaned by the Royal Armoured corps Museum and carried on Messrs Adamsons 30 Ton Trailer Towed by Foden “GOLIATH” breakdown crane, Vehicle No 15070.
54) CongletonTown Band
CURRENT FODEN VEHICLES (55-72)
/ CUSTOMERS’ DECORATED VEHICLES (73-80)
81) Assembly Shop Copper Pipe Band (All instruments hand made in the works out of copper)
82) “Revelry” Troupe of Morris Dancers
83) Lower Withington Troupe of Morris dancers
84) Fodens Centenary Queen
85) Fodens Centenary Queen’s Maid of Honour
DEPARTMENTAL TABLEAUX
86) Assembly Shop
87) Bond Stores
88) Cost and Accounts
89) Cricket Club
90) Drawing Office
91) Despatch Stores
92) Employees Children
93) Engine Shop
94) Experimental Department
95) Inspection Department
96) Machine Shop No 1
97) Machine Shop No 2
98) Pattern Shop
99) Planning department
100) Production department
101) Repair Shop
102) Service Department
103) Student Apprentices
104) Tool Room
105) Paint Shop
106) Unknown
107) Fire Brigade
108) Ambulance
109) Rear Engine Band Coach Vehicle No 31234
110) Forward Engine Passenger Vehicle No 30688


2.30pm to 4.30pm POTTED SPORTS – MEN
Various Athletic and Gymkhana Events with teams from Gamast (Garage Maintenance and Stores), Scratch and Pop Boys (Assembly Shop), Johnson’s Jokers (Erecting Shop), Mostonross (Repair Shop and Despatch Stores), Alf’s Nitwits (No 2 Machine Shop), Barber’s Inkspots (No 1 Machine Shop), Hollinshead’s Hoboes (The Beard Club), Diehards (Office Staff), Geoff’s Agile Imps (Lab Tool Room and App School) and the Olympic Rejects (No 1 Machine shops). The took part in a number of events including, Football Dribbling Relay, Putting the Shot, Relay Sack Race, 50 Yard Sprint in Costume, Hop – Skip and Jump, Target Bowls, Wheelbarrow Race, Ringing the Bell, Arch and Tunnel Ball and a Comic Obstacle Race.
4.30pm to 5.00pmLADIES SPORTS
Egg and Spoon Race, 50 Yard Sprint, 3 Legged Race and a Comic Obstacle Race.
5.10pmTUG OF WAR


5.30pm OPENING CEREMONY by William Foden.


6pm PRIZES


OUTSIDE ENTERTAINMENT
7pm to 7.15pm Lower Withington Morris Dancing Troupe
7.15pm to 7.30pm The Revelry Morris Dancing Troupe
With the Congleton Town Prize Brass Band (Conductor Mr E Ogden)
7.30pm to 7.45pm Ross and Ross (Comedy Aerial Gymnastics)
7.45pm to 8.15pm Old Time Cricket Match
8.15pm to 8.30pm Jeep Assembly Demonstration


7pm to 8.30pm FIRST CONCERT
Fodens conducted by Harry Mortimer
Scott Joynt (Bass Singer of the BBC)
Robbie and Platt (Laughter Makers)
Clifford Hough (Illusionist)
Fodenway (Arthur Bailey)
Poet and Peasant (Suppe)
The Gay Highway – Sung by Scott Joynt
Myself when Young – From In a PersianGarden (Liza Lehmann)
Sung by Scott Joynt
The Song of the Flea (Mussorgsky)
– Sung by Scott Joynt Accompanied by Mr Bailey
Lilac Time (Schubert)
Silent Worship - Trombone Solo by Mr Alex English
Firefly - Trombone Solo by Mr Alex English
Invincible (H. Scott) – Solo by Mr Wilf Mountain
Drinking – Solo by Mr Wilf Mountain
Slavonic Dance No 8 (Dvorak)
Paso doble “Amparita Roca” (Texidor)
Selection from “Ivan Susanin (Glinka)
(Originally called A Life for the Tsar)
Mr Clifford Hough provided Magic for the Youngsters.
Robbie and Platt “The Inimitable Laughter Makers”


7.30pm to 8.40pm DANCING AND CABERET
Sid Phillips and his band
Kay McKinley and Frank Nelson


8.40pm to 9.10pm Robbie and Platt
Clifford Hough
Compere Mr Fred Yoxhall


8.40pm to 10pm SECOND CONCERT (Different Hall from above)
March from Tannhauser (Wagner)
Chit Chat Polka (Strauss)
Overture to “Der Frieschutz” (Carl Maria von Weber)
Slavonic Rhapsody No 2 (Friedemann)
Alpine Echoes (Windsor) - Mr E Gray (Cornet Solo).
Carillon – Cornet Trio
Czardas (Monti) - Mr W Illingworth (Xylophone Solo).
Vulcan’s Song (Gounod) – Sung by Mr Scott Joynt
Yeomen of England (Ed. German) – Sung by Mr Scott Joynt
Simon and Cellarer (Hatton) – Sung by Mr Scott Joynt


8.45 to 9pm Ross and Ross (Comedy Gymnasts and Comic Wire walking Act)
9.15pm to 10.45pm DANCING AND CABARET
Syd Phillips and band
With Kay McKinley and Frank Wilson
(The programme comes from the Sandbach Chronicle and differs from the
official programme)


10.45pm FIREWORKS DISPLAY
Feature 14 July 1956Crewe Chronicle.
A film of the event was made by William Bell (Bill Bell) a test driver with
Fodensand has been put on Youtube by his grandson Derek Walker
(5 July 2011). www.youtube.com/watch?v=kecLtO4l5QA
#################################################################################
1957 The “Elworth Flower Club” was formed.
1958 Cyril Massey wrote his "History of Sandbach and District" book. (see 1978)
1960 The Leonard Cheshire Home held the first of its annual Fate’s or “Faterama”
in June. (15th year it was held on the 7 June 1975)
1960 Sandbach County Secondary School held its first Sports Day (June/July).
1960 Bradwall Hall (Nr Sandbach) was demolished.
21 June 1961 Sandbach Fire Station was officially opened on the 21 June 1961 by
Alderman F.D. Gee the Chairman of the County Fire Brigade Committee.
1962 The Old Water Tower in the Town was demolished.


1963 On the 15th November 1963 the Minister for Transport officially opened
the M6 Motorway between Bartomley, Sandbach, Holmes Chapel and
Thelwall near Warrington.
1964 The Sandbach Original Small Livestock Society held their first “Open Pen Show”
of 1964 at the British Soda canteen with 330 entries for secretary
Frank “Chubby” Payne to organise.
June 1965 Sandbach Police did a “Moonlight Flit” (On a Thursday before 25 June)
from their offices in Bold Street to rooms behind the Courtrooms in
Middlewich Road which were formally the Congleton Rural District Council Offices.
Their first enquiry was at 3 O Clock when a man asked them where the
Police Station was! (Sandbach Chronicle 25 June 2015,Pg 14, “Glancing back”)
17 Oct 1965 BBC2 reached Sandbach when the UHF Transmitter was switched on at
Winter Hill allowing viewers to see programmes on the channel for the first time.
BBC1 was broadcast on VHF and so you had to have a duel receiver on your TV
to view BBC2 which had only been produced in the last two years.
Previous versions were unable to be converted to the new frequencies.
BBC Television was supposed to have been launched BBC 2 at 7.20pm on the
20 April 1964 in the London Area but due to a power failure at
Battersea Power Station the programmes failed to go on the air.
At 11am on the 21 April 1964 BBC was officially launched with the blowing out
of a candle in jest at the power failure the previous night and the children’s
programme “Play School” became the first programme to be broadcast.
As mentioned above BBC 2 didn’t reach Lancashire and Cheshire until 1965.
Jan 1966 Sandbach Town Council announced the names of some new streets in the town.
A new street at LIGHTLY CLOSE will be called Ordsall Close after the home of the
Radcliffe family the Lord of the Manor.
FACTORY LANE ESTATE
Palmer Road = Named after the man who restored the Saxon Crosses.
Ormerod Close = Named after a Cheshire Historian
BirchGardens = Named after the Predecessor to Mr Arthur Skeath who
is now the Clerk of the Town Council.
Saxon Way = Self Explanatory
Jan 1966 Councillor Sam Riley and his wife retired from running their butchers shop
in Elworth ending 100 years of business which had started with Samuel Riley
and a portable shop he had outside the Red Lion in Sandbach.
The shop then moved into 6 Congleton Road (1902 / 1914) as
Samuel Riley and Sons (Butcher) and then by 1938 Ernest Riley had taken
over the Butchers shop and by 1955 had opened the shop in 13 London Road,
Elworth.
1966 The Sandbach and District Bowling League was formed.
By 2015 there were 72 teams in 6 divisions (12 Teams in Each).
Dec 1967 Fire gutted the Foden Fibreglass Shop on the Friday when workers ran for their lives
as flammable Fibreglass resin exploded into flames at the works.
(Looking back 2017 21 Dec 2017 Sandbach Chronicle)
Sept 1968 Sandbach Scouts were reformed by Reg Shallcross and others after a break of about
15 years when the Cubs and Scouts were disbanded due to a lack of leaders.
1969 A new swimming pool was added to SandbachSchool.
1969 Sandbach had a “Sandbach Arts Festival” sometime in March or April.
31 Aug 1969 BBC RADIO 4 PROGRAMME “DOWN YOUR WAY” came to Sandbach.
Franklin Engelmann visited Sandbach, Cheshire for the programme broadcast
on the 31 August 1969 at 5pm with a repeat on the 3 September 1969 at 12.15pm.
The producer was Richard Burwood.
Oct /Nov 1969 The impressionist Mike Yarwood opened the new TESCO Store in Sandbach,
High Street. (Now Iceland)
1960’s -1970’s Sandbach was visited by an Elephant. Not the usual type but a mechanical one
which children could sit on and were taken for a ride round the car park.
There was a lot of Mechanical Elephants after the Second World War with
seaside resorts using them to give rides without the danger of a temperamental
live elephant.
On the 28 July 1950 Frank Stuart (.b. 27 July 1883 .D. 12 Jan 1977) premiered
his man made walking elephant on the roads of Essex with children on its back
in what is known as a Howdah.
Frank was a theatrical mask maker and scenic artist who came up with the idea
in 1948 while watching donkeys on the beach and wondered if he could do the
same thing with a mechanical elephant. Powered by a 10 horsepower the elephant
could do 27 mph and had to have a special licence to go on the roads.
Frank had about 25 elephants made and by 1957 he was in debt as they didn’t bring
in enough money to run them. One was transported to America for a Republican
Parade but was damaged by a hurricane and in 1965 Frank Stuart put his creations up
for sale to an amusement park and it is possible that it was this elephant that came to
Sandbach on that magical day.
In 1966 one of Frank’s “Electrophant” (As they were called) appeared at Whiteley’s
Department Store with Mr Colin Cook driving the elephant. He was an ex-employee
of F Barry in Aldham, Colchester, who had worked on making the model frames
for Mr Stuart.
In about 1967 an elephant named Jessica appeared on Blue Peter with
Valerie Singleton and Christopher Trace. It was made by a new company called
the “Electrophants Limited” who produced them in Stretford St Mary, Suffolk and
they marketed them with a promotion film and a brochure of the product.
In December 1975 and April 1976 one of the original versions called “Bertha”
appeared on Blue Peter with John Noakes, Peter Pervis and Lesley Judd.
They even interviewed the creator of the elephant for Frank Stuart,
Mr Maurice Radburn who came up with the frame design to make it walk.
He said there were about 25 elephants made both Petrol driven and some like
Berth with a Battery powered motor.
http://cyberneticzoo.com/walking-machines/1961-electrophant-mechanical-elephant-frank-stuart-scottishgreat-britain/
Margate in Kent had one on the Sea front (about 1950) and
PickeringPark in Hull, Humberside had one which was featured in trials as shown
in Pathe News in 1949.
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/mechanical-elephant
1970’s A Large Blue Whale (or Finback Whale) was parked on the Common.
It was one of three whales that toured the country, Jonah, Goliath and Hercules.
Two of the models / Whales have since disappeared but the third one Jonah
was by 2013 being restored for exhibition. (Poss in Sandbach 1970-72)
JONAH was a 70ft, 70 ton Finback Whale which had been caught off Trodheim
in Norway in 1952. It was originally exhibited at OsloUniversity. It then had its
organs removed and was fitted with a refrigeration unit and was put onto the back
of a 100ft trailer (At the time the biggest lorry in the world). It then toured Norway
to promote Whaling along with a stuffed dormouse in a glass case which was put in
its mouth (or on its nose) to show the largest and smallest mammals in the world.
It then toured for 25 years to just about every town in Europe, Japan and Africa.
Eventually it was sold to a Circus Owner and then a Swiss businessman who
exhibited it as an educational exhibit touring places like Sheffield in the 1950’s,
60’s and 70’s. In 2006 after a newspaper article about the link with Sheffield
and a book of its visit, Mike Austen the head of one of the UK’s Oldest Circuses
contacted the author to say he had driven the lorry with the whale on it in the 70’s
and that it still existed and had been kept in Holland and Belgium over the
last 30 years. The interest from the article allowed the writer to see the whale
which was in a good condition and it was subsequently purchased by a showman
is being restored for another tour round the UK.
HERCULES – The second Whale on tour was disposed of when the
Circus went bust in Spain.
GOLIATH – Has just disappeared. It may have been destroyed in Barnsley
or Soot Hill, Dewsbury when it was burnt due to it going off.
The kiln that the whale was burnt in is supposed to have exploded due to the
gases in the whale.
1970 The Library was opened on the Commons on the 17 March 1970.
1970 Aquarius Swimming Club for the Disabled formed in 1970.
The first meeting and subsequent meetings took place at the
Sandbach School Swimming pool.
The club encouraged those with disabilities to do something able bodied
take for granted and with support from volunteers they have ways of
getting people into the water if they are unable to do so without assistance as
well as having competitions which involve a handicap system depending
on the ability of the swimmer to start at various times making the winner
being the one across the line (Touch the wall) first.
Sandbach Secondary School 6th form sponsored one of the prizes and members
of the 6th form attended to present the cup.
In October 2015 the club celebrated its 45th birthday.
1970 (April) The newly formed Sandbach and District Art Association held an arts festival.
According to the Secretary of the Society Pat Jeffers the group had set itself a
budget of £400 and had just broken even.
1971 The Wheelock Railway line closed on the 1 January.
1972 Post Office and Sorting Office opened on the Market Square.
1972 In 1760 the Church House on the Market Square was built. In 1972 it was rebuilt.
1 Nov 1973 Jimmy Greenoff from Stoke City opened a Sports shop in 22 Congleton Rd,
Sandbach. (2014 = Peppers Café)
2 June 1974 BBC Radio 4 Broadcast its “Morning Service” for Whit Sunday from the
Methodist Church, Sandbach conducted by the Rev Arthur Shaw assisted
by Rev Stanley Waite.
Readings: John 14, vv 15-21, 25-27; Acts 4, vv 23-35
Hymns (MHB): Father of everlasting grace (730): Away with our fears (278);
On all the earth (301); Come down, 0 love divine 1273)
Anthem: God is a Spirit (W. Sterndale Bennett)
Choir director Jessie Rosson
Organist Derek Jennings.
1974 A new Sandbach newspaper was launched in 1974 and by November 1976
“The Saxon Crosses” was being edited by Mrs Annette Bowland of
78 Belmont Avenue, Sandbach (Phone Sandbach 4996).
“Volume 3 Number 8” was dated November 1976 so in theory the paper could
have been started in February 1973. According to the minutes from the
Sandbach Players they indicate a new newspaper in April 1974.
The headline on the above edition was Saxon Crosses Restoration and goes
into depth
about a new process seen on “Tomorrows World” about a preservative that could be
added to the stones to allow the stone to “breathe” yet hold its fabric and design
thereon for many decades.
After writing to Raymond Baxter (Presenter of “Tomorrows World”) for the
company that produced this magic liquid it was then down to
David Carrington-Brown who was the Chairman of the Sandbach Chamber of
Trade to persuade the Inspector of Ancient Monuments to allow this process
to be used.
On the 1 April 1976, Mr Carrington-Brown, Mrs Pauline Taylor,
Mr Arthur Holliday and President of the Chamber of Trade,
Mr John Gleaver met with a trio of representatives from the Ancient Monuments,
Mr Weaver (Inspector), Mr Clark (Architect) and Mr Whayman.
After a long discussion the meeting agreed to the use of the new
covering and after a delay of seven months scaffolding was erected and the job
was done in November 1976.






1974 SANDBACH TOWN COUNCIL formed following a local government
re-organisation.
The Council had a budget of £85,520.oo
1975 THE SANDBACH FOLK DANCING CLUB was formed.
28 Sept 1976 The Sandbach History Society held its inaugural meeting on the
28th September 1976 at St Mary’s Church Hall.
The following were elected –
President – Lawrence Massey
Vice President – J Rigby
Chairman – Cllr Don Broad
17 Jan 1976 The LEISURE CENTRE was officially opened.
The Leisure Centre was built next to the Sandbach Secondary School
(Now Sandbach High School) during the previous year.
One of the workmen was from Scotland and knew how to play the bagpipes.
Once the roof had been finished he decided to play the bagpipes from the top
of the building. Instead of being told off for his stunt he played them so well
that he was invited to play at the school’s assembly for the pupils.
1976 The Road Chef at the SANDBACH SERVICE STATION was opened.
1977 The Department of the Environment put forward a plan to move the Saxon Crosses
from the Market Square to a controlled environment to halt erosion of the
old Sandstone. The D of E had been given control of the Crosses by
Congleton Borough Council because it was thought that they knew how to
protect the ancient monument but Cllr Mrs Henshall said she could hardly contain
her outrage against the suggestion to move the Crosses and the people of the town
were absolutely adamant they should not be removed.
1977 Sandbach formed a “Silver Jubilee Committee” to raise funds for the
Queen’s celebrations. Chairman of the committee was Mr Robert Holmes
who helped to organise a number of events to raise funds including a
Cheese and Wine evening at the Town Hall which raised £300 and involved
the Rotary Club, Ladies Circle, Darts and Dominoes League and local traders
who donated prizes for the evening.
18 June 1977 JUBILEE FAIR and Carnival in Sandbach.
The Market Traders dressed up in costumes Medieval Costumes
(Later to become the Tudor or Elizabethan Market)
1977 The First SANDBACH MARATHON took place.
There were 158 runners who finished the course with C Taylor (Airedale) finishing
in a time of 2 Hours 17 minutes and 17 seconds.
WINNERS
YEAR
1977 C Taylor (Airedale) 2h17m17s
1978 A Simmons (Luton) 2h12m50s
1979 Colin Kirkham (Coventry G) 2h17m30s
1980 T Wright (Wolves and B) 2h13m43s
1981 A Robertson (Army) 2h14m23s
1982 (12 September 1982)
WOMEN’S
1979 Joyce Smith (Barnet L) 2h41m37s
1980 Joyce Smith (Barnet L – No 15) 2h33m32s
1981 Julie Barleycorn (Crawley) 2h48m21s
The Fifth Marathon (Men’s) was held on the 21 June 1981 and was sponsored
by Sandbach Engineering (Foden’s) and had their Band Playing on the Lawn by
the outside gates.
1979 Start. 1981 Foden’s Band


11 Aug 1977 The BBC were filming Sandbach Market.
1978 The Sandbach History Society Founded (Officially) in memory of Cyril Massey
who wrote the book "History of Sandbach". (see 28 Sept 1976)
1 Apr 1978 The Original TOWN CRYERS Competition took place in the Market Square in
April some 150 years since the town had a Town Crier.
Organised by Councillor’s Bob Holmes (Sandbach Town Council) and
Mrs Eileen Henshall (Congleton Borough Council) the competition was
won by 45-year-old Don Burgess a wages boss at Fodens Motor Works Ltd
Marcia Brooks was the only entry in the female class and so was awarded
a bottle of Sherry.
7 May 1978 Sandbach Marathon – Started at Offley Road and finished at Sandbach Secondary
School. (see below)
13 May 1978 BBC GRANDSTAND (BBC1TV at 1pm) Introduced by Frank Bough.
The programme broadcast a filmed report of the Sandbach Marathon (7 May 1978)
1978 FODEN’S MOTOR WORKS CARNIVAL
The Manufacturer opened its Welles Street Sports and Social Club to the public
and staff for a Carnival.
The event had a number of old and new lorries including the “Pride of Edwin”
one of the first steam wagons and a new £5 Million Army Truck.
A 47 strong Royal Artillery Junior Leaders Band provided the music and the
Whitworth Morris Men of Rochdale provided a dancing display.
The day’s events ended with a disco.
1979 The Sandbach Photographic Society was formed.
3-5 May 1979 SANDBACH TUDOR CELEBRATIONS (Elizabethan Market)
In celebration of the 400th Anniversary of the Charter given to the town by
Queen Elizabeth 1st (1579) the town went Tudor for three days in May
(3-5 May 1979 – Crewe Chronicle 10 May)
Continued as an annual event (Later than 1984).
31 Jan 1981 Sandbach Folk Club held its first evening with a rendition of
“San Francisco Bay Blues”
1981 An Archaeological Dig took place in the Central Market area revealing
deposits from the Medieval Period. The evidence comprised a
Domestic Settlement with a potential oven within the boundaries
of the property. Evidence shows that the property ran at right angels
to the High Street frontage and backed onto what is now Hope Street.
1981 In 1981 Sandbach was given its own version of the Chronicle with the
CREWE CHRONICLE (Sandbach) edition being published.
1981 Sandbach Animal Rescue Society (SARS) was set up to rescue and re-home
stray and unwanted domestic animals from the area.
24 May 1982 BBC 2 (TV) programme “A Moment to Talk” broadcast a programme
filmed in Sandbach with workers from ERF.
(Cameraman Steve Saunderson and Editor Greg Miller).
15 May 1982 Larry Grayson (The Generation Game) was the special guest at the
Sandbach County Primary School (Crewe Road) PTA Fair.
The event also had an ERF Stand as well as the new JIMP manufactured
by P.K. Manufacturing (Sandbach).
1982 Commons Mill was demolished. Built in 1843 (or 1850) it had been unused for years
and was finally knocked down in 1982.
5 May 1983 BBC Radio 4 presented a programme called “Enterprise” which featured
the Sandbach based “The Jimp” car designers and builders.
Steve Robinson and Peter Kukla were childhood friends who worked
together on the project. (Producer Ann Tennant at BBC Birmingham)
Repeated 6 Aug 1983
1984 John Minshull produced a pictorial history of Sandbach called “Bygone Sandbach”
Which was published by the Rotary Club to commemorate Christian Heritage Year.
John photographed Sandbach since 1949, recording the changes in the town and
also collecting postcards and pictures for an archive of the town’s history.
1984 A leaflet about the town lists some of the events during the year.
April HOME AND LEISURE FAIR
May ELIZABETHAN MARKET
(The Sandbach Players took part in the festival in 1980, 1982)
Including Morris Dancers.
May WHEELOCK MAY DAY
(The Sandbach Players took part in the festival in 1977)
June LEONARD CHESHIRE HOME FATE AND PARADE
August BRADWALL SHOW
September SANDBACH WAKES
September SANDBACH MARATHON
November BRIDAL FAIR
December CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
July 1984 Sandbach Cricket Club on Crewe Road was demolished to make way for houses.
This was situated behind the houses at the Town Centre end of Crewe Road
behind Hope Street and The Gardens and behind the Cricketers Arms
Spring 1984 The Shopping Precinct was built. Now Penda Way to Sanbec Walk.
6 May 1985 The Elizabethan Market was the subject of a Children’s Saturday Morning
programme when on the 6 May 1985 the “Saturday Picture Show” recorded
items at the Market for the following week with Maggie Philbin and
Mark Curry (Later Blue Peter Presenter).






1985 A new Surgery was built on Middlewich Rd, opposite the Wesley Avenue Chapel.
It was later taken over by Poole and Alcock (Financial / Legal Services).
May 1986 Elizabethan Market Day (Tudor Market / May Day)
Included Ox Roast, Morris Dancers, Kiddies Motorbikes, Magician and
a Performing Brown Bear act.
27 Nov 1986 The Sandbach Bye-Pass opened in November with the official opening being
performed by Cllr Mrs M.E. Melrose on the 27 November 1986.
The contract to build the Bypass was awarded to A Monk and Company PLC
who put in a tender for £2.3 Million. They started work in March 1985 with a
90 week contract for completion with a completion date of December 1986.
The road was opened to the public on the 31 October 1986 (Friday) after
a car boot sale was held on the road the previous Sunday 26 Oct 1986.
Dec 1986 Sandbach Talking Newspaper formed. Their first home was in the offices of
Stuart Lowndes in Hind Heath Road.
They then moved to Lea House on Old Middlewich Road and in 2004 they moved to
501 Crewe Road, Wheelock CW11 3RX in the Tarmx building.
June 1987 The Slaughter house in Sandbach was demolished.
19 Mar 1988 BBC 1 TV programme “First Class” featured a team from Sandbach School
against Kirkland High from Methil, Fife. The presenter was Debbie Greenwood.
The team won through to the next round on the 28 May 1988 where they
met the All Saints High School from Huddersfield.
Jan 1989 Plans were submitted for a new SAFEWAYS Supermarket in Sandbach.
(now Waitrose)
1-17 Mar 1990 Sandbach Festival (Music Festival) – Including the group Bandersnatch.
(see 1992 for first Balcony Arts Music Festival)
April 1990 or 91 Sandbach held its first "Festival of Transport" (Sandbach Transport Festival).
Apr / May 1990 NEW POLICE STATION
Opened since April 1990 the new purpose-built Police Station was
officially opened by the Chairman of the County Council’s Police Committee
Cheshire (May 1990) next to Westfield’s the home of Congleton Borough Council’s
Headquarters and the site of the temporary building.
July 1990 ELIZABETHAN MARKET
(Sandbach Chronicle 23 July 1990)
Jan 1991 The George Bowling Club was renamed the “Sandbach Park Bowling Club”
after the move from the George Hotel to the Park.
1991 Sandbach were placed first in the “Best Kept Town” awards (Community Pride)
1991 Sandbach Art Club formed.
8 Oct 1991 SAFEWAYS opened in Sandbach
(Date to be confirmed Poss first Tuesday in Oct 1991)
The new superstore was opened by Mayor Cllr Trevor Howkins and a 10 year old
called Gemma Stevens who won a painting competition to win a bike and
open the store.
1992 Sandbach were placed first in the “Best Kept Town” awards (Community Pride)
for the second year.
May 1992 The first Balcony Arts “Sandbach Arts Festival”. Formed in 1991 ten people
who had been involved in a Pantomime decided to do something different and
organised the arts festival which ran over 3 days and had Tom Robinson as
its Headlining Act. Manchester Camerata also featured at the festival and
comedian Dave Gorman.
1992 SANDBACH HISTORY SOCIETY Produced a Heritage Trail leaflet.
February 1993 ARCLID HOSPITAL RADIO closed after 5 years of broadcasting.
Presenters were told of the stations closure in January and they stopped
broadcasting at the end of February. The closure was due to the closure of the
Hospital at Arclid. Many of the presenters moved onto other Hospital Radio Stations
including Hospital Radio Leighton.
30 Apr – 2 May 1993 2nd Balcony Arts “Sandbach Arts Festival” with Lindisfarne and
The Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
5 June 1993 Leonard Cheshire Home Carnival and Fun Day with a parade through the
town centre.
Mar / Apr 1994 The new Post Office was opened in George’s Walk Sandbach by
regional manager Gwyn Owen and Sub Postmistress Pauline Mountford.
27Apr – 1 May 1994 Balcony Arts presented the “Sandbach Arts Festival” between
the 27 Apr and 1 May 1994
Headlining acts included Labi Siffre, Jooles Holland and His Big Band,
The Halle Ensemble. Dave Gorman (2nd visit of the Comedian) and
Humphrey Lyttleton (Trumpet Player and BBC Radio Presenter)
22 Apr – 7 May 1995 Sandbach Arts Festival included the Searchers, Hue and Cry,
Christine Collister, Frank Sidebottom, Jeremy Hardy (Comedian),
Hattie Hayridge (Comedian / Red Dwarf) and Linda Smith (Comedienne)
with Dave Gorman (3rd visit of the Comedian)
6 May 1995 VE DAY STREET PARTY
To celebrate VE day Sandbach Community Partnership
under the chairmanship of Carol Burgess organised a Street Party in the
Town with music provided by the Dave Brown Big Band.
23 Sept 1995 FIRE AT FODENS WORKS
The old Foden factory on Station Road, Elworth had been the home of a
Go-Carting Track and other businesses. On the evening of the 23 September 1995
the building caught fire destroying the area in what was described as the
biggest fire in the town with fire appliances from all over the area in attendance
trying to put it out without success as far as the building was concerned as it
had to be demolished.
St Stevens had to be evacuated and various local residents helped house
those in need while the fire was tackled by appliances from Sandbach, Crewe
and the surrounding area.
Firefighters were still dampening down on the 24 September 1995.
7 Nov 1995 LODGE CHAIR TO BE HOUSED IN LIBRARY
Library takes Custody of Chair to be displayed in the Marriott Room.
On Tuesday the 7 November 1995 a chair originally used by Masters of the
Sandbach Bud of Hope Lodge (or Band of Hope Lodge), a section of the
“National United Order of Free Gardener’s Friendly Society”
whose headquarters were based in the town.
Founded in 1842 the chair was presented in 1893 as a memorial to
Brother Noah Lees for 50 years of service to the organisation.
In 1993 the chair was offered to the Sandbach History Society and was
restored by Mr John Minshull and local wood craftsman Mr Reg Lewis.
After many years in the Marriott room a member of the management of
Cheshire County Council’s Libraries decided it was a Fire Risk and a new home
was sort to house the chair. At this time it was offered to the Sandbach Town Council
and can now be seen in the Literary Institute’s Council Chamber.
9 Nov 1995 American Folk Singer Tom Paxton appeared at Sandbach School.
May 1996 The May Day celebration was swapped from an Ox Roast to a Hog Roast due to
an outbreak of BSE in the UK.
25 Apr- 5 May 1996 5th SANDBACH ARTS FESTIVAL
Sandbach Arts Festival included The Manfreds, Fairport Convention (Acoustic),
Mark Lamarr (Comedian / TV Presenter), Nigel Planer (Young Ones),
George Melly with John Chilton’s Feetwalmers,
John Shuttleworth, Snowy White (Singer), Circle Sensible
22 June – 13 July 1996 SANDBACH SCHOOL FESTIVAL
Included Vin Garbut (6 July 1996 - Comedian) and Singer Alan Price (13 July 1996)
28 Feb 1997 Lindisfarne appeared at Sandbach School.
5 May 1997 May Day celebration 5 May 1997.
June 1997 Work started on the WHEELOCK BY-PASS (21 June 1997 The Sentinel Page 4)
At a cost of £11,500 the scheme was due to be completed in October 1998.
1997 SANDBACH TODAY event.
Organised by the Sandbach partnership and Dot Flint the event brings together
local groups to publicise themselves to the people of Sandbach.
Jan 1998 SANDBACH SOCIETIES EVENING (Sandbach Today) 2nd event.
Groups included;-
(Murial Farnsworth Smith) Ladies Association
(Jim Thompson) Sandbach Scouts
(Don Haynes)Sandbach Unplugged / Folk Club
(Helena Massey) Sandbach Community Events
(Jean Marriott) Lions Club
(Mike Mate) Sandbach Transport Festival
1998 Sandbach were placed first in the “Best Kept Town” awards (Community Pride)
for towns with a population of between 10,000 and 20,000. The award was
sponsored by Shell UK / Cheshire Building Society.
1999 FODEN MOTOR WORKS stopped producing Lorries in Sandbach.
June 1999 Sandbach Rugby Union Football Club held its first “Donkey Derby”.
26 Nov 1999 SANDBACH TODAY (3)
An event organised by Congleton Borough's Arts officer Carol McGregor and
Ex-Mayor Dorothy Flint at Sandbach Town Hall.
Carol Mc Gregor and Dorothy Flint (Organisers)
Lyn Slack (Sandbach Talking Newspaper)
Phil Umberg (RNLI)
Dave Sant (Sandbach Players)
Jean Bold (CPRE)
Pat Riley (Churches together) 2 July 2000 event
Joe Wilson (Transport Festival) 16 April 2000
29 Feb 2000 Cath Jones Music Studio closed for the last time on the 29 February 2000 exactly 18
Months after is owner Cath Jones had died. (See 1947)
2 July 2000 MILLENIUM CELEBRATION on Scotch Common.
The event included the play “Have you Seen my Son?” which told the story of Christ.
It was performed by Sandbach Churches Together.
2000 GARDEN TRAIL first held with gardens all over the town taking part for
local Church funds.
2001 The ERF Factory, Offices and Car Parks were demolished.
May 2001 MAY DAY MARKET
A plate was awarded to Barbara and Arthur Yorke who were manning
the St Mary’s Charity Stall to raise money for the refurbishment of the bells.
The organisers of the May Day event gave the special plate for the best charity stall.
29 Dec 2001 One of the largest car crashes on the Motorway took place on the
Northbound lane of the M6 Motorway between Junctions 16 and 17 with
40 Cars and Lorries colliding. Only two people were injured in the crash
but it involved emergency crews from all over the Staffordshire and Cheshire area.
2003 The U3A (University of the Third Age) Formed in Sandbach
2003 Sandbach were placed first in the “Best Kept Town” awards (Community Pride)
for towns with a population of between 10,000 and 20,000. The award was
sponsored by Shell UK.
Nov 2003 Sandbach Chamber of Trade started a Loyalty Card / Sandbach Traders Card
to boost sales locally.
24 Apr 2004 Sandbach Talking Newspapers new studio was officially opened by Sandbach
MP Lady Ann Winterton. Situated in Wheelock in a building owned by
Termax they have a studio and reproduction area to copy the programmes
onto cassette and now MP3 format.
12 Sept 2004 Battle of Sandbach re-enactment on the 12 September 2004 at Sandbach Park.
Oct 2004 Sky Tv programme “Most Haunted” filmed at the Old Hall with Yvette Fielding
and Gaby Roslin meeting Derek Acorah. (Series 5 Episode 2)
April 2005 The Sandbach Transport Festival was cancelled when its volunteer committee
were unable to find time to sort out all the arrangements.
Aug 2005 In August 2005 Peter Harris was murdered by Sean Carrahar a local drug dealer.
The murder took place in the car park of Iceland.
23 April 2006 The Sandbach Transport Festival returned with over 10,000 spectators.
The theme of the event was “Farewell to Fodens” which was started in 1856
and employed 5,000 people. The event had 30 Foden trucks in the parade including
a 1908 and 1925 steamer.
Organiser Reg Shallcross said the event also had an art exhibition in the Town Hall,
a performance by the Lion’s Youth Brass Band and a chance to have your
teddy bear parachuted from the top of the Fire Station training tower.
Marshalls for the event was provided by members of the
Rotary Club of Saxon Crosses and the Sandbach Lions.
1 May 2006 MAY DAY Celebration with Hog Roast on Market Square.
6 May 2006 The WESLEY CENTRE was opened by MP Ann Winterton.
16- 17 Sept 2006 Battle of Sandbach on the weekend of the 16-17 September 2006.
The event took place at Sandbach Heath with members of the Sealed Knott
Re-Enacting the battle of Sandbach (see also 2004)
2006 In July 2006 the last Foden Truck (Name Badge only) was produced at the
Leyland Factory ending 150 years of truck building. (see 1999)
7 Oct 2006 A new Community Garden was opened on Scotch Common. It also houses replica
Saxon Crosses made out of Wood.
Town MP Ann Winterton, Cheshire County Council Chairman Neville Price
and Cllr Elsie Alcock opened the garden officially on the 7 October 2006.
Mar 2007 First Sandbach Town Council Newsletter issued.
2007 The Old Hall was put on the English Heritage “At Risk” list after it was put up
for sale. A “Sandbach Old Hall Action Group” was formed to try and save
the building.
2007? WESTFIELDS the Home of the Fodens Family for many years was demolished
to make way for the New Congleton Borough Offices.
Now the Cheshire East Headquarters.
Oct 2007 Archaeological Survey took place in the Market Square before it was redeveloped.


30 Nov 2007 Christmas Light switch on with Sandbach Ladies Choir and Sandbach School Band.
19-20 Apr 2008 The Sandbach Transport Festival became a two day event for the first time.
Foden’s Band and the Lions Youth band also held a concert on the Friday night
(18th) to launch the festival.
28 May 2008 A Fire took place at the Bear’s Paw in Warmingham on the 28 May 2008 during
renovations and was attended by two Fire Engines from Crewe an incident that
closed the building. It was reopened on the 20 May 2009 after extensive rebuilding.
(Some websites put this event on the 27 May 2008)
17 July 2008 Sandbach became a “Fairtrade Town” with a local group being formed to bring
awareness and to promote Fairtrade products.
2008 Sandbach Town Council was awarded “Quality Status” having met certain standards.
2008 Sandbach Clean Team formed ( Pre 13 Sept 2008).
8 Sept 2008 Results announced in the “Sandbach in Bloom Competition” held at the
Masonic Hall.
Feb 2009 The Market Square refurbishment was completed.
1 Feb 2010 On the 1st February 2010 at 11pm a fire ripped through St Peters Church Hall
in Elworth taking eight hours to put out. Crew’s from Sandbach, Crewe,
Nantwich, Middlewich and the Aerial Appliance from Macclesfield arrived on
Scene to extinguish the fire.
2010 Formation of the Sandbach “Woodland and Wildlife Group”.
May 2010 STAR (Sandbach Traders and Retailers) formed to develop opportunities for
shops in the town.
12 June 2010 First of the Sandbach Farmers Market. Held on the second Saturday of the month
on the Market Square. (Later taken over by the Makers Market)
Nov / Dec 2010 “Friends of Sandbach Park” formed.
2010 The first “Day of Dance” was held in Sandbach with Morris Dancers from
all over the country converging on Sandbach. After 7 years of the event
organisers Lynn Purcell and Ray Archer decided to call it a day in 2017. Started as
an event on its own, in later years it was combined with the Farmer’s Market
run by the Town Council and later the Maker’s Market which took over in 2015.
The event usually had some sunny weather but in 2015 and 2017 the rain came
down for part of the days event with performers moving to St Mary’s Church Hall
as well as a gazebo at the Old Hall. One of the highlights of the final day of dance
was the inclusion of the ‘Danze de Sans Chuse’ a group of dancers from Spain who
were given the loudest applause by the public and also by their fellow performers.
GROUPS TAKING PART in 2017.
Black Dog Molly
Chorlton Clog Hoppers
Danze de Sans Chuse (From Spain)
Domesday
Horwich Prize Medal
Milltown Cloggies
Mobberely
Rivington
Thelwall
12 Sept 2010 Foden’s Band held a free concert on the Market Square.
29 Sept 2010 The first concert took place of the “Sandbach Concert Series” at
St Mary’s Church Hall. Organised by Lauren and Andy Scott (Local Composer)
The first show featured Lauren Scott (Harp) and Claire Southworth (Flute).
3 Dec 2010 The First CHRISTMAS MARKET
2 Dec 2011 / 30 Nov 2012 / 6 Dec 2013 / etc.
July 2011 A new Sandbach Town Guide was issued (Picture of Crosses on purple background)
by Sandbach Town Council.
8-11 Sept 2011 200th Anniversary of Sir George Gilbert Scott was celebrated in the town.
2 Dec 2011 On the 2 December 2012, Cllr Carolyn Lowe extended the
“Christmas Street Market and Late-Night Shopping” event starting at 4.30pm
to encourage more people to come to the town and to see the facilities
Sandbach Market has as well as bringing in speciality stalls to make
Christmas a special occasion in the town with an event that compliments
the Light Switch on held on another night.
Choirs singing around the Christmas Tree, Bell Ringers, a Brass Band,
Best Dressed Festive Character competition (Judged by the Mayor) and Santa
in his Grotto were some of the attractions with stalls in the Town Hall Market,
Down the Main Street and at the Market Square this was a successful event
which was duplicated on the 30 November 2012, with the addition of a
Best Dressed Trader and the results of the “Best Dressed Shop Window Display”
Competition which the Town Council had taken over from the STAR
organisation who between 2010 and 2011 had reintroduced the competition.
8 Dec 2011 On the 8 December 2011, the first Tree of Lights Ceremony took place to
remember those who had passed away at Sandbach Cemetery with stars
available from the Library, Westfields Council offices, the Sandbach Town Council
and the Sandbach Partnership in the Enterprise Centre.
Town Mayor Dennis Robinson (and Town Crier) led the service with
readings and music from the Sandbach Ladies Choir and St John’s School.
27 Feb 2012 FODEN MEMORIAL STONE
A Memorial stone and Time Capsule were placed on the road near the spot of the
Foden Administration Building on London Road (joined to Middlewich Road).
2012 Sandbach Allotment Society opened their first allotment site at Yeowood Farm,
Ettley Heath.
2012 Friends of Elworth Park Formed.
June 2012 The Town Council took over ownership of the Town Hall and appointed an
operations Manager to run it.
5 June 2012 “PARTY IN THE PARK” (Queen’s Diamond Jubilee)
Foden’s Band were playing in Sandbach Park to celebrate the
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
The event was attended by about 1,000 people who braved the rain and the cold
to listen to the band who played in the dip of the park on a specially constructed
stage. When the finale came a volley of fireworks accompanied the
“Pomp and Circumstance March No1”.
20 Oct 2012 FODEN’S BAND WINS THE DOUBLE CHAMPIONSHIPS For the Second Time.
On winning the “National Championships” at the Royal Albert Hall, Londonwith the
test piece “Daphnis and Chloe” by Maurice Ravel Arranged by Howard Snell,
they had pulled off a unique double, double win in the brass band world having
won the British Open Shield (1 Sept 2012) this meant that the band had won both
Major British Brass Band Championships.
The last time they had done this was back in 1910 when William Halliwell
conducted the band in “Acis and Galatea” by Handel arranged by
C Godfrey (British Open on the 5 Sept 1910) and “Gems of Schubert”
(National Championship) arranged by William Rimmeron the1Oct 1910.
Conductor for Fodens Allan Withington.
RESULTS FIRST FODENS BAND
SECOND Brighouse and Rastrick
THIRD Cory
BEST INSTRUMENTALIST Richard Poole (Foden’s Bands Soprano Cornet)
BRITISH OPEN BRASS BAND CHAMPIONSHIP WINS
1909 / 1910 / 1912 / 1913 / 1915 / 1926 / 1927 / 1928 / 1964 / 2004 / 2008 / 2012.
“NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS” OF GREAT BRITAIN WINS
1910 / 1930 / 1932 / 1933 / 1934 / (Barred 1935) / 1936 / 1937 / 1938 / 1950 / 1953 /
1958 / 1999 / 2012
27 Oct 2012 Sandbach Partnership held its first “Halloween Event” on the Market Square.
27 Apr 2013 The first “Saxon Crosses Market” took place on the Market Square.
It was an Artisan Style market and was held on the 4th Saturday of the Month.
6 July 2013 ELWORTH PARK RE-OPENING
Crowds flocked to the reopening of ElworthPark on Saturday 6 July 2013.
After a major overhaul the park has been given some new gates superbly
designed by Christine Wilcox-Baker, who has incorporated a number of events
in the history of Elworth.
July 2013 A Herb Garden was opened to the public by the Bus shelters.
10 October 2013 Sandbach won the COMMUNITY PRIDE AWARD for the Best Town in
Cheshire organised by “Cheshire Community Action”. The town won in the best
Market Town category for town’s with over a 10,000 population.
The awards ceremony at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall, also gave the Old Hall
a “Little Gem Award” for its improvements over the year and Sandbach Park
was Highly Commended under the title “Best Community Initiative Award”.
1 Jan 2014 The NEW YEARS HONOURS list had three names from Sandbach in it.
Mrs Valetta Mary Cranmer – For services to Charity through the Sandbach Ladies
Choir. AWARDED BEM (British Empire Medal)
John Lonsdale – For services to Education (Teacher of Performing Arts / Head of
Sandbach School – Retired). AWARDED MBE
Ms Alison Marjorie Wild – For services to Higher Education (Formally Chair,
Association of Heads of University administration and deputy Chief executive,
Liverpool John Moores University. AWARDED OBE
9 October 2014 Sandbach won the COMMUNITY PRIDE AWARD for the Best Town in
Cheshire for the second time in succession.
Organised by “Cheshire Community Action” the town won in the “Best
Market Town” category for town’s with over a 10,000 population,
A “Little Gem Award” for Sandbach Park’s Sensory Garden in the
Toddler’s Play area and the CHAMPIONSHIP AWARD for
overall best town / village.
Dick Macaulay of the Clean Team was also Highly Commended in the
“Community Champion Award”.
14 Apr 2015 BBC RECORDING – The Daily Politics Show filmed Foden’s Band as part of
the live Broadcast they were to make the following day.
15 Apr 2015 BBC BROADCAST – BBC 2 “Daily Politics Show”
Ian Raisbeck (2nd Cornet), Dave McGlynn (Principal Bb Tuba) and
Stewart Green (Archivist) took part in a live Broadcast from the Foden’s Bandroom
as part of the Election Coverage of the BBC’s “Daily Politics Show”.
######################################################
BBC DAILY POLITICS COMES TO SANDBACH
The BBC’s Flagship daytime Politics Show came to Sandbach on the
14th and 15th of April to film and produce a live programme insert as part of a
series of articles. Giles Dilnot a reporter for the programme, goes round the
country talking to ordinary people at work or doing their hobbies and on this
occasion he visited the Foden’s Band members during a rehearsal and the
following day, the BBC broadcast live to the studio from the Sandbach bandroom.
The day picked for the broadcast turned out to be a significant one as the latest policy
release was to do with schools and in particular the impact it would have on the
teaching of music within the education system a subject that is close to the heart of
many members of the band including Ian Raisbeck (Cornet) who took part in the
programme. Ian was joined by Dave McGlynn (Bb Bass) and Stewart Green
(Band Archivist) to discuss the issues of the day for three minutes on BBC2 and
then a repeat performance live on the BBC News Channel.
On the Tuesday the BBC crew turned up to film the band perform its signature tune
“The Cossack” which was recorded three times along with bits of the rehearsal which
were then used to great effect when Giles added a narration to the introduction for the
live broadcast on Wednesday when the three people connected to the band were
asked their opinions as part of the Daily Politics look at what normal people think of
the 2015 election.
During the 2005 election coverage the Daily Politics programme decided to find out
what the electorate in the marginal constituency’s really thought of the coverage of
the election and what their views were. The format of going out to meet people in
their place of work or play worked and the programme repeated the format in 2010
and again this year. Giles said that this election is a very different one as the voter
really does have the chance to make a difference as it is going to be a very close run
election with the public having more choice of candidates as different parties have
joined in the mix. The new dynamic of the race has changed the view of the
traditional voter who was brought up in a one party society to them having more
choice than ever before. The programme put a list of policies on a board and asked
voters to decide how they would make their choice based on the policy only and
surprisingly no one party came out on top but a mixture of all the different parties.
This year Giles Dilnot and the BBC team have spoken to Aquarium workers in
Plymouth, Cheese makers in Cornwall, Film Prop makers in Bristol, Stone masons
in Somerset, Iron workers in North Yorkshire and after the broadcast from Foden’s
Bands rehearsal room at Flowcrete in Elworth they went Water rafting in
North Wales.
#########################################################
May 2015 ST LUKE’S (Cheshire) HOSPICE Opened its second site at the
Winterley Grange, Wheelock Heath Business Park.
The ceremony was conducted by Phil Redmond (Creator and writer of Grange Hill /
Brookside etc.)
July 2015 Sandbach Park was given a “Green Flag” status in recognition of the standard of the
Park.
It is only one of 1,582 parks in the country to have the award for excellence.
12 Aug 2015 The old Magistrates Court and Police Station on Middlewich Road were knocked
down to make way for houses.
15 Oct 2015 Sandbach won the COMMUNITY PRIDE AWARD for the Best Market Town in
Cheshire for the third time in succession.
Organised by “Cheshire Community Action” the town won in the “Best
Market Town” category for town’s with over a 10,000 population on the
15 October 2015.
The town also won a “Little Gem Award” for Dingle Lake, Sandbach and
Sandbach Station was Highly Commended in the Best Community
Initiative category.
4 Dec 2015 The annual Christmas Market took place with a special guest “Tears for Fears”,
original drummer Manny Elias and his actress wife Deborah Bouchard
(Coronation Street extra 2007, Emmerdale extra) who sold “Bongo’s Chilli”.
4 Feb 2016 Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne (Tatton MP) arrived in Elworth
in a helicopter to visit the Persimmon new homes and promote the Governments
“Help to Buy Scheme”. He landed at the Cricket ground in Hind Heath Lane.
17 Apr 2016 FIRE AT THE FODEN’S BAND REHERSAL ROOM at Flowcrete on
Middlewich Road, Moston.
Foden’s Band played at the Sandbach Transport Festival from 12noon until
about 3pm when they left the Old Hall car park and returned their instruments,
red jackets and stands to their band room at Flowcrete. By 5.39pm smoke was
entering the building in the upstairs music store room. A crew from Sandbach
were called out by the smoke alarm being activated and when they arrived they
saw no smoke until they entered the building and at this point decided to call in
for support. 8 appliances and a Hydraulic Turntable turned up to tackle the fire
that destroyed the bandroom.
The cause of the fire was later revealed as an electrical fault.
APPLIANCES AT THE FIRE INCLUDED.
Y495PTU Sandbach
PO11FZN (P380) Possibly Northwich
R43FMA reserve engine
May 2016 An estate off Middlewich Road near Albion Lock has been named after members
connected to the Elworth Cricket Club. These included the three ladies who donated
money to fund the purchase of the ground and Allan Littlemore (Littlemore Road)
who set up the fund and has been a main player (Chairman etc) in the club ever since.
3 July 2016 DENNIS ROBINSON GIVEN FREEDOM OF SANDBACH
Dennis Robinson received the greatest honour a town can give to one of its Citizens
“The Freedom of Sandbach” for his many years of contributions to the life of this
Market Town and in particular for his work as Town Crier.


8 July 2016 “ANY QUESTIONS” broadcast live from Sandbach Town Hall with
Jonathan Dimbleby in the chair.
With the political situation in Northern Ireland at this moment in time the
“Any Questions” producers at BBC Radio 4 decided a new venue should be
found to host the live programme on the 8 July 2016. SandbachTown Hall
was the perfect venue for the broadcast and Lisa Jenkinson the producer of the
programme set about organising the event.
Jonathan Dimbleby as usual was in the chairman’s seat with Liberal Democrat leader
Tim Farron, Conservative Dominic Grieve, Labours Gisela Stuart and
Daily Telegraph columnist Liam Hagan on the panel.
Eleven questions were chosen by the production team with the question
setters sitting on the front row for the broadcast and Lisa choosing the appropriate
question for that part of the programme.
After a warm up and housekeeping rules by town hall staff, Mayor Keith Haines
and BBC Radio Stoke presenter Terry Walsh the hall went quiet at exactly 8pm
for the PIPS on Radio 4 followed by the news and then an introduction to the
programme by Jonathan Dimbleby who then held the programme together for just
over 45 minutes until 8.50pm when the programme came “Off Air”.
A brief chat about one of the questions not asked during the show and it was time
for the politicians and presenter to mingle with the audience in the hall and the bar
of the Town Hall after a very successful broadcast.


“Any Questions” Panel and Cheshire East Mayor.
6 Sept 2016 TOUR OF BRITAIN Cycle Race Congleton to Knutsford via Sandbach.
Cyclists included Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish.
11am Congleton Start
11.30am Rode Heath
11.58am Willaston / Nantwich
12.26pm Middlewich
(approx.) 12.30pm Sandbach
(Time Trial on Middlewich Road outside Sandbach High School)
Bradwall Road to Brereton
Cranage
13.10pm Knutsford to Tatton Park (1st Time)
13.40pm Alderley Edge / Prestbury
14.13pm Macclesfield
Wildboarclough
Bosley
15.04pm Gawsworth
Chelford
Knutsford
3.30pm Tatton Park (Finishing line)
5 Oct 2016 On the 5 October 2016 the CREWE CHRONICLE Sandbach and Middlewich
editions of the paper merged with the CREWE CHRONICLE (Crewe Edition)
leaving only the Nantwich Edition as a separate paper.
13 Oct 2016 Dame Mary Peters visited Sandbach to officially open the Latham Court Retirement
Living Accommodation on Middlewich opposite the Police Station.
The 1972 Olympic Gold Medallist gave a talk to residents and guests at the new
McCarthy and Stone building.
March 2020 CORONAVIRUS Hits Sandbach Events.
In December 2019 a new virus was discovered in China and by March 2020
it had become a pandemic. On the 16 March 2020 many of the
entertainment events were cancelled including, Sandbach Choral Society cancelled
its concert this month, The Sandbach Concert Series cancelled its concerts until
May and the Sandbach Transport Festival was “Postponed”.
The Sandbach Community Cinema cancelled the “Military Wives” Film and
children’s “Sonic the Hedhehog” plus all other showings.
Shops rapidly ran out of stock as panic buyers cleared the shelves leaving many
elderly without the basics of milk and bread.