Mow Cop

About 5 miles south of Congleton is the little hilltop village of Mow Cop that straddles the Cheshire-Staffordshire border and is the start of the Pennine Way.

The skyline is dominated by a ruined castle that isn’t as ancient as it first appears to be. It is in fact a ‘folly’ built in the mid 18th century for Randle Wilbraham of nearby Rode Hall in a bid to improve his view; it was curious preoccupation among the wealthy landowners of the day to litter the landscape with superficial repro castles and temples.

Rather ironically Mow Cop was the birthplace of the Primitive Methodism movement, which flourished in 19th century Cheshire and North Staffordshire.