Macclesfield

Today's Canals : Upper Peak Forest, Macclesfield

Generally a rather grey day but a very few brighter spells reminded us that this really is still August. We began by walking down into town to top up our food stores. We located the butcher we remembered from a past visit but, alas, they have since stopped making pork pies (too much effort) But we did buy several other items to vary our stock. However, the baker did have Eccles cakes and also some pork pies that proved very tasty at lunch time.

Back at the boat we quickly set off, with only a very short distance left on the Peak Forest before we turned down onto the Macclesfield, passing through the junction gauging stop.

At the edge of Marple, the Goyt Mill stands as a stark reminder of past industry. Built at the start of the 20C, it was the last cotton mill to be built in this area. Unusually, it only did yarn spinning and sent its output to others for weaving. Yarn production ended in 1960. See here for pictures of the mill in action.

We had a discussion about our batteries. Our daily record keeping indicates that over the past week or so, they have been showing increasing signs of coming to the end of their useful life. The trigger was that for the second morning in a few days, we awoke with only lukewarm water as the voltage was not enough to start up the heater. So we decided to stop at Braidbar to see if they could help with their replacement - as a result we just trundled on as quickly as we could, although this is not the deepest of canals.  

Although a pretty canal - plenty of vegetation - there is little variation - bridge after bridge - and milestone after milestone.

The North Cheshire Cruising Club have their main mooring in an old arm at High Lane - under this towpath bridge.

Not long after, the canal crosses on an embankment, a railway line between Manchester and Buxton - the line we travelled on a couple of days ago. We tried to take a photo to show the track but even in zoom it is hard to make out! Squint and you'll see it.

The milestones on the Macc have a characteristic design but since they were inscribed into sandstone, not all of them are easy to read now.

We last saw this eclectic boat five years ago when it was moored at New Mills, It seems to have found a new home here at Poynton.

Bailey's Trading Post at Lord Vernon's Wharf (home to Braidbar) were not able directly to help with the batteries but kindly made a couple of calls and suggested that we would find what we needed at Macclesfield Chandlery. After a stop  for water close by - and time for Mike to assemble his lunch - we set off again.

Christine checked with Macclesfield and it seems that they are a very likely place to help but they do close at 5. So we set off as soon as possible, lunch on the go.

Just after the next bridge the canal widens out with a series of shallow lagoons to the side. These were the result of subsidence cause by the local mine, which was served by the arm, now Lord Vernon's Wharf.

Our maps label this property as Rams Clough Cottage but we could find out very little about it other than at one time it was home to the director of a company called Fastener Design and Development Limited.

We now arrived into Bollington. The first mill building, Clarence Mill, now has the top two floors as apartments with various other business down below, including a local radio station. Originally it was a cotton spinning mill, opened in 1834.

The canal then crosses a deep valley on an embankment - the cause of several long closures in recent times as water has leaked out. Thankfully we made it through today.

Then same family that built Clarence Mill later built Adelphi, the other side of the valley. The name comes from the Greek word meaning brothers as the father built it for his two sons to run! It started by producing cotton but quickly went over to silk. During the Second World War it produced parachute material and later is was bought by a producer of webbing. It ceased mill operations in the 1980s.

Just south of Bollington we passed Kerridge Dry Dock. In 2016 it was here that we had the prop of Take Five replaced (see) after a collision with a vandalised towpath and large stones were pushed into the water. It seems that the elderly owner has now moved on as in 2021 it was acquired by a GP from Barlaston.

As we came through Chapel-en-le-Frith Road at the start of Macclesfield, we suddenly found ourselves moving at a snail's pace. At one stage we wondered if we had another catch on the prop like yesterday but a boater coming the other way complained about how shallow this section is.

Eventually, we speeded up somewhat in time to moor close to Freedom Boats. alas the pontoons were all occupied and we had been advised then to try just under the next bridge. Although this is still a designated Visitor Mooring (1 night only) it is clearly still a cause of conflict with the local residents (or at least one who has campaigned against the canal and boaters ever since he came here) As a result, no running of engines whilst moored - so we may be unshowered tonight and in the morning. 

After we moored - first time using the gangplank this year - Mike walked around to the boatyard and confirmed details with Kev. Just as well as there had been a slight miscommunication and he had ordered the wrong capacity - ours are slightly larger (120Ah) than the most common ones (110Ah). He still expects to sort us out tomorrow!

As this blog was being completed, the sky cleared and there was a good sunset - what will tomorrow be like?

11.1 Miles - 0 Locks