Macclesfield

Welcome to Macclesfield

Macclesfield is an attractive market town that nestles in the foothills of the Peak District National Park and is surrounded by picturesque and diverse scenery that includes Macclesfield Forest and Teggs Nose Country Park.

Historically, Macclesfield was once the centre of the silk industry which generated considerable wealth and expansion in the town which can still be seen in its fine civic buildings and Georgian architecture.  Today, Macclesfield continues to thrive and build on its industrial heritage and is proud to be the manufacturing home of Astra Zeneca, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies as well as textiles, engineering, electronics, paper and plastics, all adding to the local, vibrant economy.

Macclesfield is filled with interesting things to do and see from stately homes, historic houses and canal boat hire to fascinating museums and galleries. It is also the home of Macclesfield FC, founded in 1874 and which continues to draw the matchday crowds.  The town also hosts a monthly artisan market known as The Treacle Market which is held on the last Sunday of the month.

Macclesfield boasts excellent communication links with fast rail services to Manchester and London and easy access to Manchester Airport.

Did You Know.....

  • In 1261 Lord Edward granted a borough charter to the hamlet named in the Domesday Book as boasting a hall and a mill.  Lord Edward went on to become Edward I 'The Hammer of the Scots' and the hamlet went on to become Macclesfield.
  • Macclesfield is known as 'the silk capital of England' as at the height of its industrial prosperity, a total of 71 silk mills were in operation.
  • Despite being 40 miles from the nearest coastline, Macclesfield became the first town to manufacture the deck chair.
  • Macclesfield Town footballer Christopher Priest scored the final Football League goal of the 20th Century on 28th December 1999 against Carlisle United at the Moss Rose football ground.
  • Macclesfield is also known as 'Treacle Town' taken from a centuries-old incident whereby a horse-drawn wagon overturned thus spilling its load onto Hibel road with the poor of the area clamouring to scoop it up from the cobbles.
  • Macclesfield was the childhood home of the writer Vera Brittain (1893-1970).  Her remarkable, best-selling 1933 memoir 'Testament of Youth' is a moving account of her experiences during the First World War' and has been adapted for film and television on numerous occasions.  She was the mother of the former labour cabinet minister and Liberal Democrat Peer, Shirley Williams (1930-2021).
  • One of Macclesfield's churches was designed by the same man who designed Alton Towers.  Augustus Pugin (1812-1852) designed St Alban's on Chester Road, the grade II listed Catholic Church in 1838.
  • Macclesfield has its own independent commercial radio station 'Cheshire Silk FM'.
  • Macclesfield is the original home of Hovis breadmakers centred at Publicity Works Mill, now more commonly known as The Hovis Mill on the canal close to Buxton Road.  
  • The Treacle Market began as a handful of stalls in July 2010 on Waters Green and Market Place.  Due to its popularity with customers and vendors alike, the market has since expanded with a great variety of stalls offering local produce, crafts, bric-a-brac and lots more.  A great family day out!

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