Sandbach: Land of Anglo-Saxon crosses, Tudor timber houses, and the annual Sandbach Carnival.
Situated somewhere south of Manchester city, you will come across the busy large town of Sandbach. Although peculiarly named, this wholesome town plays host to 19,000 people and counting. Found in the east Cheshire Plain, this land has seen habitation since the Bronze Age – and perhaps even beyond. Are you a resident of Sandbach, just passing through, or one of the market traders who visit often? Either way, here are the fascinating facts you ought to know about the Roman’s favourite Cheshire town.
What is Sandbach Famous For?
Like much of Cheshire back through those early ages, Sandbach was famous for making salt. What put the town on the map are the Sandbach Crosses. These Anglo-Saxon built crosses date as far back as the 9th century. They survived the Vikings, a civil war, two invasions, and two World Wars. The crosses are hailed internationally as one of few decorative Anglo-Saxon pieces that still exist.
Foden’s Band
The town is also famous as the home of Foden’s Brass Band. The band are the largest brass band in the UK. They regularly compete and rank among the top brass bands in the world. The band was formed in 1902 and today holds the title of Double National Gold Champion in the UK.
Early History of a Cheshire Town
Early humans settled this area of Cheshire as long ago as the Stone Age. Salt is a hard thing to find in nature, and particularly if you don’t live near salt deposits or the sea. Towns just like Sandbach were valuable all down through the generations and survived largely on agriculture and salt extraction. Archaeology in the area has unearthed evidence of early hunters here. Artefacts including Bronze Age axe heads found in Sandbach date to 3,000 years old.
Sandbach grew up around the Roman roads heading north. The evidence of Roman occupation here is minimal by comparison to similar towns in the area. Archaeologists did uncover evidence of Roman remains while working on the nearby Bridley Moors. Ancient coins have popped up on the footpath between Sandbach and Brereton, too.
Back in those early days, there was not just one settlement in the Sandbach area, there were five. The five settlements included a smaller version of Sandbach than we know today plus the towns or villages of Wheelock, Heath, Eiworth and Ettiley. Eventually, they amalgamated into one parish.
The actual name of the town comes from the old Anglo-Saxon. Sand translates down to ‘sand’, while a baece was a stream. Presumably, there was a sandbank or streams here, leading out into the water. During Saxon times they called the town Sanbec. The town had 4 priests in the 7th century as it converted to Christianity.
Sandbach During the Dark Ages
The next mention of Sandbach in Medieval times comes from the early dark ages. In 1086, King Williams’s invaders finally tallied up what he had acquired when he attacked England. Sandbach appears in the Domesday Survey. The town had 7 households. This is more than it sounds like. The households were the possession of Earl Hugh of Chester and of Bigot Les Loges. These are the owners of the seven households or perhaps of the manor house or fort the households worked in. Between them, they owned:
- 9 ploughlands and the teams to use them.
- 5 acres of meadow.
- Perch mixed woodland
- 2 villagers
- 3 slaves – which was a disgraceful part of English life which we should never allow to happen again.
- A priest, so maybe even a church.
- And one Frenchman. We have zero idea.
The land was worth 8 shillings in 1086 to Bigot. It was marked as waste according to the Earl Hugh of Chester. He made nothing from it.
The Vikings pestered this stretch of coastline up until around 1000. After that, the region was still subject to raids from the Welsh across the border. Around 1230 Richard de Sandbach owned most of the land around the town, beginning the long legend of the house of Sandbach. Richard de Sandbach had a manor in the area. He claimed Sandbach was partially his but the Earl at the time dismissed it. Eventually, it would be Sir Randulph Crewe who held the manor. Either way, it gave the locals work and a degree of protection.
By 1579 Sandbach had become a market town. The local lord of Sandbach Old Hall gathered local farmers for a market on Thursdays. He issued a charter which you can still see in a museum in Chester. Sandbach Town Council have a reproduction of the document. The town gained the right to two annual fairs of two days each. You can still catch this market every Thursday.
The town of Sandbach acted as a passing place for the Scottish army as they marched south. The beaten army returned north along this route. In 1651, thousands of tired cavalrymen passed through on their way north. The townsfolk harried their progress, with some dying and others injured. Legend holds that they took 100 Scottish prisoners. It was this incident which saw the town name the local green Scotch Common.
Fun Facts and Sandbach Trivia
You can’t get through one whole Five Minutes Spare travel guide without us dishing the dirt on the fun facts and gossip. It wouldn’t be a travel guide without some fun facts, so here we go.
Sandbach Trivia Includes:
- Sandbach still supplies salt to this day. The town produces around 11 tonnes annually, upholding a time-honoured tradition of mining the salt deposits to trade at the market.
- Sir John Radclyffe of Old Sandbach Hall appealed to Queen Elizabeth I for his charter for a Sandbach market. The lady approved.
- Leading Victorian architect and genuine inspiration of the time Sir George Gilbert Scott built many of the town’s fancy buildings. He did restoration work on some he didn’t build, too.
- Sir William Radcliffe died in 1568 and his body was taken to Manchester. His heart was first removed and given to the local St Mary’s church. Probably this let a part of him stay home. We are reluctant to ask what happened to the heart.
- The roof of the church that holds that heart leaked for years until the local reverend started a campaign to have the £100,000 repair job started. Did he succeed? You will have to visit to find out.
- William Webb once wrote that the ale in Sandbach was not less famous than that of Derby. The town did become known for brewing over the years.
With all that ale and people leaving their hearts behind, we think it’s time to get back to a more believable history.
The Industrial Period in Sandbach
Sandbach grew wildly in the Industrial Era. It started in the 17th century when the town became a well-known silk and cotton manufacturer.
In the 1800s, the town gained several buildings, now listed for their importance. The Old Hall is the most important. Refurbished several times, this Georgian Mansion now homes the museum. During the middle of the century, the railway arrived at Sandbach, bringing fresh industry, and giving the town’s salt and silk producers new ways to ship their products throughout the UK and Europe. The town saw a boom in productivity.
By 1836 the silk mills employed 500 residents of Sandbach. 98 of those were children. The population then was 1,844 people. By 1951, it was 9,253 according to census data. There was a large corn mill for grinding flour. As of 1866, the town was a civil parish.
The Industrial Era did not go so well for everyone. The elderly or infirm, orphans and those without families, might all end up at Congleton Workhouse. The workhouse opened in 1730 but had fallen into disrepair by 1810. A second workhouse opened in town, which could house 100 paupers. These poor people would work all day to produce whatever product the house created. Rather like working in a factory that you slept in, these people suffered long hours and hard work in exchange for a room and board. In 1831, the facility held 171 people from a variety of nearby settlements. In 1842 the board of Guardians were summoned due to a high prevalence of pregnant women in the Wrexham Union. The wardens had been opening the halls to young men at night. The Congleton Union brought bans into place to prevent this type of behaviour. Things like this continued to happen in England and rUK up until the 1980s. The workhouses evolved into asylums.
The Modern Town
By 1933 the town of Sandbach hosted the ERF lorry company. In 1936, though, the town grew to swallow other nearby settlements. These included Booth Lane Head, Brickhouses, Etilley Heath, Forge Fields Hindheath, March Green, and Elworth.
The town gained a gasworks and a brickworks in the 19th century, but let’s not forget the salt works, which nobody really seems to know the date of. We theorise that the town was built around the salt. The salt has always been.
In 1941, the town became the sponsor of the HMS Vimiera, built in 1917. The ship sank in the Thames losing 96 sailors. The ship, then captained by Lieutenant-Commander Angus Mackenzie, hit a mine in the Thames Estuary. 38 people survived as the ship went down, taking those 92 or 93 people with them. The remaining deaths were sailors who died from their injuries.
Although the Foden’s Brass Band still exists, the Foden family have moved their companies (Foden and ERF) elsewhere. The mansion has been demolished long ago, but the band remains a testament to the community of workers in Foden’s in Sandbach.
Famous People from Sandbach
Each town in England has at least some famous people in it. Whether they were born there and never returned, or settled there after they retired, celebrities pop up wherever you least expect to see them. Here are the ones that might pop up near you in Sandbach:
- There was an old archaeology scholar who specialised in the Dead Sea Scrolls, and who lived and died in Sandbach. His name was John M Allegro.
- English billionaire and founder of Bet365 live in Betchton. Probably in the biggest house there.
- Yvette Fielding – the ghost woman – lives nearby.
- The Industrial Era poet John Latham lived here.
- Anthony Palmer, a local man, and resident of the Victoria Cross lived and died here.
- Sporting personalities from Sandbach include cricketer Charles Kelly, Manchester City Footballer Frank Roberts, and Barrie Wheatley, a former England star.
If you are going outdoors in Sandbach, you better put your good clothes on. Wouldn’t want to meet a former England star and not look your best, would you?
The Best Attractions in Sandbach, Cheshire
This is where we get down to the meat of the town. What is it that makes Sandbach so alluring? Is it the people? The parks? The potential? Here are the top Sandbach attractions to see while you are here.
Historic Sites
You must see the famous Sandbach Crosses while you are in town. Now run by English Heritage, the crosses are free to visit. The intricately carved 9th-century crosses reside in the market square in Sandbach. The carvings feature animals and biblical scenes. Originally painted, the paint went some way to protect the stone, which is now unpainted carving. They are an important part of the history of Sandbach. At some point, the authorities will likely put these indoors somewhere to protect them from weathering.
Landmarks
The market square marks the centre of the old town and is worth visiting because it plays home to the Sandbach Crosses. Asides from just the crosses, it has an impressive array of old buildings. Sandbach is ancient enough to have both Grade I and Grade II listed buildings. Plenty of room for a photo opportunity to report back to the socials.
You will find another local landmark between the fire stations and Sandbach Park. The community planted a Silver Jubilee Tree which is still going strong today.
The Sandbach Town Hall is another great landmark in the area. You cannot miss this brick-red building with arches surrounding the lower floor. Locals use this as a wedding reception location or hire the hall for large events. It’s a massive gothic building, so if you like the ‘Wednesday Adams’ vibe, this will lead to some impressive photographs… It has a ballroom.
Cultural Sites
The local St Mary’s Anglican Church is a marvellous old building, filled with high arches, built in sandstone, and still sporting beautiful stained glass windows. Enjoy a period of quiet contemplation, wander around the grounds, or attend a service.
Outdoor Attractions
The biggest outdoor space in the area is the Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve. This local nature reserve plays home to protected habitats as well as giving you opportunities to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle. Run by Cheshire East Council, this area offers a chance to watch the birds or engage in an orienteering sport. You can go canoeing here, and you can go fishing. Anglers are welcome, as are educational visits by local schools who want to teach the kids about the different species of animals in the reserve.
The other main park area in Sandbach is Sandbach Park. It is right next door to town, hiding inside the community. It’s not as large as Brereton Heath, but it is a lovely little community garden that everyone works together to maintain. Take a peek.
Recreation
Take the kids down to Wheelock Hall Farm. You can take a walk around the garden centre, eat in the café, or pet the cows out in the field. You can let the kids tire themselves out in the outdoor playground while you and your friends have a catch-up over Sunday lunch. It’s that kind of wholesome place. Enjoy the fresh fruit and veg.
If you want to take a short walk but get in amongst some trees for some real fresh air, then head to Brook Wood. This pretty natural forest is only five acres big. It is made up of mixed woodland which does have nearby parking so you can drive there, walk around, and drive home. Suitable for dog walkers and those who want their children to stay in tune with nature, this little forest requires everyone’s help to fight back against the litterbugs.
Sports & Teams
There are many sports activities to get involved in when you visit Sandbach. There is a gymnastics club, several junior football teams, and other community groups to join.
Sandbach United Football Club established themselves in 2004. They play in the Sandbach Community Football Club.
The town has a Rugby Union FC team. There is the main team, then the seniors and junior players. The club has a healthy following and a bright future.
Sandbach’s cricket club dates back to 1886. It is an amateur, not-for-profit club. They have multiple junior and senior teams and games to take part in. The clubhouse is often used for local community groups and gatherings.
As for Golf, you may play at Sandbach Golf Club and enjoy the friendly staff and nice course. You might bring your family later in the evening for a meal, too. If Sandbach starts to bore you, head to Elton Golf Driving Range, and release the pent-up rage of a week at work. You can even go south to Malkins Bank Golf Course for a change.
Shopping and Retail
You cannot come here without visiting the historic old market, held in Sandbach since 1579. You will find it every Thursday morning on the Scotch Common. The markets here have expanded to include Christmas markets, Charter Markets, and a Maker’s Market, and you can now hire the market hall, too.
Where to Eat and Drink in Sandbach?
If you fancy a hearty Indian meal, head to the Creative Indian Kitchen. It is one of the best-rated places to eat in town. Raffaele will serve you wonderful Italian food while you can find interesting Cuban fare at the Cubar Restaurant – and a nice cocktail, too. The Old Hall is a reliable pub and the Market Tavern gets a good reputation. Between them all, you will find places to eat and drink in Sandbach that you love.
Other Nearby Notable Cheshire Attractions
While you are sunk this deep into Cheshire, you should get to know the surrounding area. Whether you are here for a long weekend or staying for a family holiday, try to fit in some of these other nearby locations:
- Visit the other salt town of Northwich. There are more in the area. There is salt everywhere in Cheshire.
- Go down the River at Widnes.
- Macclesfield is nearby and famous for both silk and Georgian architecture.
- Go shopping and site seeing in Chester.
- See Crewe and enjoy the railway.
- Head to Warrington for a fun day out.
And if you find all of those and you still need some excitement in your life, Have a look at our website for inspiration.
How to Get to Sandbach
We like to try our best at directions but you would honestly be better off with a map. Ask Google, that’s what we always do when we get lost.
By Road
Sandbach is bang-slap on the M6. Head north out of Stoke-on-Trent and you can’t miss it.
By Rail
The Sandbach train station is on the Northern line.
By Air
The nearest airport is Manchester Airport.
By Sea
The nearest port is in Ellesmere.
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