Charles E. S. Fairey
The Yew Tree Of Jack Lane
An ancient yew tree
On the edge of Jack Lane,
In a field called Dunn’s Croft,
Ripped out today, Mowlem insane.
Stood for over 300 years,
Yews grown for the archer’s bow,
Ripped out for the A500 bypass,
‘Improvements’ they say, ‘so.’
The tree should have been protected,
Hollow trunk and ancient fingers,
Destroyers of the countryside beware
For heritage is paramount, sinners.
The Yew Tree of Jack Lane
Growing through the centuries,
A symbol of England,
Robbed from us for the use of the car,
By the developer’s evil hand.
The Spirit of Sandbach
(a poem for the Millennium)
There’s an old town in Cheshire called Sandbach
That is well known for all sorts of things,
Such as lorries, brass bands and silk stockings,
And rolls of drawn wire from Prings.
The stockings were made at Heath’s Silk Mill,
And Conlowe’s too, had a mill,
It was just behind ‘Wakefield’s the Butchers’
On the street which leads down to the Hill.
There was Palmer Mann’s Salt Works at Elworth,
Where old ‘Sifta Sam’ made his name:
Nearby were both ‘Glacia’ and ‘Shaka’
Which added to Sandbach’s fame.
The famous brass band known as ‘Fodens’,
Won contests at th’palace you know:
Not at Buck House, but Crystal in London
And brought back the trophies to show.
There are black and white buildings to look at
Like ‘The Old Hall’ and ‘Ye Olde Black Bear’.
The old Parish church of St. Mary’s
Can be seen from the town’s cobbled square.
The town holds a market each Thursday,
Over four hundred years I am told.
People visit from neighbouring districts,
It’s where all sorts of items are sold.
The town is well known for its ‘Crosses’,
They are Saxon and so very rare;
Knocked about by Oliver Cromwell-
They can be seen on the town’s Market Square.
The town has a crier called Dennis:
He summons the crowds with ‘Oyez’.
In his costume he stands so resplendent
As he reads out the news of the day.
All the salt works that flourished are gone now:
The silk mills that prospered, closed down:
Fodens are still making lorries
Which can only be good for the town.
Through the years the town has seen changes,
Some old ‘Famous Names’ now are gone,
But in spite of its changes in fortune,
The Spirit of Sandbach lives on!
Edmund Finney
Dedicated to Dennis Robinson - Town Crier of Sandbach, Cheshire AD 2000
The ancient old township of Sandbach
Has a crier, a man of renown:
You will see him on special occasions
As he reads out the news of the town.
He tells of the places to visit,
And of hostelries where one can dine:
Where a traveller can rest and be nourished
With good food, real ale and fine wine.
He wears a red coat and black breeches,
With a three cornered hat for a crown:
So look out for this man of distinction
When you visit this old market town.
Mary Garratt
Weather Forecast
In Sandbach we have:
Sunny weekdays
and Rainy Sundays
Snowy Schooldays
with Cloudy fundays
Frosty washing days
then Windy shopping days
Chilly July days
but Balmy New Year’s Days.
Is it different in your town?
Mary Garratt
Travellers to Sandbach
In olden times to Sanbec came
Travellers worthy of that name:
Roman legions for our salt.
Early missionaries here did halt
And built stone crosses to their God.
Later, on a market day,
Scottish soldiers caused affray.
Later still, canals and trains
Brought to us industrial gains
And factories for lorries.
Today our Sandbach you can see
Changing with its history.
The market is of great renown
Bringing travellers to this town
To browse and buy and bargains seek.
People who come once a year
Find something special for them here:
Old cars and lorries, or ‘Rock and Roll’,
Grand Festivals we have of all.
Our town so old, and yet so new,
Has something to appeal to you.
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