Conservation Area: Town Centre (Macclesfield) Conservation Area (003)

Macclesfield is the largest town in north Cheshire and developed principally in the late 18th and 19th century as a silk mill town. However, the Town Centre Conservation Area covers the core of a much earlier medieval settlement, including a 13th century church (St Michael’s) and a market place. Whilst the character of this part of Macclesfield is predominantly Georgian, some earlier buildings remain, such as the 17th century stone cottages in Chester Road, but often they have been refaced and now lie hidden behind brick facades. The conservation area is notable for its hilly location, overlooking the River Bollin, which provides some particularly good views to the Pennine hills to the east. The town itself is based on the Market Place and three principal streets: Chestergate, Jordangate, and Church Street, each of which has a distinctive character. The most important buildings are St Michael’s Church and the early 19th century Town Hall, built in a rather severe Greek Revival style. As the majority of the silk mills were located further to the south, there are few reminders of the industry in this part of Macclesfield apart from an early 19th century mill complex off King Edward Street and the remains of some silk weavers’ cottages in Short Street, off Waters Green. Modern development has impinged on the immediate area around these historic streets, which have regrettably lost most of their early boundaries and back gardens. However, the street frontages are more complete with impressive and continuous groups of listed buildings in all three main streets. The Macclesfield Town Centre Conservation Area can be divided into three character areas, according to the topography of the land, the function of the buildings, and their styles and ages. These areas are: 1) Waters Green and Church Street 2) Market Place, the eastern end of Chestergate, King Edward Street and Jordangate 3) Western end of Chestergate