Talks Programme 2026

Pricing and admission
£7 (£5 for Friends of the Museum)
 
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?