Bosley

April 25, 2018.

BOSLEY LAY- BY, LYMFORD WORKS, TOFTGREENFARM, CLOUD HOUSE FARM, BOSLEY CLOUD, TIMBERS BROOK C.P.,OVEREDGE, DANE IN SHAW, MACCLESFIELD CANAL, LAMBERT’S LANE MANY STREETS THROUGH CONGLETON, CONGELTON TOWN PARK, CONGELTON INDUSTRIAL PARK, CHESHIRE BREWERY, HOUSING ESTATES (VARIOUS) MACCLESFIELD CANAL, LYMFORD WORKS, BOSLEY

Distance: 11 miles.

Difficulty: Hard then Easy.

Weather: Sunshine and showers

Walkers: Chris Owen, Tom Cunliffe,Mick Barrett, Laurie Fairman and visitor Dave.

Non-walking drinker: None

Apologies: Generally no idea except for Alan Hart (Taiwan), Peter Beal (Theatre), Colin Davison (indisposed) and Steve Kemp( gym workout) George Dearsley (Turkey)

Leader: Owen Diarist: Fairman

Starting point: Lay-by opposite the church on A523 Bosley.

Starting time: 9.50am. Finishing time: 3.45pm.

This as a new route ably conducted by Chris (god knows how he remembered it). Badly reported by Laurie who with typical scientific training had both neither pen nor paper (and in truth little inclination as for most of the route he concentrated in not losing the leaders being at the back with Mick)

A note for future walks – the lay-by is always nearly full as there is no car park at the school; so it is used by teachers and other staff. We managed to get 3 cars in and set off across the A523 to the parish church. The footpath lies between the church and the vicarage and falls away down a muddy track to the yard of the mill. (15mins)

The mill is on the R.Dane and in times past there were two water mills by the bridge. These were demolished and replaced by Wood Mills who were producing fine powdered wood for the plastics industry

Just after 9am on Friday 17th July 2015 the Service was called to a report of an explosion at a wood mill in Bosley

Confirmation has been received that there were 35 people who have been directly affected by the incident. Four were treated at the scene for breathing difficulties and a further four were taken to hospital for treatment – one of those was in a serious condition.

There were 15 fire engines at the scene dealing with the aftermath of two explosions. It is believed at an early stage that four people were trapped.

The incident involved the collapse of a four storey building. There was a fully developed fire in several areas.

A further four people remained unaccounted for. A safety cordon was been set up around the scene and nearby Bollin Mill Road was shut.

It is not until the 20th July that two bodies were found and a third on the 23rd.

The firefighters did not extinguish all the blaze until the 20th August when they handed the site over to the Cheshire Constabulary, the remains of the 4th man were never found.

The inquiry has not yet been completed.

Oddly enough the remaining buildings were being used by a pallet (plastic) company for storage!

We crossed the bridge and continued up the country lane a steep climb towards Toftgreen farm where we turned left and took the footpath on the left directly up the hill to Pedly lane passing a new substantial bungalow guarded by two black bulls that obviously preferred food to sex or fighting and studiously ignored us. When we reached Pedly lane we turned left and followed the road to the steps leading to the Cloud. The summit was reached at 11.50 exactly 60 mins since the start.

Leaving the beautiful views of Cheshire in the showery rain we followed the Gritstone Trail to Timbersbrook C.P. where we enjoyed a break on a newly provided picnic table – Chris dispensing damson gin (120mins).

We set off following the G T towards Congleton until we reached the outskirts of the town on the Macclesfield canal. Here we turned left along the canal passing the Queens Head (a sometime watering hole) at opening time but Chris couldn’t be stopped. On and on we went reaching Lamberts lane before turning right for the town (150mins)

When the lane ended we followed various roads to the centre of the town.

Congleton became notorious in the 1620s when bear-baiting, as well as cockfighting, were popular sports. The town was unable to attract large crowds to its bear-baiting contests and lacked the money to pay for a new, more aggressive bear. The town used money it had saved to buy a Bible and it replenished the fund with the income from the increased number of spectators. It became legend that Congleton sold its Bible to pay for a new bear. The chorus of 20th-century folk song "Congleton Bear", by folk artist John Tams, runs:

Congleton Rare, Congleton Rare

Sold the Bible to buy a bear.

The legend earned Congleton the nickname 'Beartown'.

Here with the troops getting restless Chris informed us the Weatherspoons was down the road left, but he had a treat if we continued on. Down across the main roads right along the A336 then a few shimmies around the houses . At this point being lost and almost dying of thirst the names escape me. However we found the town park and after it the industrial estate. Passing alone a hedge in one of the lanes I saw a sign “Beer turn left” we were nearly there!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So we were the brewery, (Cheshire brewery)located in an industrial back street, it  had a bar and beer “garden” but best of all a lovely clear hoppy brew named IPA for £3 a pint (185mins).

Reluctantly leaving, having avoided a shower, we made our way through playing fields, housing estates etc till we reached the Macclesfield canal at bridge 65. We followed this northwards i.e. turned left, to bridge no 57 where we left the canal crossed a field by the river to reach the mill ( 260mins). We retraced our steps up to the church and the cars de-booting in heavy rain after a long interesting walk (290mins)

I write this with a warning – do not take this account as a guide – se Chris for details or you will get lost

Next week’s walk will start at 9.30am from the road outside the Cock inn at Whaley Bridge. We intend to reach Shady Oak to knock the froth off a couple around 12.2 5pm before returning for a final pint at Cock at about 2.25pm.

Happy wandering !