The town is mentioned in the Domesday Book,[5] where it is listed as Cogeltone: Bigot de Loges.

William the Conqueror granted the whole of Cheshire to his nephew the Earl of Chester who constructed several fortifications including the town's castle in 1208.

[4] Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln granted the town its first charter in 1272, enabling it to hold fairs and markets, elect a mayor and ale taster, have a merchant guild and behead known criminals.

[4] In 1451, the River Dane flooded, destroying a number of buildings, the town's mill and a wooden bridge.

[4][6] 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.

A limited silk ribbon weaving industry survived into the 20th century, and woven labels were still produced in the 1990s.

[12][13][14] Congleton Town Hall was designed in the Gothic style by Edward William Godwin.

It was converted into a Community Home with Education in 1973, run jointly by NCH and Cheshire County Council.

[21] During the celebration marking 700 years of Mayoralty in Congleton in 2018 the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visited the town.

[22] In 2019 the serial rapist Joseph Mccann was arrested on a country lane in Congleton after a nationwide manhunt for him.

[27] Another phase of expansion for the "Congleton Market Quarter" was announced in December 2024, and due for completion in March 2025.

[32] Congleton was historically one of twelve townships within the ancient parish of Astbury, and formed part of the Northwich hundred of Cheshire.

In some cases, including Astbury, the civil functions were exercised by each township separately rather than the parish as a whole.

In 1866, the legal definition of 'parish' was changed to be the areas used for administering the poor laws, and so Congleton became a civil parish.

[34] The Congleton township was granted a municipal charter making it a borough by Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln.

The charter itself is not dated, but is generally assumed to have been issued in 1272, the same year that Lacy became Earl of Lincoln.

Folklore says that Priesty Fields gained its name as there was no priest performing services within the town.

The brothers leased part of Victoria Mill, on Foundry Bank, owning the entire factory by 1872.

[47][48] The National Trust Tudor house Little Moreton Hall is 4 miles (6.4 km) south-west of the town.

[49] Congleton Park is located along the banks of the River Dane, just north-east of the town centre.

Town Wood, on the northern edge of the park, is a Grade A Site of Biological Interest and contains many nationally important plants.

[citation needed] Congleton Paddling Pool was built in the 1930s and is open in the summer months.

Astbury Mere Country Park lies just to the south-west of the town centre, on the site of a former sand quarry.

[52] The 400-seat Clonter Opera Theatre is based in the village of Swettenham Heath, 5 mi (8 km) north of Congleton.

[58] For six months in summer 2011 Congleton hosted an event called "Bearmania",[59] in which over sixty 5-foot fibreglass sculptures where placed around the town.

Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC North West and ITV Granada.

[64][better source needed] Congleton is home to the third oldest rugby union club in the country, dating back to 1860.

Currently fielding a mini and junior section and three adult sides,[65] the club held the world record for the longest continuous game of rugby ever played, at 24 hours, 30 minutes and 6 seconds.

[citation needed] The local football team, Congleton Town F.C., known as the Bears, play in the Northern Premier League First Division West.

Congleton Tennis Club, one of the oldest in the country (founded in 1890), have occupied the same grounds throughout their history.