Changing Times in Sandbach

We have seen from the previous pages that Sandbach has some historical buildings and sites. Here are a few that you will encounter when strolling around the town that give a glimpse of how things have changed.

The Town Pump is situated at the bottom of Crown Bank, leading down from the Lower Chequer, near to the junction with Well Bank. The inscription on the plaque tells us that the pump was sited close by, maybe 'Well Bank' is a clue to it's original location.

SANDBACH TOWN COUNCIL. THIS PUMP, WHICH FORMALLY STOOD ON A NEARBY SITE, SERVED THE RESIDENTS OF SURROUNDING DWELLINGS WITH DRINKING WATER FOR MANY YEARS.

TOWN PUMP IN USE UNTIL LATE 19th CENTURY."


As you walk from the Town Hall to the large roundabout, you will see The Literary Institute on your right, otherwise known locally as the Mechanics Institute. It is across the road from the Wheatsheaf Hotel previously featured.
A plaque on the front of the building, states,

"THE LITERARY INSTITUTE.
DESIGNED BY SIR GEORGE SCOTT AND BUILT BY SAMUEL FARAM (WHEELOCK) IN 1857, 'FOR PURPOSE OF AFFORDING ACCOMMODATION TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN AND FOR PROVIDING A SUITABLE PLACE AS A MARKET AND CORN EXCHANGE.'
ERECTED JOINTLY BY SANDBACH'S HISTORY SOCIETY, ROTARY CLUB AND TOWN COUNCIL."

Finally, on a site in Middlewich Road, previously occupied by ERF, the truck manufacturer, Sandbach has been brought into the 21st century.

Yes, Big Mac has come to town.

This is probably a sign of the changing face of Britain where we exchange manufacturing jobs for service ones.



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