| Administrative History | The "Act for dividing, and leasing or letting, certain commons or waste grounds within the Borough and Township of Congleton... and for applying the profits of part of the same in aid of the Poor's Rate, or other taxes or public expenses within the said Township" received Royal assent in May 1795. The Act was promoted by Charles Watkin John Shakerley, Lord of the Manor, and other leading freeholders. As a result the Moss, otherwise Mossley Heath, Congleton Edge, the Lower Heath, the West Heath, the Brownswold and the Marsh, totalling c600 acres were enclosed. All the lands not allotted to Shakerley, or sold to defray the cost of the inclosure were to be vested in Trustees who were empowered to make leases of parcels of the enclosed lands for terms of up to 21 years and to devote the proceeds to defraying the cost of the poor rate. The Act was amended in 1849 to empower the Trustess to sell parcles of land or grant long-term building leases |