Sandbach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sandbach |
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| Market town and civil parish | |
.jpg) Sandbach cobbles with half-timbered pubs, the war memorial and the Saxon crosses |
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 Sandbach
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| Area | 10.7 km2 (4.1 sq mi) |
| Population | 21,916 (2021 Census) |
| • Density | 2,048/km2 (5,300/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | SJ755611 |
| • London | 158 mi (238 km) SE |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SANDBACH |
| Postcode district | CW11 |
| Dialling code | 01270 |
| Police | Cheshire |
| Fire | Cheshire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Sandbach is a lively market town and civil parish located in Cheshire East, England. A civil parish is a local area with its own council. The Sandbach area includes four smaller communities: Sandbach itself, Elworth, Ettiley Heath, and Wheelock.
Contents
History of Sandbach
The name Sandbach comes from an old Anglo-Saxon phrase, sand bæce, which means "sand stream" or "sand valley." In the past, the town was known by different names like Sanbec in 1086 and Sondbache in 1260.
People have lived in Sandbach since Saxon times. Back then, the town was called Sanbec. Not much is known about this period, but the town often faced attacks from people in Wales and Denmark. In the 600s, four priests named Cedda, Adda, Betti, and Diuma helped the town's people become Christians.
Sandbach is even mentioned in the Domesday Book from 1086. This was a big survey ordered by William the Conqueror to record everything in England. The Domesday Book shows that Sandbach was large enough to have a priest and a church.
By the 1200s, a lot of the land around Sandbach was owned by Richard de Sandbach. Later, the ownership of the manor (a large estate) in Sandbach changed hands many times. Eventually, Sir Randulph Crewe became the Lord of the Manor.
Sandbach became a market town in 1579. This happened when Queen Elizabeth I gave it a special permission called a Royal Charter. Sir John Radclyffe, who owned a lot of land in Sandbach, asked for this. The charter allowed farmers to hold a market in the town every Thursday. It also gave the town the right to hold two big fairs each year. The Thursday market is still held today!
Sandbach in the 1600s and Beyond
In the 1600s, Sandbach was famous for its ale (a type of beer). People in London even bought it for a high price!
During the Wars of the Three Kingdoms (a series of wars in the 1600s), a Scottish army passed through Sandbach. On September 3, 1651, the town was holding its summer fair. About 1,000 tired Scottish soldiers, led by David Leslie, tried to retreat through the town. However, the people of Sandbach and the market sellers attacked the army! A newspaper from that time said that the fight lasted for "two or three houres." Some townsfolk were hurt or killed, but they also killed some soldiers and took 100 prisoners. This was the only major event of the Civil War to happen in Sandbach. Because the fight happened on the town's common land, that area is now called Scotch Common.
In 1836, Sandbach had silk mills that employed 554 people, including many young boys and girls. The town's population grew from 1,844 in 1801 to 4,659 by 1851.
The ERF lorry (truck) company was started in Sandbach in 1933. In 1936, parts of nearby areas were added to Sandbach, making the parish much larger. By 1951, the population had reached 9,253.
During Second World War, in December 1941, Sandbach "adopted" a ship called HMS Vimiera. This meant the town helped support the ship and its crew. Sadly, the Vimiera was sunk by a mine in January 1942, and 96 sailors lost their lives.
How Sandbach is Governed
Sandbach is home to the main offices for Cheshire East Council. This council is in charge of many services for the wider area.
From 1894 to 1974, Sandbach had its own local council called Sandbach Urban District Council. In 1974, it joined with other councils to form Congleton Borough Council. Then, in 2009, a new authority called Cheshire East took over.
Sandbach Town Council looks after the local parish of Sandbach. All their meetings are held in the Town Hall. For local elections, Sandbach is divided into four areas: Elworth, Ettiley Heath and Wheelock, Sandbach Heath and East, and Town Ward. People in these areas elect town councillors every four years.
Sandbach is part of the Congleton constituency. This is the area that elects a Member of Parliament (MP) to represent them in the national government. The current MP for Congleton is Sarah Russell from the Labour Party.
Geography of Sandbach
Sandbach covers an area of about 10.7 square kilometres (4.1 square miles). It is located about 171 miles (275 km) from London. Nearby towns include Crewe, which is 6 miles (10 km) to the south-west, and Stoke-on-Trent, which is about 15 miles (24 km) away.
Important Places and Landmarks
One of the most important historical features in Sandbach is the Sandbach Crosses. These are two ancient Saxon crosses found in the cobbled market square. They are believed to have been built in the 7th, 8th, or 9th century. A special sign near the crosses says they were made to remember when Christianity first came to the Kingdom of Mercia around 653 AD. They are considered a Scheduled Ancient Monument, which means they are protected by law because of their historical importance.
Sandbach also has many listed buildings. These are buildings that are protected because they are historically or architecturally important. Examples include Sandbach School, St Mary's Church, and the Old Hall Hotel. Many old pubs in the town, which used to be stops for stagecoaches, are also listed buildings. A famous architect named Sir George Gilbert Scott designed many of the town's buildings, including the Sandbach Literary Institute and Sandbach School. He also helped restore St Mary's Church.
The town has several churches, including Methodist, Baptist, Anglican, and Catholic churches.
Natural England has named Sandbach Flashes a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a special place for its geology and wildlife. The Flashes are a group of 14 pools that formed when underground salt deposits dissolved. These pools have many different plants and animals. Over 225 types of birds have been seen at the Flashes!
Economy of Sandbach
Sandbach has been a market town since 1579, when it received its Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth I. Today, the Thursday market is still held outdoors on Scotch Common and around Sandbach Town Hall. There is also a farmers' market on the second Saturday of every month.
Sandbach is well-known as the original home of two famous lorry (truck) companies: Foden and ERF. Both companies were started by members of the Foden family. While these companies are no longer based in Sandbach, the Foden's Brass Band, which was originally created for the companies' employees, is still based in the town.
Getting Around Sandbach
By Train
The town has its own train station, Sandbach railway station, located in Elworth. Trains run on the Crewe to Manchester Line and connect Sandbach to Crewe, Manchester Piccadilly, and Liverpool Lime Street. Trains usually run twice an hour in both directions.
By Road
Sandbach is close to the M6 motorway, which has a junction (J17) nearby. To help with traffic, a bypass has been built for Sandbach and nearby areas like Wheelock and Haslington. This helps cars travelling between Greater Manchester and Crewe avoid going through the town centre. There is also a RoadChef service station near the motorway junction.
By Bus
Local bus services in Sandbach are provided by Arriva North West and D&G Bus.
Public Services
In Sandbach, United Utilities provides water services. Healthcare is available at Ashfields Primary Care Centre, which is overseen by Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust. The closest hospital is Leighton Hospital in Crewe. The North West Ambulance Service provides ambulance services. Policing is handled by Cheshire Constabulary, and the Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service operates the fire station in town.
Education in Sandbach
Primary Schools
Sandbach has several primary schools for younger students:
- Sandbach Community Primary School
- Offley Primary School
- Sandbach Heath St John's CE Primary School
- Wheelock Primary School
- Elworth Church of England Primary School
- Elworth Hall Primary School
Secondary Schools
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Sandbach School was started in 1677 as a charity school for boys. It became a grammar school in 1955 and then an independent comprehensive school for boys in 1979. In 2011, it became one of England's first "free schools," which means it gets government funding but is run by a board of governors. The school also has a sixth form, which is open to both boys and girls.
Sandbach also has a girls' comprehensive school called Sandbach High. It used to be a mixed secondary modern school. Since 1979, it has been a single-sex school for girls. It now has a college attached that offers A levels and vocational courses to both boys and girls.
Cadet Groups
Young people in Sandbach can also join cadet groups:
- 1873 (Sandbach) Squadron is the local group for the Air Training Corps, where cadets learn about aviation and leadership.
- 24 Sandbach Detachment is part of the Cheshire Army Cadet Force, focusing on military-themed activities and personal development.
- Sandbach Fire Station Cadets teaches young people about fire safety and emergency services.
- The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) is based at Sandbach School and offers military training and activities.
Culture and Arts
Sandbach hosts an annual transport festival, usually in April. It started in 1992 and showcases different types of transport through the ages. It's also held alongside the National Town Criers' competition.
The famous Foden's Brass Band is still based in Sandbach. In 2008, they became British Open Brass Band Champions! The Lions Youth Brass Band and Roberts Bakery Band are also based in the town.
Sandbach Choral Society is a local choir that started in 1947. They perform concerts regularly, often at Sandbach Town Hall or St Mary's Church. The Sandbach Concert Series features classical, jazz, and brass music.
Every year at the end of November, the town celebrates when the Christmas lights are turned on by the chairman of the town council.
Local Media
Local newspapers for Sandbach include The Chronicle (Sandbach & Middlewich edition), the Sandbach Chronicle, Crewe Guardian, and the South Cheshire Advertiser. The Saxon is a free newspaper delivered to homes. There's also the Sandbach & District Talking Newspaper for visually impaired people.
Local TV news is provided by BBC North West and ITV Granada. For radio, Sandbach is served by BBC Radio Stoke, Cheshire's Silk Radio, and Hits Radio Staffordshire & Cheshire.
Sports in Sandbach
Sandbach has many sports clubs for different interests:
- Football: Sandbach United is a large club with over 40 teams and 600 players of all ages. They became semi-professional in 2016. Other local teams include Sandbach Town and Sandbach Curshaws.
- Rugby Union: Sandbach RUFC is the biggest sports club in the area. Their first team plays at a high level in the RFU National 3 Midlands league. They offer playing opportunities for all ages and genders.
- Cricket: Sandbach Cricket Club won their league in 2008. Another local team is Elworth Cricket Club, which has five senior teams and nine junior teams.
- Squash: Sandbach Squash Club has two teams that play in the North West Counties League.
- Golf: There are two golf clubs: Sandbach Golf Club, a 9-hole course, and Malkins Bank Golf Course, an 18-hole course.
- Darts: Sandbach has a lively darts league with men's and ladies' teams playing in many local pubs.
The Sandbach Leisure Centre on Middlewich Road offers various sports facilities. Sandbach School also provides sports facilities for the community.
Famous People from Sandbach
Many interesting people have connections to Sandbach:
- John M. Allegro (1923–1988), an archaeologist known for his work on the Dead Sea Scrolls, lived and died here.
- Derek Macintosh "Blaster" Bates (1923–2006), a famous demolition expert.
- Karl Beattie (born 1963), a TV director and producer, lives near Sandbach.
- Denise Coates (born 1967), a billionaire businesswoman who founded Bet365, lives nearby.
- Edwin Foden (1841–1911), who founded the famous Foden truck company.
- Yvette Fielding (born 1968), a TV presenter, lives near Sandbach.
- Reverend William James (1542–1617), an academic and bishop, was born in Sandbach.
- Charles Latham (1816–1907), a well-known physician, has a public statue in his honour.
- Fred Mortimer (1880–1953) and Harry Mortimer (1902–1992), famous brass band conductors associated with Foden's Brass Band.
- Ivor Armstrong Richards (1893–1979), an English literary critic.
- George Roper (1934–2003), a comedian, lived in the town.
- William Steele (1610–1680), a Lord Chancellor of Ireland, was born in Sandbach.
Sports Personalities
- Matt Beesley (born 1992), an English rugby union player.
- Mia Brookes (born 2007), a British snowboarder.
- Thomas Hilditch (1885–1957), an English first-class cricketer.
- Frank Roberts (1893–1961), a footballer for Manchester City.
- Bert Sproston (1914–2000), a former England footballer.
See also
In Spanish: Sandbach para niños
