Welcome to
The Macclesfield Canal Society's
web pages!
Canal & River Trust are organising volunteer
work parties on the Macc! See Macclesfield Canal Society meetings page
for details!
The web site is divided into two parts - this part describes the
canal society and its activities. The other part is all about the
canal and the features and facilities along its route. The link list
in the left column is different for each part. It is possible to
simply skip between the parts by clicking on the appropriate link
at the top of the link list.
These pages provide information about the society and the canal. Surf through them for the information you need to maximise your enjoyment of our beautiful waterway - it's all here somewhere! And if there is something else you need then please let the Webmaster know and we'll see if we can provide it.
The society was formalised in 1984 by a group of
individuals who were working informally on the restoration of the
milestones along the canal. In recognition of 25 years the society
published the 100th edition of Milestone,
its quarterly magazine, together with a Silver Jubilee Celebration
- A pictorial view of 25 years of People and Projects.
The officers and members of the society welcome all lovers of canals. We exist to promote the Macclesfield Canal for the benefit of all its users - boaters, fishermen, walkers and those who just like looking at the loveliness of this most beautiful part of the world.
Society meetings are held on the second
Thursday of each month from September through to May at the Silk
Trader Inn, Brook Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 7AD. All meetings
start at 7:45pm and finish before 10.30. Fully licensed bar.
The foot sloggers among us also have a programme of walks open to anyone with the puff! And if you want to work for a living there are often projects on the go.
The society publishes a quarterly magazine Milestone.
A number of items are offered for sale including sweat shirts and
our own guide to the canal.
Projects
The Society has been pleased and proud to accept the Mersey Basin Dragonfly award for the good works carried out along the canal during the past almost 20 years. It is very nice to have our many activities recognised and the £500 prize came in very useful in our further projects.
Our secretary, Malcolm Bower, was in 2005 most deservedly awarded a Mersey Basin Dragonfly for his personal contribution to the the society and the canal.
We usually have a project or two going and presently we are active on the following:
Between bridges 86 and 87, at Scholar Green, Ramsdell Hall and
its extensive garden lies on the off side of the canal. In order
to set off the entire scene the towing path is bounded by a most
attractive decorative ironwork fence mounted on a low stone wall.
Unfortunately this was allowed to fall into a dilapidated state
over the years and needed some serious restoration work if it was
to be saved.
In preparation for the restoration of the wall and railings a
major effort was put in by society volunteers to clear the
foliage, bushes and small trees which were growing up through the
railings, damaging them as well as the stone wall beneath.
This project became part of the English Heritage Partnership Project
to protect buildings at risk along the canal. This project was
a Partnership project managed by Macclesfield Borough Council and
Congleton Borough Council with a steering group composed of all
parties including the Macclesfield Canal Society and chaired by
your webmaster,
Tim Boddington.
|
