Macclesfield (borough)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Borough of Macclesfield
Macclesfield
Shown within Cheshire
Geography
Status: Non-metropolitan district, Borough
Region: North West England
Admin. County: Cheshire
Area:
- Total
Ranked 95th
524.97 km²
Admin. HQ: Macclesfield
ONS code: 13UG
Demographics
Population:
- Total (2005 est.)
- Density
Ranked 110th
150,500
287 / km²
Ethnicity: 98.1% White
Politics
Macclesfield Borough Council
http://www.macclesfield.gov.uk/
Leadership: Leader & Cabinet
Executive: Conservative
MPs: George Osborne, Nicholas Winterton

Macclesfield is a local government district, borough and parliamentary constituency in Cheshire England. It includes the towns of Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Knutsford and its wide area includes the villages and hamlets of Adlington, Disley, Gawsworth, Hurdsfield, Kerridge, Pott Shrigley, Poynton, Prestbury, Rainow, Styal, Sutton and Tytherington.

The district was formed in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. It was a merger of Macclesfield municipal borough, Alderley Edge, Bollington, Knutsford and Wilmslow urban districts, along with the single parish Disley Rural District, Macclesfield Rural District and part of Bucklow Rural District.

[edit] Parishes and settlements in the borough

[edit] Local sites of interest

The borough is home to a large number of historic sites:

  • Tatton Park [1] is the venue for a variety of events: classical concerts; fireworks displays; classic car shows; open air theatre and the Country Show (massed pipes and drums, sheepdog trials, competitions, crafts fair, and dancing).
  • Gawsworth Hall [2] is a half-timbered hall, and possibly once home to Shakespeare's 'Dark Lady'. Concerts are held in the grounds, and each summer there is an open air theatre season, featuring Shakespearean classics and light opera, comedy, jazz, and drama.
  • Capesthorne Hall [5] is a Jacobean-style stately home which plays host to a variety of events.
  • The whole area is dominated by Alderley Edge [6]; a great sandstone enscarpment that overlooks the Cheshire plain. The Edge itself has been mined for copper since at least the time of the Roman invasion, and is the centre of the legend of the Wizard of Alderley, made famous by local author Alan Garner's books The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and The Moon of Gomrath. Nowadays it is said that the Wizard was Merlin, but this is an addition that only appeared over the past thirty years. Tours of the mines are available, but should not be attempted without an experienced guide - the Edge is riddled with mineshafts.
  • Marton Church [7] is a 14th century house of worship which lies on an artificial mound or earthwork.
  • Knutsford [8] is best known as the site where King Canute forded the Lily Stream, and as the home of Victorian author Mrs Elizabeth Gaskill (Middlemarch), and the town puts on a May Day parade and festival every year.
  • Lyme Park [9] is an estate and park located near Disley. The principal feature of the park is Lyme Hall.


Ceremonial county of Cheshire [[Image:|40px]]
Unitary authorities: Halton • Warrington
Boroughs/Districts: City of Chester • Congleton • Crewe and Nantwich • Ellesmere Port and Neston • Macclesfield • Vale Royal
Cities/Towns: Alderley Edge • Alsager • Bollington • Chester • Congleton • Crewe • Ellesmere Port • Frodsham • Knutsford • Lymm • Macclesfield • Middlewich • Nantwich • Neston • Northwich • Poynton • Runcorn • Sandbach • Warrington • Widnes • Wilmslow • Winsford
See also: List of civil parishes in Cheshire



Districts of North West England Flag of England

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Counties with multiple districts: Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside

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