Crewe & Nantwich, Economic Development department Nantwich. The Borough of Crewe and Nantwich is an expanding and dynamic business centre, with unrivalled communications in the centre of the U.K. Set in delightful countryside and with a fascinating history, it's a great place to live, work and visit.



	Nantwich
		Nantwich is a charming market town set beside the River Weaver with a medieval street pattern, a beautiful sandstone church and many listed buildings of great historical interest. The town has an all-pervading sense of history. The focal point is "The Square" which is the setting for St Mary’s Church, known as the "Cathedral of South Cheshire". One of the finest medieval churches in Britain, it has many interesting features and its own visitor centre. Surrounding the church are narrow winding streets with many Grade I Listed timber-framed buildings.

		Churche’s Mansion in Hospital Street is a charming half-timbered Elizabethan merchant’s house built in 1577 which survived the Great Fire and is now an antique centre. Also in Hospital Street is Sweetbriar Hall, which is Nantwich's oldest surviving wattle and daub building. Welsh Row and Wood Street are probably the oldest parts of the town as they escaped the Great Fire. Welsh Row has many fine buildings including Townwell House, an early Georgian town house. The Widows' Almhouses, originally three cottages built in 1637 is soon to re-open as an exclusive wine bar and restaurant. At the end of Churchyardside are the elegant Dysart Buildings, a well proportioned terrace of Georgian houses built in 1776.

		The Queen’s Aid House in High Street is a medieval merchant’s house built in 1584 by Thomas Cleese. An inscription on the paneling records the support of Queen Elizabeth I in the rebuilding of the town after the Great Fire. Also in High Street is the Crown Hotel which was built in 1585 soon after the Great Fire and has a timber-framed front elevation with a long continuous second storey window.

		Salt is no longer produced in Nantwich, but The Old Biot – the original salt spring with its many therapeutic uses is preserved, and provides brine for the outdoor swimming pool during summer months. The town has its own museum which provides an exciting insight into the life and times of Nantwich and has a special "Cheshire Cheese" room showing how cheese was and is made. There are pleasant walks around the River Weaver, the Shropshire Union Canal and Nantwich Lake including picnic areas. Guided tours of the town can be arranged by contacting the Tourist Information Centre in The Square, Nantwich where a "Walkabout Tour" leaflet is on sale. Recent developments include the "Cocoa Yard", a shopping and residential area on the former Cocoa House site, and two large superstores. In recent years the council has provided street entertainment and the town has hosted a popular Jazz and Blues Festival. The town holds a traditional market throughout the year on Tuesday mornings, Thursdays and Saturdays. 2002 saw the successful staging of the first Nantwich Local Food Festival in and around the town centre.
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