A-Z of Macclesfield

Author: Jean & John Bradburn

Cheshire | Local interest, family history & nostalgia | Local history

Published on 15^th June 2024 by Amberley Publishing in the United Kingdom as part of the 'A-Z' series.

Paperback / softback | 96 pages, 100 Illustrations, unspecified
234mm x 165mm | 0g

The history of Macclesfield goes back to a Saxon settlement once held by Edwin, Earl of Mercia. It became a centre for silk-button making and by the eighteenth century had become one of the world’s largest manufacturers of finished silk. Several imposing mills still remain in the town today. The breadmaker Hovis also built its first mill in Macclesfield by Macclesfield Canal and another landmark building in the town is the furniture store Arighi Bianchi, still trading from its Victorian building influenced by Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace. The cultural history of the town includes the writer Vera Brittain who spent her early years in Macclesfield and the town was also the manufacturing home of the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca for many years.

A-Z of Macclesfield reveals the history behind Macclesfield, its streets and buildings, businesses and the people connected with the town. Alongside the famous historical connections, are unusual characters, tucked away places and unique events that are less well-known. It is fully illustrated with photography and will appeal to all those with an interest in this historic Cheshire town.