Strolling Through Sandbach, England

If you happen to be travelling through the lovely county of Cheshire, England and find yourself near the town of Sandbach, then I would highly recommend taking a detour and spending a couple of hours strolling through this charming medieval town. Start your walk through town in the cobblestone market square where you will find the Saxon crosses. These crosses are believed to date back to the 9th century and show different biblical scenes including the Nativity and the Crucifixion.

These crosses are so detailed that they are thought to have been carved by local sculptors that may have belonged to a monastery that at one time was situated in this area. Their immaculate condition makes them some of the finest Anglo-Saxon crosses remaining. They were broken apart in the 16th century and pieces were found throughout the area. In 1816 they were reassembled and re-erected here in the market square.

Leaving the main square head down the High Street to St. Mary’s Church. Originally the site of a church back in the 11th century, the present medieval church was built in the mid-1800’s and sits perched on a hill overlooking the cemetery.

Outside the main entrance of the church you will find some fragments of the original Anglo-Saxon crosses from the area. These fragments are believed to be pieces of crosses and tomb covers.

Stepping inside there is a central nave bordered by stunning arches and surrounding walls covered with memorials dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

The stained glass windows were added in the mid-1800’s and are exquisitely detailed with vibrant colours depicting saints and biblical events.

Once you’ve spent time exploring the church’s interior, head outside and gaze up at the bell tower…unique because of its open arch design and footpath that runs underneath it at the entrance of the church.

Strolling back up the High Street stop to admire, and perhaps photograph, the various architectural styles of the heritage buildings that line the street. Sandbach was settled sometime in the 11th century and many of these buildings have been preserved over the years.

When you reach the top of High Street you will find the Sandbach Town Hall. This hall was built in 1890 and replaces previous structures that would have housed the municipal offices. The weekly market is held every Thursday with numerous stalls both inside and outside of the hall. Queen Elizabeth I granted the town of Sandbach market status in 1579, meaning it could host regular markets to provide goods for the local population.

Although we weren’t there to browse the market stalls we did still enjoy our short time exploring the town of Sandbach. Hopefully in the future we can return to this charming area of Cheshire and discover more medieval market towns.