Sandbach is undoubtedly one of the North West's prettiest towns, with its quaint and historic buildings and streetscape.

As an Irish native who only moved to east Cheshire in the last couple of years, I always found myself wandering Sandbach's streets and taking in the sights, but not quite grasping the significance behind some of the prominent buildings and landmarks.

In order to remedy this, I will be using our recently launched newsletter to share what I've learned about the town's historic sites from time-to-time. Who knows, some of you Sandbach natives might learn something new as well.

To kick things off, we're starting with one of the town centre's most prominent landmark on the cobbles, the Sandbach Crosses.

The crosses are recognised as one of the finest Saxon monuments remaining in Britain.

English Heritage, which maintains the sandstone monuments, has speculated that the crosses could mark the presence of an ancient minster or monastery in the town during the Saxon period (410 to 1066).

"Whether these sandstone crosses were an expression of the power of such an establishment, set up as boundary markers, or used in religious services is unclear," English Heritage writes.

"It is unlikely that they commemorate the introduction of Christianity into Mercia by King Peada in ad 643 as the bronze plaque asserts."

The heritage organisation said they are "often described as being among the most important surviving examples of Anglo-Saxon high crosses".

The crosses were "probably" moved from their "unknown" original site to the market place in the 16th century.

It seems the crosses were not always the welcome landmark that we view them as today as they were violently broken up, "probably by Puritans", in the 17th century and "distributed around the vicinity".

It was not until 1816 that the crosses would be reassembled to take their place on the cobbles once more under the direction of Dr George Ormerod, the Cheshire historian.

On the carvings on the cross, English Heritage writes: "The decoration on the larger cross focuses on biblical subjects. Among the carved narrative scenes is a Nativity with a Crucifixion above it, an Adoration of the Magi and an Annunciation. A luxuriant vine scroll appears on the south side.

"The figures, animals and ornament on the smaller cross are more difficult to interpret, although they most likely represent different aspects of the Christian community."