The OP jogged my memory into action. I vaguely recalled a song about the Congleton Bear, but not from John Tams/Muckram Wakes/The Druids. So I dug out some old cassettes (they even played!) and yes, live at The Druids Folkclub, Derby, ca. 1974, Pete & Chris Coe and song#6 in their first set ....Congleton Bear!
I'll have to see if I can decode the text from this 45 year old cassette! If anybody bumps into Pete Coe ask him about his version of the story. He'll probably be flabbergasted that anybody remembers it!