Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple Railway
Encyclopedia
The Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple Railway (MB&MR) was a railway line, 16 km long, linking Macclesfield
with Marple
in east Cheshire
, England
, opened in 1869 by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway
(MS&LR) and the North Staffordshire Railway
(NSR), as a part of an alternative link between Manchester
and places south of Macclesfield. The line closed in 1970 and its route is now a trail used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
(L&NWR), which insisted on any NSR traffic going via Crewe
, thus ensuring a higher L&NWR mileage and charges.
In 1863 a Macclesfield businessman, Thomas Oliver, promoted a scheme for a local line from Macclesfield via Bollington
to Marple where it would connect with MS&LR. The line was hoped to revive Bollington's cotton industry, carry the stone from quarries in Kerridge
, and serve the collieries around Poynton
.
The MS&LR seized on this scheme, seeing in the line another outlet for the start of a possible independent extension to London.
The line was authorised in 1864, with the MS&LR and NSR empowered to subscribe £80,000 each for its construction, and to operate and maintain it when open.
The L&NWR, surprised by the success of the MB&MR, came to an amicable traffic agreement with the NSR thus the original purpose and urgency of the line, the NSR's independent route to Manchester, was lost.
In these circumstances, and in the general trade depression of the mid-1860s, the construction was very slow. The single-track line opened on 2 August 1869 for passengers only, goods traffic started on 1 March 1870 and in 1871 the line was doubled throughout.
, High Lane, Higher Poyton, Bollington and Macclesfield
. In 1879 a new station was opened at Middlewood (later renamed Middlewood High Level) and remained in use until 1960.
Macclesfield
Macclesfield is a market town within the unitary authority of Cheshire East, the county palatine of Chester, also known as the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The population of the Macclesfield urban sub-area at the time of the 2001 census was 50,688...
with Marple
Marple, Greater Manchester
Marple is a small town within the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Goyt southeast of Stockport.Historically part of Cheshire, Marple has a population of 23,480 .-Toponymy:...
in east Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, opened in 1869 by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway
Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway
The Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway was formed by amalgamation in 1847. The MS&LR changed its name to the Great Central Railway in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension.-Origin:...
(MS&LR) and the North Staffordshire Railway
North Staffordshire Railway
The North Staffordshire Railway was a British railway company formed in 1845 to promote a number of lines in the Staffordshire Potteries and surrounding areas in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Shropshire....
(NSR), as a part of an alternative link between Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and places south of Macclesfield. The line closed in 1970 and its route is now a trail used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
History
In 1840s and 1850s NSR was trying to find a route from Macclesfield to Manchester independent of the London and North Western RailwayLondon and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
(L&NWR), which insisted on any NSR traffic going via Crewe
Crewe railway station
Crewe railway station was completed in 1837 and is one of the most historic railway stations in the world. Built in fields near to Crewe Hall, it originally served the village of Crewe with a population of just 70 residents...
, thus ensuring a higher L&NWR mileage and charges.
In 1863 a Macclesfield businessman, Thomas Oliver, promoted a scheme for a local line from Macclesfield via Bollington
Bollington
Bollington is a small rural town and civil parish in the county of Cheshire, , England, in the unitary authority of Cheshire East. It is located east of Prestbury. In the Middle Ages it was part of the Earl of Chester's manor of Macclesfield., and the ancient parish of Prestbury...
to Marple where it would connect with MS&LR. The line was hoped to revive Bollington's cotton industry, carry the stone from quarries in Kerridge
Kerridge
Kerridge is a village in Cheshire, England, part of the parish of Bollington. Kerridge borders the neighbouring parish of Rainow.It gives its name to Kerridge Ridge – one of the western foothills of the Pennines – by which it stands. It is overlooked by the local landmark of White Nancy...
, and serve the collieries around Poynton
Poynton
Poynton is a town within the civil parish of Poynton-with-Worth, and the unitary authority area of Cheshire East, England. For ceremonial purposes it is part of the county of Cheshire. Poynton is located at the eastern most fringe of the Cheshire Plain, north of Macclesfield, south of Stockport...
.
The MS&LR seized on this scheme, seeing in the line another outlet for the start of a possible independent extension to London.
The line was authorised in 1864, with the MS&LR and NSR empowered to subscribe £80,000 each for its construction, and to operate and maintain it when open.
The L&NWR, surprised by the success of the MB&MR, came to an amicable traffic agreement with the NSR thus the original purpose and urgency of the line, the NSR's independent route to Manchester, was lost.
In these circumstances, and in the general trade depression of the mid-1860s, the construction was very slow. The single-track line opened on 2 August 1869 for passengers only, goods traffic started on 1 March 1870 and in 1871 the line was doubled throughout.
Stations
Initially there were five stations on the line: Marple (Rose Hill)Rose Hill Marple railway station
Rose Hill Marple railway station is one of two stations serving Marple, in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, the other being Marple railway station....
, High Lane, Higher Poyton, Bollington and Macclesfield
Macclesfield railway station
Macclesfield railway station is a main line station serving the Cheshire town of Macclesfield. It lies on the Stafford to Manchester branch of the West Coast Main Line, in the United Kingdom....
. In 1879 a new station was opened at Middlewood (later renamed Middlewood High Level) and remained in use until 1960.