Tean Road Arch Restored to Its Former Glory

On the 11th of August, people across the UK had a break from the sun by experiencing an almost total eclipse. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the earth, briefly, for a few minutes, day turns to night as the Moon blocks out the Sun's light. Cheadle has a member of the Royal Astronomical Society, Jim Plant, who was not only able to share the experience with his guests but also to provide COGNEWS with photographs of this celestial phenomenon. To a

Last night, our editor Lori, went along to the Suffragettes Interactive Talk at Hales Hall, here's how it went. The Grand Powder Room at Hales Hall "I've been to Hales Hall quite a few times, but tonight's talk took place in an area I hadn't seen before - the Coach House. Situated tucked in to the left of the main hall, the Coach House is a sympathetically converted space. I ventured up the steep staircase towards the chatter and was delighted to see the narrow staircase open

A few years ago, the arch had to be removed from Tean Road Recreation Ground following a lorry driving through the gates, causing significant damage to the entrance. The gates have been back in place for some time, but this week we spotted the arch. On Wednesday, 15th July, blacksmith Lee Trumbull brought the arch back to the recreation ground to test the fit. We are pleased to report it fits perfectly. The arch is now going to be shot blasted and then painted black with red

This weekend (4th-6th September), St Giles Catholic Church, Cheadle (Pugin's Gem), will celebrate its 180th anniversary with a flower festival. We met up with Liz and Janet, who organise the flowers at the church, to find out more. The newly refurbished stained glass window All the flowers in the festival will be white to complement the beauty of the church itself, which is drenched in colour, texture, and pattern at every turn. It is incredibly beautiful, and keeping the col

Almost 800 years of market trading came to an end two years ago when SMDC purchased Cheadle Market. Today, they are opening the doors to everyone to see the market and have their say on the future of this important element of town life. Can it be completed before the likely dissolution of SMDC, which should be decided by October? Will SMDC manage to get their development plans approved now that they don't control the planning process? Might Cheadle Town Council aim to take th

On Saturday, the 6th of June, local people and visitors came together on Cheadle High Street for an event to mark the anniversary of the Spitfire's maiden flight and the anniversary of D-Day. Julian Mitchell Great Nephew of Reginald Mitchell A main feature was the replica Spitfire sited on the Market Square. The Spitfire didn’t come alone but with many people dressed in the style of the era, stalls and activities, and micro-events in shops and other spaces. The Cheadle Discov

This week, the Cheadle COG board and a couple of experts visited the Royal Oak on the High Street with selling agents Butters John Bee to consider future prospects for this iconic building. The Royal Oak has stood empty now for almost two decades. A group dedicated to saving this building has been in existence for a number of years. They are called the Friends of the Royal Oak, and they’ve done a considerable amount of work attempting to bring the building back into use. The

Creative Cheadle has created a panel that has been unveiled alongside 22 others from across the country at Peterborough Cathedral. Hundreds of people have knitted and crocheted 45,000 poppies onto cascades, which have been made into a curtain to remember the fallen in both wars. The exhibition is part of The Longest Yarn II: Britain at War, with all proceeds raised going towards the upkeep of the cathedral and selected armed forces charities. The journey began when one of the

This year Alton Castle celebrates its 30th anniversary as a residential retreat and to and to mark the occasion a huge lantern has been commissioned. Constructed by local blacksmith, Jim Plant of Cheadle, the lantern has been built in his workshop over a number of years. It's so large (about 8ft in diameter) that he could hardly move around his workshop during assembly! A local electrician wired the unit up to the British safety standard, and the unit now sits in an area wher

During the Spitfire Day on Cheadle High Street, we met with Julian Mitchell, great-nephew of Reginald Mitchell, designer of the Spitfire, who told COGNEWS about his connection to Cheadle and his work on Operation Spitfire. Julian Mitchell, the great-nephew of Reginal Mitchell pictured with the Spitfire on Cheadle Market Place Julian told our reporter that his mum and his uncle were born in Cheadle - on Cross Street and that he was invited to come up to the event but works wit

Updated 6th June to include comment from Comment from Cllr Linda MALYON On Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 SMDC opened the doors of Cheadle Market to allow community and business owners along with local councillors to take a look inside and find out what their plans are regarding development. Visitors, gathering on the market square The architect in attendance from Stride Treglown explained their vision to groups of 17 people, this was because they had 17 hard hats available. It w

If you're interested in experiencing a local traditional event, consider attending the Cheddleton Well Dressing Weekend on June 20th and 21st. Entry is free, and everyone is invited! You can find out the history of Well Dressing activities here: https://www.cheadlecog.com/post/the-wonder-of-well-dressings Cheddleton Well Dressing Announced - created 27th of May 2026

Well Dressings are artistic creations made by hand using natural materials like petals and seeds, crafted by dedicated volunteers. If you visit the Peak District and Derbyshire between May and September, you'll likely encounter one of the area's most distinctive local traditions. Details for the Cheddleton Well Dressing The origins of this ancient custom are shrouded in mystery—believed to have been introduced to the region by the Romans or Celts to express gratitude for the

COGNEWS can confirm that the Cheadle Market Clock has been saved from extinction for the second time and can be reinstalled on our market building as soon as the district council is prepared. This British-made timepiece has been restored by Ken Riley, the town's watchmaker, and has been stored by him since the district council renovated the market in the 2000s when Ken rescued the timepiece from a skip.The clock, crafted by Gent, a renowned British manufacturer of electrical

Ken Riley of Rileys Watchmakers and Jewellers by the Market Cross on the High Street is retiring this month. We caught up with Ken just before he closed the doors permanently following 4 decades of serving the people of Cheadle. He's seen some changes over the years we chatted with him about few of his special memories. He describes how the first watchmakers’ shop in the town was run by a Mr. Birch, roughly where the Samaritans shop is today. Ken's first shop was behind the

Town historian Mike Plant recently shared a comprehensive history of Cheadle town and how the market developed. A market has been held in Cheadle since the Lord of the Manor, Ralph Basset, was granted a charter for a market and fair during the reign of Henry III in 1250.* The granting of the charter meant that Cheadle was forever a town, rather than a village,* but what of recent history? COGNEWS shares the story so far. Cheadle Indoor Market showcases intricate red ironwork

Presented by our Town Historian Mike Plant Cheadle: A Market Town Since 1250 A market has been held in Cheadle since the Lord of the Manor, Ralph Basset, was granted a charter for a market and fair during the reign of Henry III. The granting of the charter meant that Cheadle was forever a town, rather than a village. Research by the late historian George Short in the 1970s found that the earliest reference to the market charter is 30th May 1250. Cheadle High Street - Image Su

Discover Events | About the Cheadle Spitfire During the Second World War, the people of Cheadle raised enough money to purchase a Spitfire aircraft. It was called the "Spirit of Hope," and with sufficient funds remaining, they purchased a speedboat too. It was a coming together of local folk giving something up to help a common purpose important to all. It's also a remarkable tale of how a small town achieved big - something Cheadle has been doing for many years and still i

Located about 30 minutes from Cheadle, Hartington Village - just over the border in Derbyshire - is well worth a trip out. Our editor, Lori, visited on a sunny spring afternoon; here's how she got on. The Picturesque Duck Pond The drive from Cheadle through Ipstones, Onecote, and Warslow, passing through the Peak Park, is breathtaking, particularly on a sunny day. The round trip takes about an hour, and with free parking available in the village of Hartington, it offers a ve