Talks Programme 2026
Pricing and admission
Saturday 18 April: free entry
All other talks: £7 (£5 for Friends of the Museum)
100 Gems of Congleton
Saturday 18 April, 11am
Speakers: David Jackson and Nancy Clark, with Anya Moon
Join us for a special GEMS project presentation with David Jackson and Nancy Clark, alongside Anya Moon from Cheshire Archives and Local Studies. Over recent months, volunteers have worked with archive collections to help select and enrich the stories that will represent Congleton on the Cheshire Archives website.
This talk will introduce a range of fascinating local histories, including well-known local figures such as John Thomas Price, horse trainer and prominent member of local canine and pigeon societies, and Frank William Pass of F. W. Pass & Sons, a long-established Congleton business. It will also explore the history of local businesses such as Marsuma Cigars, alongside stories of Congleton’s cinemas, football and policing.
The History of Congleton Park
Saturday 25 April, 11am
Speaker: Lyndon Murgatroyd
This talk explores why parks became important in the Victorian period, the working life of the designer of Congleton Park, the design of the park and its features, the transfer of the Market Cross and the fountain into the park, and the development of Town Wood. It also looks at the park’s decline, vandalism, its period as a no-go area, and its later rejuvenation into the park we know today.
Bossons Factory
Saturday 9 May, 11am
Speaker: Brenda Proudlove
This talk focuses on the history of the Bossons Factory, one of Congleton’s most remarkable and often overlooked local stories. Founded in Congleton in the mid-20th century, Bossons became internationally known for its distinctive plaster wall sculptures, which were exported worldwide and collected by both private buyers and major retailers. At its height, the factory employed a large local workforce and developed highly specialised production techniques, combining traditional craftsmanship with innovative mould-making and finishing processes.
A special feature of this talk is that it will be delivered by a former Bossons factory artist, who worked there for more than ten years and can share first-hand insights into the creative process, daily working life and some of the lesser-known secrets behind how the pieces were made. A small selection of original Bossons objects will also be available to view during the session.
Congleton Curios: Hiding in Plain Sight
Saturday 30 May, 11am
Speaker: Mike Tingle
How well do you know Congleton? If you have lived here for several years, or even longer, you probably think you know the town well. But you may be surprised by how many quirky features you have passed hundreds of times without ever noticing. They are hiding in plain sight.
This talk includes questions such as:
• Which architect designed Congleton Town Hall, and where did he put the portcullis?
• What is shown on the two carved shields in Davenport’s frieze?
• Why did Congleton change its coat of arms in 1967?
• Where is Black Lion Court, and what can you see there?
• Where were the Eltan Rooms, and what used to be behind their arched doorway?
John Walker of Congleton: Much More Than Just a Hoarder
Saturday 27 June, 11am
Speaker: David Jackson
In 1992, metal detectorists found a 17th-century coin hoard that has been attributed to John Walker, a prominent inhabitant of Congleton in the 17th century. This talk goes beyond the hoard itself to offer an insight into the man behind it.
Congleton Bear Hunt
Saturday 25 July, 11am
Speaker: Mike Tingle
Congleton was given the nickname “Beartown” in the 17th century. Like many legends, the story of the Congleton Bear is based on a half-truth, reshaped over time to make it more interesting and more scandalous. As a result, bears still appear across the town today, from place names and logos to life-size models.
Join Mike to discover:
• Why did the town acquire its nickname?
• Why are there two bears on the Mountbatten Way roundabout?
• When did “Bearmania” take place?
• Why is there a real live bear in Vietnam named Bosley Bear?
Millwalks and Industrial Yarns
Saturday 26 September, 11am
Speaker: Lyndon Murgatroyd
This illustrated talk explores the history of cotton, silk and fustian in Congleton and the surrounding area. It explains the difference between silk throwing and silk spinning, and takes the audience on a virtual walk around the town through the history of its most important mills. These include the Old Mill, the second-oldest silk mill in the country, as well as Providence Mill, Danebridge Mill, Stonehouse Green Mill, Bridge Mill, Royle Street Mill, Victoria Mill and a series of mills in Worrall Street.
1914–1918: Traumatic Years to Remember
Saturday 31 October, 11am
Speaker: Lyndon Murgatroyd
This talk looks at life in Congleton during the First World War. It covers fashion of the period, local shops and businesses, and stories from the local newspaper that reflect the experience of the time. It also explores how several houses in the town were converted into hospitals, outlines the causes of the war, and traces key events year by year through to 1918, including stories from the front about Congleton soldiers.
Flagging up Some Simple Heraldry
Saturday 28 November, 11am
Speaker: Mike Tingle
Do you remember the summer of 2022? The town was bedecked with more than 60 different flags and banners to celebrate the 750th anniversary of Congleton’s first Town Charter. You may remember seeing them, but perhaps not fully understanding what they meant — the heraldic shapes and symbols behind the designs.
Join Mike to find out:
• Who granted Congleton its 1272 Charter?
• How did Congleton contravene the laws of heraldry for several centuries?
• How does heraldry expose an “untruth” in the story of Cinderella?