Macclesfield, Market town in Cheshire East, England
Macclesfield is a market town in Cheshire East county in northwest England, halfway between the uplands of the Peak District and the flat farmland of the Cheshire Plain. The River Bollin flows through the center and divides the town into an older southern section and a newer northern area.
King Edward I granted the settlement market rights in 1261, drawing traders and craftsmen. In the 18th century, the town shifted to a silk production center with mills and dyeworks along the river.
The name comes from Old English words meaning 'Michael's field', referring to a medieval church site. The Sunday markets and shops in the center still follow the old trading pattern with narrow lanes and sandstone fronts that once housed weaving workshops.
The railway station links the town to Manchester Piccadilly in 25 minutes and London Euston in under two hours by direct trains. Footpaths lead from the station to the town center in about ten minutes, and most points of interest sit close together.
The forest area outside the town holds four reservoirs that supply drinking water and also provide walking trails and mountain bike routes. Evergreen trees planted in the 20th century grow along the shores to stabilize the soil.
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