The Town

Knutsford is a Georgian market town famous for its distinctive Italianate architecture, its historic heritage and diverse range of independent shops and restaurants.

Knutsford has been home to many famous people including the author Elizabeth Gaskell who wrote Cranford and many other novels, Henry Royce the engineer who in partnership with Charles Rolls created Rolls Royce Motor Cars, Richard Hardy Watt responsible for the towns Italianate buildings, Trumpet Major Smith of Charge of the Light Brigade fame, and quite a few others. The notorious Highwayman Higgins also lived in Knutsford.

The towns Italianate buildings include the Gaskell Tower and adjoining early Council Offices now The Belle Epoque restaurant, the Ruskin Rooms and many others especially in Legh Road where Richard Hardy Watt and Henry Royce lived. The town has over 100 listed buildings including the Unitarian Church (Grade 1 listed) where Elizabeth Gaskell is buried. Also of special note is the Old Town Hall (Grade 2),the Sessions Court House (Grade 2) and St Johns Parish Church (Grade 2*).

The highlight of the year is Knutsford 'Royal' May Day which has been running now for 147 years. The procession winds its way through the town narrow streets finishing on the Heath where the crowning takes place. It takes place on the first Saturday in May each year when thousands of visitors descend on the town.

Knutsford Heritage Centre has an extensive archive of life in early Knutsford and a comprehensive record of Knutsford 'Royal' May Day and its May Queens dating from 1864.

For more information about Knutsford visit

Virtual Knutsford
a visitor's guide to Knutsford.

Knutsford Times
Online Newspaper for up to date news and views around the town.

The Gaskell Society
Official website for Gaskell Society news.

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