The cleulow flock and poultry colection are named after a local landmark called Cleulow Cross. Probably originally named because of the abundance of curlews. The Curlew's plaintive call in early March is the first sign that Winter is over and Spring just around the corner
At the heart of Cleulow Cross is the low, tree-covered hill, on the summit of which is the upright stone pillar of an ancient stone cross. The cross is thought to be of Saxon origins but it served a purpose at the time of the Great Plague when the country people from around Wincle left their produce for the townspeople of Macclesfield to collect - thereby avoiding spreading any infection which existed in the town. Payment was left in a water-filled vessel which was thought to disinfect the coins. The beech wood which surrounds the stone today is a relatively recent addition - the cross was certainly more prominent in earlier times. Although renamed Clulow the cross is the scene of the climax of the excellent children's book "The Weirdstone of Brisingamen" written by Cheshire author Alan Garner, you need to read the book to understand the importance of the locality.
The children's journey in Alan Garner's book the "Weirdstone of Brisingamen" which culminates at Cleulow Cross.
Close by is another ancient artefact called the Bullstones. It consists of a ring of small cobbles encircling a central standing stone is located on the eastern flank of Brown Hill at the rear of Sandyway Farm. It is thought to be the site of a Bronze Age cremation burial. A damaged urn, reputedly retrieved from The Bullstones, is part of the reserve collection of the Congleton Museum. The evidence suggests that a Bronze Age settlement may have existed at Cleulow Cross close to The Bullstones.
The cleulow flock and poultry colection are named after a local landmark called Cleulow Cross. Probably originally named because of the abundance of curlews. The Curlew's plaintive call in early March is the first sign that Winter is over and Spring just around the corner
At the heart of Cleulow Cross is the low, tree-covered hill, on the summit of which is the upright stone pillar of an ancient stone cross. The cross is thought to be of Saxon origins but it served a purpose at the time of the Great Plague when the country people from around Wincle left their produce for the townspeople of Macclesfield to collect - thereby avoiding spreading any infection which existed in the town. Payment was left in a water-filled vessel which was thought to disinfect the coins. The beech wood which surrounds the stone today is a relatively recent addition - the cross was certainly more prominent in earlier times. Although renamed Clulow the cross is the scene of the climax of the excellent children's book "The Weirdstone of Brisingamen" written by Cheshire author Alan Garner, you need to read the book to understand the importance of the locality.
The children's journey in Alan Garner's book the "Weirdstone of Brisingamen" which culminates at Cleulow Cross.
Close by is another ancient artefact called the Bullstones. It consists of a ring of small cobbles encircling a central standing stone is located on the eastern flank of Brown Hill at the rear of Sandyway Farm. It is thought to be the site of a Bronze Age cremation burial. A damaged urn, reputedly retrieved from The Bullstones, is part of the reserve collection of the Congleton Museum. The evidence suggests that a Bronze Age settlement may have existed at Cleulow Cross close to The Bullstones. 
