IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Bullfinch Place, CONGLETON, CW12 3UH

Milemarker by the Macclesfield Canal, in parish of Congleton (Congleton District). Inscription reads:- : From / Marple / 22 Miles : : From / Hall Green / 4¼ Miles : Surveyed Milestone Society National ID: MAC-22

According to the canal society's website, these stones resembling grave markers are unique to the Macclesfield and Cromford canals. The Macclesfield's milestones had mostly been buried during the second world war as a precaution against enemy soldiers using them to find their way. All but three stones were dug up and re-erected by volunteers in the 1980s. This one, showing :- From Marple 22 Miles (This Side) From Hall Green 4¼ Mile (Other side)

Looking north-east.

Looking south-west through the arch of Lambert's Lane Bridge, No 77. It is a turnover bridge (roving bridge), cunningly designed to allow the horses to cross from one side of the canal to the other without being unhitched from their boats. It carries Lambert's Lane, which is an unsurfaced bridleway off to the right, but has been incorporated into the housing estate off to the left.

Like bridge 76 (Image), this is another change-over bridge that allowed the horse pulling the narrowboat to change sides without releasing the tow rope. These two cross-over bridges are thought to have allowed through traffic by-pass the Image thus saving them a lot of time. This bridge, however, is slightly different from the other in that the horse path is separated from Lambert's Lane by a buttress. The Macclesfield Canal was one of the last narrow canals to be built and runs approximately 28 miles from Harding's Wood Junction on the Trent and Mersey Canal, along the edge of the western Pennine hills to Marple Junction on the Peak Forest Canal. It was surveyed by Thomas Telford with construction starting in 1826, with William Crosley doing the engineering. The canal opened in November 1831 having cost a total of £320,000.

Engineered so that you don't need to unclip a horse when the tow path changes sides. I believe that these are unique to this area/canal.

Bridge 77 not only carries Lambert's Lane over the Macclesfield Canal but, like Bridge 76 (Image) also allowed the towing horse to change sides without releasing the tow. It is thought that these bridges were installed to allow through traffic to by-pass Congleton Wharf (Image). There was a pair of Swans and a motley collection of waterfowl sharing a patch of unfrozen water. The Macclesfield Canal was one of the last narrow canals to be built and runs approximately 28 miles from Harding's Wood Junction on the Trent and Mersey Canal, along the edge of the western Pennine hills to Marple Junction on the Peak Forest Canal. It was surveyed by Thomas Telford with construction starting in 1826, with William Crosley doing the engineering. The canal opened in November 1831 having cost a total of £320,000.

Bridge No 77 across the Macclesfield Canal is a turnover (or roving or snake) bridge which carries the towpath to the other side of the canal. Horses did not need to be unhitched from the boats when using these cunningly designed (and attractive) bridges.

Bridge No 77 across the Macclesfield Canal is a snake bridge (turnover bridge) which allowed horses on the towpath to cross to the other side of the canal without being unhitched from the boats.