A History of Sandbach
When exploring the ancient history of Sandbach to try and uncover the story of how this Cheshire town was founded, all roads lead to Sandon. Well before Sandbach was the bustling town it is today, the area was known as early as the 7th century as the Saxon hamlet of Sandon. Sandon was a typical Anglo-Saxon settlement, characterised by its communal farming system, scattered buildings, and simple rural life.
The area was first documented in 1086 in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was an exhaustive survey of most of England and Wales, carried out by William the Conqueror. In its entry for Sandon, the book listed Sandon as a small village with a population of only 100 people, which had grown from the earlier survey of 1066. Over the next few centuries, Sandon became increasingly developed, with the Saxons adopting a number of new Christian practices such as appointing priests and building churches.
Sandon was eventually renamed to Sandbach in 1260, after being granted the right to hold a weekly market. This weekly event was initially held on a Thursday and was eventually moved to the fact more suitable Saturday. The market was a huge success, and with its new weekly influx of visitors and traders, Sandbach also saw the growth of many other amenities such as inns, craftsmen, and blacksmiths.
In the 16th century, the people of Sandbach renounced learning and created their own unique alphabet, known as scratch writing. This was an inventive system of making written communication more efficient and became very popular. The people of Sandbach also began to take an interest in learning and education, evidenced by the school that was established in the town in 1584. This school, which was founded by a local wool-spinners guild, still stands today and is now known as Sandbach Secondary School.
By the 19th century, Sandbach had become a centre for the surrounding rural communities, providing services and amenities that would otherwise have been difficult to obtain. The town also saw an extensive regeneration project in the 1870s, which saw the addition of a public library, town hall, and a police station, as well as numerous improvements to the roads and public paths.
Today, Sandbach remains a place of great beauty and historical interest. The town has several monuments and buildings of historic value, as well as several fine examples of Victorian and Edwardian architecture. It also has a busy market, several festivals and community events, and a thriving local economy. Sandbach continues to be a charming and vibrant community, with a fascinating and prosperous history.
