Macclesfield Canal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Macclesfield Canal |
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The canal near Congleton
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| Specifications | |
| Maximum boat length | 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) |
| Maximum boat beam | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
| Locks | 13 |
| Status | Navigable |
| Navigation authority | Canal & River Trust |
| History | |
| Original owner | Macclesfield Canal Company (est. 1817) |
| Principal engineer | Thomas Telford |
| Other engineer(s) | William Crosley |
| Date of act | 1826 |
| Construction began | 1826 |
| Date completed | 1831 |
| Geography | |
| Start point | Marple Junction |
| End point | Hall Green (The final section to Hardings Wood Junction was built as part of the Trent and Mersey Canal) |
| Connects to | Peak Forest Canal Trent and Mersey Canal |
The Macclesfield Canal is a waterway in east Cheshire, England. People first suggested building a canal to connect the town of Macclesfield to other waterways way back in 1765. But it wasn't until 1824 that a real plan came together. Even then, some thought a railway would be better. However, a special committee chose a canal, and famous engineer Thomas Telford agreed.
The canal opened in 1831 and is about 26.1 miles (42 km) long. It has twelve locks, all grouped together at Bosley. These locks lower the canal's water level by 118 feet (36 m). The canal starts at Marple in the north, where it meets the Peak Forest Canal. It then flows south through Macclesfield and Congleton. It ends by joining the Hall Green Branch of the Trent and Mersey Canal. This short branch is often seen as part of the Macclesfield Canal today.
Over time, railways became a big threat to canals. In 1846, the canal was sold to a railway company. This company later became the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway. Even under railway ownership, the canal did quite well. Boats carried goods on it until 1954. People also started using the canal for fun, especially after the First World War. A group called the North Cheshire Cruising Club, formed in 1943, was the first of its kind in Britain.
In the 1960s, there was a risk that parts of the canal system would close. But strong campaigns and a growing interest in restoring canals saved them. The Transport Act 1968 helped secure their future. In 1965, the canal became part of the Cheshire Ring. This was a plan to encourage people to use canals for holidays and leisure.
In 1975, the entire canal was named a Conservation Area. This means it's a special place that needs to be protected. Many of its old structures, like elegant snake bridges, are now Grade II listed. This shows how important they are historically. Much of the canal goes through beautiful countryside. It also passes through towns, where old mills once used the canal for transport. Now, many of these mills are apartments or small businesses.
Contents
Exploring the Canal's Path
The Macclesfield Canal stretches for 26.1 miles (42 km). It generally runs from north to south. It starts at Marple Junction in Marple. Here, it connects with the Upper Peak Forest Canal. It ends at stop lock, where it joins the Hall Green Branch of the Trent and Mersey Canal.
The canal was built along the side of tall hills. Engineer Thomas Telford used a method called "cut and fill." This meant digging through hills (cuts) and building up low areas (fills). This helped the canal stay as straight as possible. It's a narrow canal, made for boats up to 70 feet (21 m) long and 7 feet (2.1 m) wide.
Marple to Bollington
At Marple, the canal meets the Peak Forest Canal. There used to be a stop lock here. This lock was only for when water levels were different. But now, it's not needed because the canals are owned by the same group. You can still see where the lock was. A large canal warehouse from 1835 stands nearby.
Near Hawk Green, you'll see Goyt Mill. This huge, six-story building was built in 1905. Today, it's home to many small businesses. At High Lane, the canal goes right through the village. The High Lane Branch is now used for mooring boats. The canal also crosses a railway line on a tall aqueduct.
Further along, the canal becomes more rural. It crosses valleys with impressive embankments and aqueducts. Near Higher Poynton, the canal is wider. This is because of ground sinking from an old coal mine. The banks and bridges had to be raised many times.
Bollington to Macclesfield
On the edge of Bollington, you'll find Clarence Mill. This large building now holds many small businesses. Two aqueducts and a 60-foot (18 m) high embankment carry the canal over the River Dean valley. Then it enters Bollington. Adelphi Mill, once a silk mill, is now used as offices.
After another quiet section, the canal reaches Macclesfield. Hovis Mill, where the famous flour was first made, is here. It was built in the 1820s and is now apartments. Near Gurnett Aqueduct, there's a cottage with a plaque. It honors James Brindley, a famous canal builder.
Bosley Locks and Beyond
The canal then becomes rural again, heading towards Bosley Lock Flight. To the east is Sutton Reservoir. This reservoir holds 94 million litres of water to supply the canal. It's a great spot for walks and picnics. Just before the first lock, there's a short branch for boaters. This is actually the end of a feeder from Bosley Reservoir.
The top lock is 16.1 miles (25.9 km) from the Peak Forest Canal. The twelve locks at Bosley drop the canal's level by 118 feet (36 m). They are all very close together, within about 1 mile (1.6 km). These locks are special because they have two sets of gates at both ends. Below the last lock, a beautiful aqueduct carries the canal over the River Dane.
The canal then turns west, then south again at Buglawton. In Congleton, it crosses the Dane in Shaw Brook. From here, you can see a tall railway viaduct. To the east is The Cloud, a large hill over 1,000 feet (300 m) high.
Below Congleton, the canal passes through open countryside. It reaches Scholar Green and Hall Green. A stop lock here marks the official end of the Macclesfield Canal. The branch continues for another 1.5 miles (2.4 km). It crosses the Trent and Mersey main line and joins it near Kidsgrove. This final section is often considered part of the Macclesfield Canal.
The Cheshire Ring
The Macclesfield Canal is part of the Cheshire Ring cruising route. This route was first named in 1965. It was part of a campaign to save all the canals that make up this circular path. The route is about 95 miles (153 km) long and has 92 locks. Most people can complete the whole trip in about a week.
Building the Macclesfield Canal
People had many ideas for connecting Macclesfield to the canal network. The first idea was in 1765. Later, in 1796, engineer Benjamin Outram surveyed possible routes. But there wasn't enough money or support for these early plans.
Planning the Canal
Finally, in 1824, five men from Macclesfield started a new effort. They called a public meeting, and a committee was formed. They wanted to build a canal, even though railways were becoming popular. People pledged £100,000 for the project.
Thomas Telford was hired to survey the route. He suggested a canal that would stay level for a long stretch. Then, it would drop down through locks to meet the Trent and Mersey Canal. He also said there would be enough water to supply the canal. The plan was approved by Parliament on April 11, 1826. The estimated cost was £295,000.
Construction Begins
Even though Telford designed the canal, William Crosley managed its construction. Crosley was a skilled civil engineer. Building started at Bollington on December 4, 1826. The northern part of the canal was divided into five contracts. Work moved forward steadily.
The Trent and Mersey Canal Company insisted on building the last mile (1.6 km) of the canal themselves. They wanted to charge tolls for its use. By 1828, much of the northern canal was almost finished. Crosley also reduced the number of reservoirs needed to supply water from five to two. These were built at Bosley and Sutton.
There were some challenges, like water leaking from the canal banks. But these problems were fixed. The aqueduct over the River Dane was finished on October 23, 1830. It was a big structure, using a lot of stone.
Opening Day
The canal officially opened on November 9, 1831. There were special boat parades from Congleton and Marple. They were timed to arrive in Macclesfield at the same moment. A salute was fired, and a band played music. The canal cost about £320,000 to build, which was only a little more than planned.
The canal's highest point is 518 feet (158 m) above sea level. This is the same level as the Peak Forest Canal. At Bosley, the twelve locks drop the canal's level. There's also a stop lock at the junction with the Trent and Mersey Canal. This lock, with a small drop of just 1 foot (0.3 m), made sure the Trent and Mersey didn't lose water to the new canal.
The Canal Through the Years
In its early years, the canal was very busy. In its first full year (1832-1833), it carried over 98,000 tons of goods. This brought in good income. The company built wharves and warehouses for loading and unloading goods. They also built houses for staff.
Facing the Railways
By 1845, railways were becoming a big competitor. The canal company tried to cut costs and lower tolls to keep customers. They even stopped paying dividends to shareholders after 1840.
However, they also tried to attract leisure traffic. In 1842, they started running fast "packet boats" for pleasure trips. These boats carried people from Dukinfield to places like Disley and Macclesfield. They promoted the beautiful scenery along the canal. But this service didn't last long, ending around 1846.
To compete with new railway plans, the canal company even threatened to build its own railway. Eventually, in June 1846, they made a deal with the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway. The railway company leased the canal for £6,605 per year. They also paid off the canal's debts. The railway company then took over the canal's ownership on January 1, 1847.
Changes in Ownership
The railway company that took over the canal later changed its name to the Great Central Railway in 1897. Then, in 1922, most British railways were combined. The canal then became part of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER).
In 1848, carrying goods on the canal earned £9,049. The railway company also started carrying goods on the canal. By 1905, boats on the canal mainly carried coal, cotton, grain, and stone. But the amount of traffic was getting smaller.
In 1912, the canal's bank burst at Kerridge. This flooded nearby streets. It took three weeks to repair the damage. Many men worked to fill the gap with clay and other materials.
The Leisure Age Begins
Commercial use of the canal ended in 1954. But people had been using the canal for fun since after the First World War. The High Lane Arm became a base for boaters. In 1943, the North Cheshire Cruising Club was formed. It was the first club of its kind in Britain.
In 1948, the railways and canals became national property. In the 1950s, there were fears that many canals would close. But public interest in canals grew. Strong campaigns helped save them. The Transport Act 1968 secured their future. In 1975, the Macclesfield Canal was officially named a Conservation Area. This recognized its importance for recreation and history.
Canal Structures and Features
Many structures along the Macclesfield Canal are Grade II listed. This means they are historically important.
- Five aqueducts, which carry the canal over rivers or roads.
- All twelve locks at Bosley.
- Many of the bridges along the canal.
- Pool Lock footbridge.
- A warehouse next to bridge number 1.
- A drydock for boat repairs.
- Sluices, weirs, and culverts (tunnels for water).
- A disused tunnel under the canal near Congleton.
- Fourteen milestones and five distance markers.
- Two sets of stone fence posts.
The Hall Green Branch is often seen as part of the Macclesfield Canal. It has the Hall Green Stop Lock. This lock, with its small drop, prevented the Trent & Mersey Canal from losing water. The Macclesfield Canal has no tunnels. But it has several impressive embankments. These include ones at Bollington and High Lane. The canal is also famous for its elegant roving bridges. These are known locally as Snake Bridges.
Future Connections
In 1992, an article suggested connecting the Macclesfield Canal to the Caldon Canal. This would create a new cruising route. The idea was looked at again in 2004. It suggested using the feeder from Rudyard Lake to connect to the Macclesfield Canal at Bosley. The main challenge would be the height difference. A short flight of locks or a boat lift might be needed.
