Summary

Canal fence posts, c1840, erected alongside the Macclesfield Canal. Local sandstone.

Description

Canal fence posts, c1840, erected alongside the Macclesfield Canal. Local sandstone

LOCATION: The fence posts are located along the outside edge of the tow path on the north-west side of the Macclesfield Canal, on a raised embankment section of the canal approximately midway between bridge no.20 and bridge no.19.

DESCRIPTION: The fence posts, of which 73 are visible amongst heavily overgrown vegetation, are constructed of local sandstone and are formed of roughly-hewn, tapered slabs. The posts are approximately 1-1.5 metres high and are each pierced by two railing slots. A small number of the posts are damaged at the top, but most are intact. The fence posts are evenly spaced, although some in the line are missing, and many are now inter-linked by barbed wire.

History

The Macclesfield Canal was approved by an Act of Parliament in April 1826 and was one of the last narrow canals to be built. The route of the canal was surveyed by Thomas Telford and the engineer was William Crosley. The canal was constructed at a cost of £320,000 and opened on 9 November 1831.

The canal fence posts north of bridge no.20 are believed to date to c1840 (one of the posts bears this date) and originally incorporated removable wooden rails/poles that enabled spoil to be tipped down the embankment. The rails were later replaced by redundant mine cables from a local coal mine, and most recently by barbed wire.

Reasons for Listing

The Macclesfield Canal fence posts north of bridge no.20 are designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Historic interest: they are important survivals illustrating the history and use of the Macclesfield Canal in the early-mid C19;

* Intactness: the fence posts are believed to survive in their original location and are largely intact;

* Group value: they have group value with other nearby Grade II listed structures along the canal, including bridge no.19 and bridge no.20.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26675686

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House