By Lucy and Jessica!!

Congleton is a small market town in the south-east corner of Cheshire Congleton is known as the "Bear Town" from an incident during Elizabethan times when bear baiting was a fashionable sport.

The Brown Bear has captured the human consciousness like nearly no other animal can. It presents an image so like ourselves that we often get caught up in the "cuteness" and forget that it is a wild animal that we are dealing with. The brown bear is often seen as the cuddly buffoon of animation, and the "Teddy" bear of children and collectors alike. In reality, the brown bear is a complex and fascinating animal deserving of great respect.

Bear baiting, which occurs only in Pakistan, is possibly the world's most savage blood sport. Having had their teeth and claws removed, Asiatic black bears are tied to a post and set-upon by specially trained pit bull terriers. WSPA began campaigning to stop this ritual in 1993 and has achieved some major success.

Congleton town!! Bear baiting was practiced in many royal courts. This was a gruesome game between bears and dog packs. The bear was usually tied to a stake, with a chain or put into a pit, while a herd of vicious dogs attacked the poor beast. This event was very cruel and bloody and similar to other such offences against animals such as cock fighting, and pit bulls fighting.

Congleton has another name.For hundreds of years, bear baiting was a popular pastime here. And there's an old legend about one time, when the time when the town bear died. to buy a new one. The corporation took money from the fund, they were saving for a new bible! They created the rhyme: Congleton bear, Congleton bear they sold a church bible to buy a new bear!!

Congleton is known as “bear town" from an incident during Elizabethan times when bear baiting was a fashionable sport. The town bear died immediately before the annual wakes, and money set aside to buy a new town bible was used to buy a new bear so that the celebration's would not be spoilt!!!

The bear was known as the dancing bear because it was held on chains and tortured until it looked like it was dancing. The people used to love watching the dancing bear in the centre of town!

If you go out in the woods today You're sure of a big surprise. If you go out in the woods today You'd better go in disguise. For every bear that ever there was Will gather there for certain, because Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic. Key Verses=white Chorus=purple Picnic time for teddy bears, The little teddy bears are having a lovely time today. Watch them, catch them unawares, And see them picnic on their holiday. See them gaily dance about. They love to play and shout. And never have any cares. At six o'clock their mommies and daddies Will take them home to bed Because they're tired little teddy bears. If you go out in the woods today, You'd better not go alone. It's lovely out in the woods today, But safer to stay at home. For every bear that ever there was Will gather there for certain, because Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic. CHORUS Every teddy bear, that's been good Is sure of a treat today There's lots of wonderful things to eat And wonderful games to play Beneath the trees, where nobody sees They'll hide and seek as long as they please Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic CHORUS

Teddy Bears have been popular for almost 100 years! The history dates back to President Theodore Roosevelt in A Russian immigrant was the first to manufacture a furry stuffed toy he called "Teddy's Bear." Another popular tradition is The Teddy Bear Picnic, popularized by the song. There's even a special day - in July we celebrate Teddy Bear Picnic Daysong

Congleton rare Congleton rare sold the new bible to by a new bear they worried and whimpered until they had glee they found a new bear and they were all happy they were shocked stood still they were very upset, but they used the bible money to buy a new pet. The celebrations went on, the fun begun it has been known as bear town from that day on!!

In the year 1272 the town was granted a charter which gave it borough status. At this time, the most senior positions within the borough were those of the Mayor, the Ale Taster and the Bear Warden. The Ale Taster was employed to ensure that all the ale produced in the local 'ale shoppes' was of a drinkable quality, and the Bear Warden had the job of procuring a fighting bear for the various fairs and celebrations which took place within the town. In 1632 the serving Bear Warden had insufficient funds to purchase a bear for the annual wakes fair, so rather than face the wrath of the local merrymakers, a decision was made to take the money required to buy a bear from the fund.