Welcome | Macclesfield Canal

The Macclesfield Canal

The Macclesfield Canal runs for about 27½ miles from its junction with the Peak Forest Canal at Marple, via 12 locks at Bosley, to its junction with the Trent & Mersey Canal at Kidsgrove (the original canal length to Hall Green is 26 1/4 miles). It passes through beautiful countryside, and touches on several towns – Bollington, Macclesfield, and Congleton. For more details see About the Canal.

The Macclesfield Canal Society

The Macclesfield Canal Society, formed in 1984, has currently about 130 members, who mostly (but not exclusively) reside in the Macclesfield area. Its aim is to promote the canal by means of liaison with local authorities, the Canal & River Trust and the Inland Waterways Association (IWA). Also leading several local canal adoption groups such as the Sutton and Lyme Adoption Group and CAG-Congleton Adoption Group plus a Roving Task Force Team ...this covers the other areas of the canal.

The Macclesfield Canal Society is especially proud to be associated with the Green Flag Award awarded in 2015 through to 2023 to the whole length of the canal for a public green space of special merit.......The Macclesfield canal was the first canal in the world to receive a Green Flag Award...

Publications

An illustrated quarterly magazine ‘Milestone’ is published by the Macclesfield Canal Society, and is free to members. This contains reports of monthly meetings, and articles of interest supplied by members, as well as details of forthcoming meetings and work parties.

The Society publishes a Map Leaflet, showing the whole length of the canal, and indicating useful facilities and points of interest along its length. This is available from Map Boxes (accessed using a CRT key) which are located at Bosley Top Lock, and Hall Green Lock. A contribution to support the production of these leaflets is requested from those who take a copy.

Projects

The Society has supplied and erected Information Boards at selected points on the towpath in the Macclesfield area, re painted the Dane Aqueduct plus numerous activities arranged via the Adoption Group Teams along the canal length.

Earlier projects have included the re-instatement of the Milestones, the repair and repainting of the ornamental towpath railings at Ramsdell Hall (Scholar Green); the repair of Bridge 47 (Lyme Green); the rebuilding of Bridge 30 (Macclesfield.

Activities

The Society holds monthly meetings on the third Friday of the month, September to May, when a speaker, usually from outside the Society, gives a presentation, often illustrated, on a subject related to canals, or of interest to canal enthusiasts. These meetings are held at The United Reform Church Townley Meeting Rooms , Townley Street, Macclesfield SK11 6HZ, and start at 7.30pm. These meetings are free to members, but visitors are always welcome (we would ask for a donation from visitors please). For details of future meetings, see the Society Programme.

LOCK KEEPING DUTIES ON THE BOSLEY FLIGHT. There are 18 volunteer lock keepers signed up and trained on the Bosley Flight (not all of us on duty each session of course!) We are there to help you safely through the flight. Please check on CRT "Alerts" website for current restrictions.