Poole Aqueduct to Congleton Wharf

The gales had passed and the chances of rain were low so after five days at Poole Aqueduct moorings we took the chance to move on. Vicky wasn't well so lay on the dinette bench with the dogs while Will single handed.

We've had a bit of time to research the Macclesfield and have found it's history interesting. It is one of Britain's narrow canals for boats no wider than 7ft. A latecomer to the water haulage scene, it was completed in 1824, for the purpose of connecting the Trent and Mersey to the Peak Forest Canal at Marple, 26.25 miles to the north.

Initially surveyed by the famous Thomas Telford, it's creation fell to the less renowned engineer William Crosley. It is a typical cut and fill construction; the route takes as straight a course as possible by cutting through hills and building up embankments to keep the elevation level. Many of the raised stretches provide good views over the surrounding countryside and there are some very attractive looking aqueducts over valleys as well as tall bridges spanning the cuttings. Much of the course is rural, but it does skirt via the east sides of Congleton and of Macclesfield.

Due to historical worries over tolls, the well established Trent and Mersey Canal Company actually built the first 1.5 miles of the route from Hardings Wood Junction on its mainline, to an area called Hall Green. Here a stop lock with a rise of 1 foot was installed, along with two keeper's cottages, one built by the Trent and Mersey and the other by Macclesfield Canal Company, one of stone and one of brick. This is formally known as the 'Hall Green Branch', although nowadays it is considered part of the Macc.

Will worked Rainboat through the lock and docked to fill with water, before cruising onwards. From this point there is a nine mile reprieve from the seemingly endless locks.

Will enjoyed the countryside views and curiosities such as the roving 'Snake Bridges' and the milestones indicating distances between Hall Green Stop Lock and Marple (removed during WWII for fear of helping the enemy but since lovingly restored and reinstated by Macclesfield Canal Society).

The waterway widened at Congleton Wharf and this is where we chose to moor; directly opposite the original Macclesfield Canal Company Wharf building. Since converted to apartments, this was the site were Congleton's supplies and wares would have been loaded and unloaded. It mainly served the nearby cotton mill but would have traded in silk, coal, quarried stone and later functioned as a canal / rail interchange.Read more