Ramsdell Hall railings

One of the features familiar to those who cruise the Macclesfield Canal will be the ornamental railings by Ramsdell Hall about a mile north of Hall Green Stop Lock and close to Scholar Green. When William Crosley Jr built the canal in the late 1820s he was able to save about 1½ miles on Telford’s surveyed line of about 29 miles in total and this is one such example. The plan with the 1825 Act envisaged a line to the east of the Hall between bridges 86 and 87 and to include a short tunnel, apparently to keep the canal out of sight of the Hall. It must be an indication of Crosley’s skill as a negotiator, as well as an engineer, that he managed to keep to a more direct line to the west, in front of the Hall, although he obviously constructed ornamental railings beside the towpath to compensate the owners.

Since the opening of the canal in 1831, the 500 yards of railings have been a decided attraction on the canal, as the canal and towpath appear to form a verandah at the edge of the Hall’s grounds. On one side of the canal are the lawns leading back to the Hall and on the other beyond the railings stretches the Cheshire Plain to Jodrell Bank and the Welsh Hills. Unfortunately the condition of the railings has deteriorated over the years due to neglect. The neighbouring vegetation has entwined itself around them and lifted the supporting wall, both of which have resulted in damage and loss of posts and railings and a partial collapse of the wall.

It has long been an ambition of The Macclesfield Canal Society to see the railings restored, and the whole of the canal is now protected by conservation areas with the local councils. Late last year the Society joined with the boroughs of Congleton and Macclesfield, British Waterways and English Heritage in promoting a three-year Partnership Scheme for the Canal Conservation Areas, in which the restoration of the railings will be a key project. Working parties organised by the Society have already cleared vegetation around the railings and wall to enable a survey and estimate to be made. The Society is extremely grateful for the support provided by Congleton Borough Council and British Waterways, and applications for grants to rebuild the stone wall and replace the damaged railings are now in hand. Already there are enthusiastic comments from local towpath-walkers and passing cruisers. If the applications are successful it is possible that visitors to the canal could see work underway this summer (2006).

Malcolm Bower, Secretary to the Macclesfield Canal Society