Digital hearing aids Walsall - Staffordhire hearing aids

Digital hearing aids Walsall - Staffordhire hearing aids

Walsall is a large industrial town, located in the West Midlands and historically a part of Staffordshire. With a population of 170,994 it has grown enormously from its village origins before the Industrial Revolution.  The town was originally known as ‘Walh Halh’, or ‘valley of the Welsh speakers’. It is first mentioned in 1002 as ‘Walesho’, although was left out of the Domesday Book, probably the result of a clerical error. Walsall’s weekly market began in 1220 and the town became known as ‘the town of a hundred trades’, a reference to nearby Birmingham which has been called ‘the city of a thousand trades’.

The Industrial Revolution had an enormous impact on the area, with the population rising from 2000 to 86,000 in just 200 years. Now that’s a lot of mouths to feed! Local workers embraced the modern world and manufactured a wide range of products including saddles, machinery and plated ware. A nearby limestone quarry also helped to boost the local economy.

Leather manufacturing has won the town international recognition. Walsall still supplies the Queen with handbags, the Royal family’s saddles and leather goods for the Prince of Wales. In fact, Walsall is the traditional home of the English saddle manufacturing industry, so get ready to saddle up!

The leather manufacturing industry is ingrained in Walsall’s history. It’s also the reason why the local football club is known as ‘The Saddlers’. The club was founded in 1888 when Walsall Town F.C and the Walsall Swifts F.C merged. The club currently plays at League One level.

Ride ‘em cowboy!

Horse racing was held in Walsall throughout the 19th Century, and a day at the races is exciting for young and old alike. However, if you’d have trouble hearing the race results over the tannoy; perhaps it’s time to think about digital hearing aids.

There could be a number of reasons why you’re suffering with impaired hearing, but don’t worry. Our expert team is here to help and we also offer a free audiology test. If you’d like to know more please call us on 01782 698090, or go to our website today.

See the light!

Walsall Arboretum was opened in May 1874 by the wealthy Hatherton family, who hoped the park would provide the local community with a recreation facility and divert their attention from ‘dogfights, bull baiting and cockfights’. The arboretum featured attractions such as, two boating lakes, tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool, and later, a children’s play area and paddling pool. Seven years later the local council took over the running of the arboretum and in 1957 the Walsall Illuminations began. Originally these were just simple white bulbs in the trees as an attraction for courting couples, but during the 1960’s more lights were purchased from the famous Blackpool Illuminations. Eventually the attraction had over 60,000 bulbs and took a year to plan.

Unfortunately the Illuminations stopped in 2009 as visitor numbers never rose about 250,000 per year. The light creations have been replaced with laser shows and concerts held throughout the year. The arboretum also hosts a number of events such as a ‘park run’, community weight loss programme and ‘Peregrine’ watch scheme.

A fresh lick of paint!

In 2000 the New Art Gallery Walsall, or the E M Flint Gallery opened. The gallery was named in memory of Ethel Mary Flint, head of art at Queen Mary Grammar School, former Mayor of Walsall and exhibitor at the Royal Academy. The gallery boasts a fine collection of works from artists including Jacob Epstein, Van Gogh, Monet, Turner, Renoir and Constable. You can also view a number of temporary exhibitions from both local and international artists.

The gallery also hosts a variety of events aimed at families, children and displays young people’s work from the local school and college.

A step back in time!

Walsall is steeped in local history and has two museums to display historical artefacts and educate visiting tourists.  The first museum, Walsall Museum, is primarily focussed on the area’s local history and has a range of objects for visitors to view and one off exhibitions throughout the year. The second museum, Walsall Leather Museum, is dedicated to the thriving leather trade that still operates today.  Tourists can explore a mixture of leather goods and see recreations of leather workshops.You might even see the Queen collecting her latest leather handbag!

Famous faces of Walsall

·         Jerome K Jerome – author, best known for ‘Three Men in a Boat’

·         Martin Davies – ITV weatherman

·         Zoe Dawson – actress, best known for her roles in ‘Doctors’

·         Goldie – drum ‘n’ bass musician

·         Mark Lewis-Francis – gold medallist at 2004 Olympics in 100m sprint

·         Noddy Holder – lead singer in 1970’s rock band ‘Slade’

·         Erin O’ Conner – supermodel

·         Meera Syal – comedienne

·         Bob Warman – ITV news anchor man

Keeping up with the local and international news is a part of daily life, but if you have to turn the television volume right up, or switch on the subtitles, it might be time to think about digital hearing aids.

Our friendly team are ready and waiting to discuss your needs. To discover more about our digital hearing aids, or our free audiology tests, simply go to our website or call us on 01782 698090.

Digital hearing aids Oswestry - Shropshire Hearing Aids

Digital hearing aids Oswestry - Shropshire Hearing Aids

Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England near the Welsh border. Its position means it has a vibrant mixed heritage and has changed hands many times between Welsh and English rulers. With a population of 17,116 it is the third largest town in Shropshire behind Telford and Shrewsbury. The area has been occupied as far back as 550BC and you can still see the evidence of an early settlement in Old Oswestry where there is an Iron Age hill fort.



Although the main language spoken in the town today is English there are many Welsh place and street names within the town. One example of this is the town’s Welsh name, ‘Croesoswallt’, meaning ‘Oswald’s Cross’. This is after Anglo-Saxon King Oswald, who was killed in battle and dismembered. According to legend an eagle carried Oswald’s arm to a tree and miracles were later performed at the tree, as Oswald was considered a saint. The town eventually became known as ‘Oswald’s Tree’ and this is from where the current name is derived.

Source:Wikipedia

In 1190 Oswestry was granted its Market Charter and from then on held a vibrant market every Wednesday. A highly successful animal market was held in the Market Square until the late 1960’s when an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease forced it to be relocated outside the town centre. In the 1990’s a shepherd and sheep statue was erected in the Market Square as a memorial to the town’s trading heritage.
Recently voted as ‘one of the coolest places to live in England’ Oswestry’s reputation as a strategic strong hold has now given way to a town known for its eclectic mix of shopping, fine dining and drinking establishments. In fact, Oswestry is famous for the number of public houses per head of population. There are currently 30 public houses in the town and a story incorporating the names of all the pubs that have been in the town can be found on a wall of The Oak public house in Church Street.


Time at the bar!
Everyone loves going for a pint in their local, but if your hearing is impaired it can be hard to keep up with your friend’s conversation. There are many reasons why you could be having trouble with your hearing, and you don’t have to suffer in silence.

If you’d like to find out more about our digital hearing aids and free audiology tests then click here. Alternatively, if you’d prefer to talk to one of our expert and friendly team members, please don’t hesitate to call us on 01782 698090.

King of the castle?
If you’re visiting Oswestry and want to make the most of the local attractions then take a trip to the nearby Whittington Castle. Just three miles north east of Oswestry, the castle dates back to the 13th Century and is the only castle in England to be owned and managed by the local community.


For those of you who are interested in the local history then Shelf Bank is another must see spot. Shelf Bank is a large hill in the centre of Oswestry consisting of grassland, woodland and scrub. Legend has it that a long forgotten landlord donated the land to ‘the children of Oswestry’. This claim has caused disputes over the ownership of the land and it is now managed by Oswestry Borough Council, who have applied for Local Nature Reserve status in the hope of preserving the open land for future generations.

All the fun of the fair!
Oswestry has many public events held throughout the year including fetes, music concerts, craft fairs, vintage vehicle shows and open air film showings. One of the most exciting events in the calendar is the Oswestry Festival of the Word, celebrating the written, spoken and sung word. You’ll find author talks, book signings, children’s events, poetry readings and so much more.

If edible treats are more your thing, then visit the town during the Oswestry Food and Drink Festival. The community comes together to provide visitors with two days of amazing food, drink and local talent.
‘Hello’ or ‘Hylô’ from Oswestry!

The town has had a mixed English and Welsh speaking population for centuries, although in recent times the dominant language has been English. The parish church conducted services in Welsh until 1814 and there is still a substantial number of the town’s population who are Welsh speakers.
Oswestry is also known for being one of the only towns to have a Welsh language bookshop outside of Wales.

Famous faces of Oswestry!
• Jesse Armstrong – TV comedy writer
• Wilfred Owen – World War One soldier and poet
• Carl Griffiths – footballer
• Barbara Pym – author
• Mark Laff – drummer in rock band, Generation X
• Alexander McMillian – chairman of McMillian Publishing Ltd
• Trevor Rees-Jones – bodyguard to Diana, the late Princess of Wales

Whether you visit Whittington Castle, take a stroll along the Offa’s Dyke footpaths or get stuck in at the Food and Drink Festival, you’re sure to have a great time in Oswestry. However, if your hearing means you wouldn’t be able to enjoy all the sights and sounds that Oswestry has to offer, maybe it’s time to think about digital hearing aids.

Our expert team are here to help and make sure that you never miss a thing. If you’d like to discuss your needs with one of our staff please call us on 01782 698090. Or, if you’d rather fill out a form online, simply visit our website.

Digital Hearing Aids Shrewsbury – Digital Hearing Aids Shropshire

Digital Hearing Aids Shrewsbury – Digital Hearing Aids Shropshire

Do you know how to pronounce Shrewsbury?  There seems to be a big debate about this.  It certainly looks as though it should be pronounced Shroosbury but there are some who say that the formal pronunciation is Shrowsbury.

This probably comes about because its name, as is the case of many old English place names, has gone through a number of changes over the centuries.  It was known as Pengwen, Scrobbesburh, Sciropscire which became Shropshire, Sloppesberie to Salop and Salopia, Schrosberie and finally Shrewsbury.

Salopians
People from here are known as Salopians.  So Salopians how do you pronounce this ancient market town’s name?  How do you hear the town name?

If you live in the area but have some problems with your hearing we’d like to tell you how we can help.  Hearing loss can be caused by many things from working constantly in a noise polluted environment to ageing.

If our eyes begin to fail for any reason, we go to the optician for a test and an ‘aid’ i.e. glasses or contact lenses.  It’s just the same for this ‘sense’ too.  If you are constantly missing parts of conversations or have to have the television turned up really loud, then it’s time you took one of our free hearing tests.

We can arrange for a professional audiologist to test your ears – to see the amount of loss in each one.  We can advise on the digital hearing aids that you need and give advice on how to use them and fitting.   Want to know more?  Take a look here or give us a call on 01782 698090 – you might speak to one of our team who’s had a similar problem and can advise you first hand.

Shrewsbury’s buildings
Considering that Shrewsbury’s centre still retains its original medieval street layout, you won’t be surprised to find that many of its ancient buildings are still intact.  In fact it has well over 600 listed buildings i.e. buildings of some architectural and historical significance in the town.  Amongst these are Shrewsbury Castle and Shrewsbury Abbey as well as many of the buildings of Shrewsbury School and other buildings of note in the town – Drapers hall and the Library.  The town also has a number of old timber framed buildings dating from 15th & 16th Century which are part of the list.

Ditherington Flax Mill situated in the town is the oldest iron-framed building in the World!  As such it is known as the ‘grandfather of the skyscraper’.  It was built in the 18th Century at a cost of £17,000, a tremendous amount of money then.  Although it only stands 5 storeys high and is currently derelict, it is Grade I listed.

Many other listed buildings in the town are pubs.  Shrewsbury has a host of public houses and bars totalling almost 100. However in the late 1800s there were around 200 pubs in the town.  Definitely more than you could get round on a normal ‘pub crawl’.

The oldest pub in Shrewsbury is The Golden Cross Hotel which dates back to the 15th Century.  It was originally called The Sextry because of its connection as the sacristry – a place where they kept religious vestments and vessels and parish records - of Old St Chad’s Church.  It was annexed to the church by a long-gone covered passageway.

The Three Fishes dates back to the 17th Century as does The Old Post Office which was just one of 5 public houses on Milk Street.  The others were The Angel, The Beehive, The Mug House and the Sun Tavern.  The Post Office has nothing to do with the mail but refers back to when it was an old coaching inn.  Even in 1900 it still had stabling for 13 horses.

 Water, water everywhere
The River Severn, Britain’s longest river, runs almost all the way around Shrewsbury on its way south to the Bristol Channel.  No surprise then that Shrewsbury has 9 bridges that cross the river.  Four of these are footbridges; the two main bridges are Welsh Bridge and English Bridge, both are listed and both replaced much earlier bridges.

Collecting Royal charters
Over the years Shrewsbury has collected a number of Royal Charters from
• Henry I
• Richard I
• John
• Henry VII
• Charles I
• James II
• Elizabeth II

Quite some achievement!

Notable people of Shrewsbury
• Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive was Shrewsbury MP in the 18th Century
• Shrewsbury was the birthplace of Charles Darwin, author of the Origin of the Species and he was educated at Shrewsbury School

• Novelist and poet Mary Webb was born nearby and spent long periods of her life in Shrewsbury
• Ellis Peters, real name Edith Pargeter from Shrewsbury wrote The Cadfael Chronicles set in Shrewsbury Abbey in the 12th Century.  The series was televised with Derek Jacobi playing Cadfael, the Benedictine monk

• It was the home of Leo Blair father of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair
• Michael Heseltine was educated at Shrewsbury School
• The late DJ John Peel was also educated at Shrewsbury School
• It’s the home town of Mott the Hoople singer Ian Hunter
• T’Pau singer Carol Decker calls Shrewsbury her home town too
• Michael Palin and Nick Hancock also gained their education at Shrewsbury School
• More Shrewsbury School ‘old boys’ include the founders of the predecessor to Private Eye: Richard Ingrams, Willie Rushton, Christopher Booker and Paul Foot
• Footballers from here include Joe Hart, David Edwards and Danny Guthrie
• Golfer Sandy Lyle is also from Shrewsbury
• Gardener and TV personality Percy Thrower set up a garden centre in Shrewsbury

Famous visitors to the town include
• John Wesley founder of the Methodist Church with his brother Charles
• Author Thomas de Quincey
• Benjamin Disraeli who would become Britain’s Prime Minister

• Popular author Charles Dickens

Hard of hearing Salopians
Did you know that more than 10 million people in the UK suffer with hearing loss or impairment?   Over half of that figure is aged 65 or more.  And it is expected to rise to more than 14 million in the next couple of years mainly due to the fact that we are living longer.

Somehow we seem more wary of getting tested for a hearing impediment or being seen wearing a hearing aid.  The same problem used to be the case with spectacles but in recent years they’ve become almost trendy.  Let’s hope the same can soon be said for digital hearing aids.

These devices won’t make your hearing perfect again but they will go a long way to making your life easier and improving your hearing.  Don’t be the butt of people’s jokes as the hard of hearing often are, get tested and get your digital hearing aids now.  Call us on 01782 698090 or complete this form to find out more.

Digital hearing aids Mansfield - Nottinghamshire Digital Hearing Aids

Digital hearing aids Mansfield - Nottinghamshire Digital Hearing Aids

Mansfield dates back to Roman times and is located in Nottinghamshire, with a population of 99,600. In 2009 it was awarded ‘small city’ status and is part of the Mansfield Urban Area. Historically it was a mining town until the national decline of collieries during the 1980’s and the town still bears many marks of the town’s mining history. Many of the streets in the town are long rows of terraced houses, reminiscent of the affordable housing provided for the miners when the coal industry was booming.

Mansfield also has a vibrant market history with a 700 year old town centre market and butter cross and a new indoor market nearing completion.  But you don’t just have to shop if you visit Mansfield; the town also has a thriving music and entertainment scene…

The town’s biggest music venue is the Intake Club, which can cater for 700 people at full capacity. The venue has hosted many up and coming musicians and bands such as, Fightstar, John Parr and Ade Edmondson. Perhaps a choir is more your style, in which case the Choir of the World, Cantamus Girls Choir will be right up your street. Formed in 1968 the choir consists of roughly 40 girls aged between 13 and 19 and won the Choir of the World title in 1977. And they certainly don’t rest on their laurels, their other awards include Olympic Champions at the World Choir Games in 2004 and 2006 and the choir entered the UK pop charts in 2005 with their song ‘Everybody’s Gotta’ Learn Sometime’.

If you’d prefer a night at the theatre then you’ll be pleased to know that Mansfield has its own award winning theatre company, the Shadow Syndicate Theatre Company. The contemporary theatre group are regulars at the Buxton Festival Fringe and have picked up awards such as Best Young drama production and Best Young actor. The Palace Theatre is another venue that embraces the variety that Mansfield has to offer. Originally built as a cinema in 1910, the theatre holds 534 people and hosts everything from pantomimes to dance shows and award ceremonies.

He’s behind you!
Going to a panto’ is a great night out for kids and adults alike, but if you struggle to keep up with the sing-a-long then maybe it’s time to consider digital hearing aids. There are many reasons why people find their hearing is impaired, but you don’t have to suffer in silence.
If you’d like to read more about our free audiology tests then simply click here . Or, if you’d prefer to discuss your needs with one of our friendly team then give us a call on 01782 698090.

Making a splash!
Mansfield has a few famous faces but probably the most famous is 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Rebecca Adlington. After her success at the Beijing 2008 Olympics thousands of people took to the streets to welcome her home and the area saw a massive interest in swimming. The Sherwood Baths were renamed the Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre in her honour. The district now has no less than 3 indoor swimming centres, meaning that the town holds the record for the most indoor water sports facilities of any town in the UK with less than 100,000 inhabitants.

Source:Flickr

And Rebecca isn’t the only famous swimmer to come out of Mansfield. Paralympic gold medallist Sam Hynd is also from the town and has no doubt contributed to the renewed interest in swimming.

Dancing in the street!
Every year the Council holds the ‘Summer in the Streets’ festival between the months of June and August. The public event has everything from children’s entertainment to fairground rides in the market square. You can also get stuck in with hands on crafts and circus skills workshops held throughout the event.
The highlight of the festival is the ‘Party in the Park’ during which local bands, dance troupes and other variety acts perform in the town’s Titchfield Park.

Steal from the rich to give to the poor?
Mansfield is located in a pocket of steep hills within the Maun Valley. It is also within easy distance to Sherwood Forest, made famous by that loveable rogue, Robin Hood. The National Nature Reserve attracts 500,000 visitors annually and the park hosts a week long ‘Robin Hood Festival’ every summer.
During the festival you’ll find everything from jousters to jesters and fire eaters, all dressed in historical medieval costume.

More famous faces of Mansfield!
• Alvin Stardust – singer, lived in the town as a child
• Richard Bacon – television and radio presenter
• Stephen Critchlow – radio, television and West End actor
• Robert Dodsley – playwright, poet and bookseller, including ‘The Miller of Mansfield’
• Joel Pleat – lead guitarist in popular band ‘Lawson’
• Liam Lawrence – Portsmouth FC player, formerly played for Mansfield FC

If you’re interested in finding out more about Mansfield then the town has a popular museum. The Mansfield Museum opened in 1904 and attracts 40,000 visitors every year, but you’d find it hard to follow a guided tour then maybe you should consider taking one of our free audiology tests.

Our expert team know exactly how to help you, so you’ll never miss out on the important things. To talk to one of our team give us a call on 01782 698090, or if you’d rather fill out a form simply click here .

Digital hearing aids Chesterfield - Derbyshire digital hearing aids

Digital hearing aids Chesterfield - Derbyshire digital hearing aids

Chesterfield has a population of 71,000 and is situated just 24 miles North of Derby. Originally the area held an Iron Age fort, but this was replaced by a Roman site in around 70AD and it is on this site that the town now stands. During the Middle Ages the towns’ main industry was wool making and it also had an important leather industry. Chesterfield market was awarded its Market Charter in 1204 and these days it holds around 250 stalls, making it one of the largest open air markets in Britain. You’ll be sure to grab a bargain, even if you aren’t in the market for wool or leather! The Domesday Book records of 1086 show the town as being called ‘Cesterfield’, meaning ‘open field’, which perhaps suggests it has always been a successful market town.

If you prefer sport to retail therapy then why not watch a match at Chesterfield’s Proact Stadium? Home to Chesterfield F.C or ‘The Spireites’, the stadium holds 10,500 people and cost 13m to complete. The club gained its nickname  ‘The Spireites’ from Chesterfield’s world famous landmark the Crooked Spire which stands on top of the Church of St Mary and All Saints, a predominantly 14th C church. The spire stands 70m high and leans 2.89m South West, with the spiral twisting 45° West to East. Folklore has it that a blacksmith mis-shod the Devil who then leapt over the spire in pain, knocking it out of shape. More realistic theories suggest different reasons for the unique shape of the spire; the absence of skilled craftsmen, the use of unseasoned timber and insufficient cross bracing have all been put forward, although we prefer the Devil theory!

Football isn’t the only sport that the people of Chesterfield like to get involved with. Clayton’s of Chesterfield are a leading cricket ball manufacturer, supplying balls for test match cricket and famous sportsmen such as Thomas Gascoyne, Nigel Illingworth and John Lukic were born and raised in the town.

Match of the day!
If you like to keep on top the latest sports news but struggle to hear the scores on the radio don’t worry, we’re here to help. Many peoples hearing is impaired, but with our help you’ll soon have no problem keeping up with the game, regardless of the sport you follow.

Our expert team knows exactly how to help you, so why not get in touch with us on 01782 698090 to find out about our free audiology tests.  You can also read more here.

Don’t be afraid, you don’t have to suffer in silence and there are many reasons why a digital hearing aid might benefit you in your daily life. So get in touch today, and find out how we can help you hear things a little more clearly.

All aboard!
The town benefitted greatly from the building of the Chesterfield line that began in 1837 and provided transport links to London, Newcastle and Edinburgh among other places. George Stephenson, the ‘father of railways’ himself oversaw the project and liked the town so much he stayed in Tapton House until his death in 1848.

His body is interred under the altar at Holy Trinity Church and in 2006 a statue was erected in his honour outside Chesterfield Railway Station.

And a ram in a pomegranate tree!
Ok, so it’s not the traditional Christmas carol but Chesterfield’s crest really does depict a Derby ram and a pomegranate tree. The ram represents the towns’ location and the stylised pomegranate tree shows the towns’ loyalty to the crown. A mural crown in the centre of the crest declares the towns’ borough status and the cock bird and pynot, or magpie; represent those who met to conspire against James II at the Cock and Pynot Inn, now Revolution House, in 1688.

Chesterfield’s motto is ‘aspire’, a punning reference to its most famous landmark.

Fancy a pint?
Chesterfield boasts one of Britain’s oldest public houses, The Royal Oak, and the rest of the nightlife isn’t bad either! Noted for the variety and number of venues in a reasonably compact area the town has it all, from bars and restaurants to nightclubs and theatres.

In 2006 the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) hosted the first ever international gluten free beer festival as part of the towns’ regular beer festival.

And whether you want pop tunes or classical music the multi-purpose Winding Wheel is the place to be. This venue has hosted stars such as Bob Geldof, The Proclaimers and Patrick McGinness. The Chesterfield Symphony Orchestra also performs concerts here three times a year.

Famous faces of Chesterfield
• Steven Blakely – Heartbeat actor
• Pete Dodd & Jon Podgorski – members of 1980’s band ‘The Thompson Twins’
• Simon Groom – former Blue peter presenter
• Rik Makarem – Emmerdale actor
• Jason Statham – Hollywood star and former champion diver
• Mark Webber – guitarist in Pulp

It’s amazing the things you can find using the internet these days, but if you’d struggle to hear a documentary about Chesterfield’s history then maybe it’s time to get your hearing checked. Our friendly team are here to help and you can read more about what we do simply by clicking here.

Give us a call today on 01782 698090 and look forward to a brighter, clearer future.

Digital Hearing Aids Macclesfield– Digital Hearing Aids Cheshire

Digital Hearing Aids Macclesfield– Digital Hearing Aids Cheshire

The derivation of the name Macclesfield has caused some speculation over the years.  In fact it is listed as Maclesfeld in the Domesday Book – close enough.  Just over a century later it was written as Makeslesfeld.  The suggestion was that it referred to Michael’s Field as in St Michael’s Church but the original dedication of this church was to All Saints so this is unlikely to be the case.  The most common and maybe likely thought is that it means Maccles’ field or Maccles’ Open Country – we are still no wiser about who Maccles is though ...

People from Macclesfield are often referred to as Maxonians and there are a few of the ’rich and famous’ who claim Macclesfield as their home town.

Famous Maxonians
The well known feminist author Vera Brittain grew up in Macclesfield.  She wrote Testament of Youth, her memoirs of the First World War when she worked as a voluntary nurse – something she delayed her Oxford degree for.  Vera Brittain’s daughter is Shirley Williams, one time Labour cabinet Minister and now Liberal Democrat Peer.

Macclesfield seems to be big on musicians!  There are a number of well known songsters who call Macclesfield their home town.  These include:
·         The late Ian Curtis, lead singer with Joy Division was born and unfortunately died early in Macclesfield

·         Slade’s lead singer Noddy Holder who is heard every Christmas as Slade’s recording of Merry Christmas returns.  Holder has openly admitted that it more than covers his retirement plan even though he didn’t expect it to remain popular

·         John Mayall who many refer to as ‘the father of British Blues’ comes from Macclesfield

·         Drummer with bands Joy Division, New Order, the Other Two and Bad Lieutenant, Stephen Morris also comes from here

·         Gillian Gilbert grew up here and joined New Order on keyboard

·         It’s also home to The Macc Lads, a punk band, DJ Mr Scruff and Jaime Harding, who sings with the band Marion

·         DC Chris Skelton, real name Marshall Lancaster of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes fame comes from Macclesfield

·         As does oldies’ sweetheart David Dickinson, the presenter of Bargain Hunt and other antique related shows

Environmental noise and other causes
Continuous excessive noise can affect your hearing as many musicians recognise.  Making music seems to be a generally loud business and has been known to affect hearing impairment.  Of course music-making isn’t the only noisy business.  If you work with or have worked continually in a noisy machine shop for instance or any other area that has on-going noise, your hearing could be affected.

If you think this could be the case, check out our free hearing tests with a qualified audiologist to get a professional opinion.  If it is necessary to improve your hearing we can help with digital aids to help you hear better.

You can contact us by telephone on 01782 698090 or via an online form.

What was Macclesfield famous for?
Once upon a time Macclesfield had 71 silk mills and produced the most finished silk in the UK.  Now what is left is housed in 4 Macclesfield Silk Museums!  Paradise Mill is in fact a working museum where you can see how the silk was produced and finished.  Macclesfield is thought to be the only unbombed UK mill town in WWII.

Macclesfield is often referred to as ‘Silk Town’ for obvious reasons but is also known as ‘Treacle Town’.  This nickname has two possible reasons:

1.       Spilt treacle on Hibel Road was scooped off the cobbles by the poor

2.       Unemployed weavers were donated barrels of treacle by the mill-owners


Who knows is either is true?

Did you know that Macclesfield was also the original home of Hovis bread?  In fact it was a baker from nearby Stoke-on-Trent (home of Castle Comfort Hearing Aids) who started the bakery which became famous for Hovis.  The name is taken from the Latin and means strength for man apparently.  It certainly did its part in providing a cheap but nutritious food for the mill workers.  The original loaf was much drier and denser than the loaf we know today.

The Macclesfield Canal was built by Thomas Telford to link to Marple in the north and Kidsgrove in the south.  It didn’t have the same affect many canals had on small towns in bringing extra business or increasing the logistic possibilities as by the time it was completed much produce was transported by rail.

Industry today in Macclesfield still has an interest in textiles as well as pharmaceuticals, engineering, paper and plastics.

St Michael’s and All Angel’s Church
The church is right in the centre of Macclesfield overlooking the market square.  There has been a church here since the 13th Century.  In the 15th Century a chapel dedicated to the Leigh family who owned Lyme Park was built and around a century later, the Savage Chapel was added.  The church itself has undergone two major architectural changes and is now a Grade II listed building.

Lyme Hall and Park
Just 10 miles from Macclesfield is Lyme Park.  The Leigh family acquired it through marriage in the 14th Century and it remained as the family home until the late 1940’s when it was sold to the National Trust.

Lyme Park has the largest house in Cheshire which has been modified and rebuilt over the centuries.  Visitors can see its great splendour and also see the Lyme Caxton Missal an early book published by William Caxton which is held in its library.

Good advice
If you think your hearing might be deteriorating, then it’s time to get it checked out.  Just like an optician tests the performance of each eye, so an audiologist tests how well each ear hears.  Whatever the cause if it is necessary then we can advise and supply digital hearing aids that will make an incredible improvement to the quality of your life.

If you think this would help you then you can read more about services here and contact us on 01782 698090.

Digital Hearing Aids Wrexham– Digital Hearing Aids Clwyd

Digital Hearing Aids Wrexham– Digital Hearing Aids Clwyd

Wrexham is the largest town in North Wales and sits close to the border with Cheshire.  It has the Welsh mountains to its west and is located in the Dee Valley though it’s not actually on the River Dee.

Wrexham and the surrounding area is also host to 3 of Wales’ 7 wonders:
·         The tower of St Giles’ Church in the town is the highest building and can be seen for miles around.  It stands 135 feet high, has 4 turrets and is richly decorated with carvings

·         The bells of Gresford housed in All Saints Church in Gresford are said to have a really pure tone and so qualify as one of the 7 wonders

·         Close by,Overton on Dee is the home of 21 Yew Trees.  These can be found in the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin Church in the High Street.  The oldest tree which is estimated to be between 1,500 and 2,000 years old was there before the church was built.  The youngest tree was planted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1992


Hearing help
Are you concerned that your hearing maybe getting worse?  There are many causes of impaired hearing from earwax to hereditary, from being constantly surrounded by loud noises like on a battlefield, in a music studio or from ageing.

If you are having difficulties we can help you by arranging a free hearing test for you.  You can speak to one of team to arrange this.  You may get to speak to one of our 3 team members who know the problems first hand and can therefore give you first class recommendations.  There’s no harm in finding out if your problem is real and if we can help.  You can read more about the test here.

Don’t put it off, give us a call on 01782 698090.

Wrexham’s history
Although there is some evidence to suggest there was a settlement here way back in 1600 BC, it really came into its own as a Motte and Bailey castle known as Wristleham Castle in the 12th Century.  This castle could be found in Erddig Park just 2 miles from the centre of Wrexham town centre.  A grand stately home built by the High Sherriff of Denbighshire in the late 17th Century, it passed to the Yorke family in the 18th Century.  Today it is the property of the National Trust and visitors are treated to many rare and also ordinary materials and utensils from past eras including beautiful Chinese wallpaper in the main bedroom.  Formal gardens, ponds, a canal and Yew trees surround the house.

A century later Wrexham is mentioned as Edward I visited and there were several incidents during the later civil war which occurred in the area.

By the 18th Century Wrexham became known for its leather industry.  Not surprisingly there were many tanners and skinners in the area.  As well as using the cow hides used in the leather industry, the cow’s horns were also used to make combs and buttons.  Nail making was also big in the area but essentially Wrexham was still a small market town.

Industrial Revolution
Wrexham grew due to industry during the late 18th Century.   The catalyst for growth in Wrexham was John ‘Iron-Mad’ Wilkinson an entrepreneur who pioneered the manufacture of cast iron and founded a smelting plant nearby, Bersham Ironworks.  All that remains to show of this industry now are the Minera Lead Mines close to Wrexham.

Mining was big here but now, there is virtually no sign of mining in the area.  Many former mines have been converted and brought into the 21st century as either industrial or business parks.  Bersham is the only remaining colliery which has the original ‘head gear’.  An explosion at the nearby Gresford Colliery killed 266 miners in 1934.  No outright cause and therefore blame was found at the inquiry.  Now a memorial in the form of a pit-wheel stands in memory of the miners who lost their lives.

By the late 19th Century when the area was already known for its 35 breweries, German immigrants set up Britain’s first lager brewery in Wrexham known as Wrexham Lager.  This brewery was the last to close and not until the year 2000.  Two years later a local MP who had once worked at the brewery bought the name and the brewery building for a mere £1.  By 2011 the brewery was reopened and now produces lager on a small scale for the pub trade.

Border Breweries also based in Wrexham were in business for 150 years.  After a number of mergers, they were bought by Marstons in 1984, who closed the brewery later the same year.

The 20th Century
By the end of the 20th Century all evidence of Wrexham’s industrial past were gone – closed were the leather works, the collieries, the breweries, the brickworks and the steelworks which had been in operation for 200 years.

In more recent times Wrexham has seen science and technology take more of a hold in the area.  Many ‘high-tech’ companies in computing, medical and pharmaceutical businesses now have homes in Wrexham’s Technology Park.  Wrexham’s University of Wales and the North East Wales Institute support this change with research in these areas.

A Market town
Wrexham retains its heritage as a market town with its several markets.  An indoor General Market in Henblas Street, a People’s Market indoors with access from Market and Chester Streets and a Butcher’s Market accessed from High Street, Henblas Street and Hope Street.  These markets are open everyday.

Every Monday in Queens Square there is an open air market selling everything from fresh produce to furnishings.  This is the original medieval market when people from all around came to sell their wares.

Wrexham also hosts a Farmer’s Market every 3rd Friday of the month in Queens Square.

Country Parks
There are as many as 10 country parks in the area all providing great spaces and many offering a number of events to attract visitors throughout the year.  All have their pluses but the Ty Mawr Country Park also has the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.  This aqueduct carries the Llangollen Canal over the Dee Valley.  The longest and highest in Britain, this 19th Century construction carries a Grade I listing and is also a World Heritage site.  It was built by Thomas Telford.

Well known personalities
·         Rosemarie Frankland who was born in Wrexham went on to win the titles Miss Wales and then Miss World in 1961

·         Amy Guy also won titles – Miss Wales, Miss World Sport, Miss United Kingdom.  She is also known as Gladiator Siren and featured as a member of the Great Britain Horse Riding team

·         Helen Blore is a world champion woman sailor

·         Actor Ricky Tomlinson best known for his role in The Royle Family, once lived in Wrexham

·         TV presenter Tim Vincent was born here

·         British Olympic rowers Chris Bartley and Tom James also hail from Wrexham

·         Wrexham has also spawned a number of footballers including Joey Jones who played for the local team, Paul Jones who was a Welsh International and also manager,  English International player Rob Jones played for Liverpool and West Ham, Jason Koumas and Robbie Savage latterly also known for his appearance in the 2011 Strictly Come Dancing series

If you were listening to this information about Wrexham told to you by a friend or on the radio, would you catch it all?  Would you have to ask for or wish for repeats?  Not being able to hear properly is really isolating but it doesn’t have to be like that.  A digital hearing test undertaken by a professional measures the amount of help each ear needs.  It can also help to diagnose the cause of your hearing problem.  Read more about this here.

Don’t delay any longer, find out what help there is for you by calling us on 01782 698090 or contact us using this form.