Macclesfield Canal stone fence posts south of Bridge No. 72

Macclesfield Canal stone fence posts south of Bridge No. 72, Congleston, Cheshire

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Overview

Canal fence posts, c1840, erected alongside the Macclesfield Canal. Local sandstone.
Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1404538
Date first listed:
05-Apr-2013
List Entry Name:
Macclesfield Canal stone fence posts south of Bridge No. 72
Statutory Address:
Macclesfield Canal stone fence posts south of Bridge No. 72, Congleston, Cheshire
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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1404538
Date first listed:
05-Apr-2013
List Entry Name:
Macclesfield Canal stone fence posts south of Bridge No. 72
Statutory Address 1:
Macclesfield Canal stone fence posts south of Bridge No. 72, Congleston, Cheshire

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
Macclesfield Canal stone fence posts south of Bridge No. 72, Congleston, Cheshire

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
Cheshire East (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Congleton
National Grid Reference:
SJ8798462443

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

The Macclesfield Canal fence posts on the tow path south of bridge no.72 are listed 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.72, the Biddulph Valley Aqueduct, and a milestone at SJ 8782 6233.

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 south of bridge no.72 are believed to date to c1840, and originally incorporated removable wooden rails/poles that enabled spoil to be tipped down the embankment.

Details

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 approximately between SJ8803362509 and SJ8793762377. At these points the canal is located on a high embankment over Dane-in-Shaw Brook opposite the Dane-in-Shaw railway viaduct.

DESCRIPTION: The fence posts, of which 38 are visible, 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.

Sources

Books and journals
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Cheshire, (2011)

Websites
The Macclesfield Canal, accessed from http://www.macclesfieldcanal.org.uk

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Macclesfield Canal stone fence posts south of Bridge No. 72

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 25-Jun-2026 at 18:57:43.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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