Congleton Nub News recently reported the presentation of a Lifetime Award to Davenports Menswear.

The item stated that 'the building itself is of immense importance as one of the oldest in Congleton, dating back to the 1430s'.

As such, it has local history hiding in plain sight.

Few customers, or members of the public passing by, are likely to notice that the black and white carved frieze above the first floor window includes two shield-shaped designs.

The left shield shows Congleton's former coat of arms, as displayed on the bridge over the River Dane, though that version is white on black.

The chevron represents a congle (old Norse for a bend) in the river. Each rectangle, correctly shown as barrel shapes on the bridge, is a tun (a wine or beer cask). So we have congle-tun, a rebus (pictorial pun) on the town's name.

Old town arms; Apothecary's symbol

Although used for centuries, and even displayed on the tower of St Peter's Church, the arms were, strictly speaking, illegal.

The chevron and three tuns design belongs to the Worshipful Company of Vintners.

In 1967 the College of Arms officially granted Congleton Town a new coat of arms - the one displayed on signposts around the town.

So what about Davenports right hand shield? It may look like a monogram TS or ST, but no, it's a rough carving of the Bowl of Hygeia, the symbol for an apothecary.

The building was once an apothecary's premises, owned by Tobias Parnell (1628 - 1695). His family name is important in Congleton's history, commemorated by Parnell Square on the East side of town, and a line of Baronets and Barons. John Patrick Christian Parnell is the current (9th) Baron Congleton.

A suggestion: while walking around the town centre, put your phone away and look around you to see what other intriguing historical items you can find. There's lots more Congleton curios hiding in plain sight.

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