Pictures of Nantwich

About Nantwich

Nantwich is noted for cheeses, its once famous salt-works, and for its grand Elizabethan appearance. Many fine buildings belong to Tudor times are preserved in Nantwich, they were built following a fire which almost totally destroyed the town in the latter half of the 16th-century. The generousity of Queen Elizabeth Ist was to prove crucial in the rebuilding of the town, the Queen gave a donation of £2,000 and helped with the organization of a countrywide appeal which raised, what was then a huge sum, £30,000. It was this gesture that built many of the fine properties we see today.

Of the buildings that were spared, Churche's Mansion must rank as one of the finest. It is a handsome Merchants House, half timbered with fine oak panelling and was built in 1577, shortly before the fire. The beautiful church of St.Mary, built in the 14th-century also survived. This is one of Cheshire's finest churches, built of red sandstone, it is cruciform with a central octagonal tower. The styles are Decorated and Perpendicular. The vaulted chancel contains late 14th-century choir stalls with canopies and delightfully decorated misericords. Among the wealth of treasures contained in this magnificent church is a stone pulpit dating from the 15th-century and many beautiful windows. The third building to be spared (for there were only three) was Sweetbriar Hall, a fine half timbered building of 1450, once a private home and now offices.

Queens Aid House, a magnificent tudor property can be seen in the Square close to The Crown Hotel, a handsome timber-frame building of the late 16th-century. The old Almshouses were built in 1640 by Sir Edmund Wright.

On an historic note, Nantwich was first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. The Romans occupied the region, so too, did the Normans. Market rights were granted in around 1500 and the town still retains its splendid old market hall. Salt was manufactured here for centuries, with the industry falling into decline during the latter half of the 18th-century. Leather goods have long been made in Nantwich, the shoe trade flourished in the 17th-century, with gloves being made in the 16th-century.

Today, Nantwich is a busy bustling place of business and commerce that still manages to retain its unique 'Elizabethan' flavour. It is an interesting place where old and new mingle harmoniously together. During the year Nantwich draws visitors from all over to its many festivals, which include an annual Folk festival and a Food festival. It has an acclaimed International Cheese Show, attended from Europe and other parts of the world. Nantwich lies in a favoured position, it is surrounded by open countryside with the Shropshire Union Canal and the delightful river weaver flowing through, and close to the town. Nantwich is a town that continues to delight all who visit, with its beautiful gardens, elegant and ancient buildings, it is a constant source of fascination and it is not surprising that it is sometimes known as the jewel in Cheshire's crown.