An old world charm makes ‘Macc’ a money spinner A former life as a leading silk town has left Macclesfield with a rich property heritage. Local estate agent Kim Syers tells the story of the town’s charm.

The borough of Macclesfield includes some of the wealthiest areas, not just in Cheshire, but in the country. If you want to live within 10 to 15 miles of glamorous Prestbury and Alderley Edge but can't

afford the property prices, then the town of Macclesfield is worth a look.

Situated on the edge of the Peak District National Park and just 20 miles from Manchester,

Macclesfield is a typical middle-England market town in a rare northern location. The steep, cobbled

streets allow tantalising glimpses of both the peaks of Derbyshire and the plains of Cheshire as you browse shops like Marks and Spencer's with time to stop off at one of the continental cafes for a

cappuccino.

Seventeen miles from Manchester International airport and two hours from London on a non-stop

Virgin train, Macclesfield is the acceptable face of 'up north', managing to be both comfortably middle class and with an ever so slightly 'rough around the edges' feel that is inevitable in a town

that has always worked for its living.

In 1743 local entrepreneur, Charles Roe built his first water-powered mill in Macclesfield and within

a decade the town had become the nation's main centre for silk production, the area's mild climate

seemingly made for growing the mulberry bush. During its peak, most of the silk covered buttons in England would have been made by workers in Macclesfield with the countless Georgian and

Victorian buildings in the town centre reflecting this rich heritage.

Today, the affectionately nicknamed ‘Macc’ is still a thriving centre for engineers, scientists and

business people. The town is home to Astra Zeneca, which runs the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing research and development facility in the world. And perhaps partly to meet the needs

of its wealthy workforce, the council has just approved plans for a multi-million pound redevelopment

with proposals for a cinema, community arts centre and Waitrose listed as possible additions to its retail centre. Let's hope there'll still be room for the individual boutiques of Chestergate as well as

the three times a week outdoor market which makes this town not feel like ‘any other town’.

Today, approximately 4,000 people live in the centre of Macclesfield, more than in most other towns

this size. 28.4 per cent are graduate professionals, compared to the national average of 19.4 per cent. According to the council's own survey, 98 per cent of residents like living in the borough, with

93 per cent describing their life as 'good'.

Unofficially, though, there are some who say the town of Macclesfield is perfect only for the under

17s and over 40s, due to the number of gyms, skate parks and cheap-and-cheerful nightclubs that

have sprung up alongside craft and book shops. But surely any town that complains there is too much fun for teenagers is worth a visit? And as for those youths - a lot of the town centre is

pedestrianised, which makes it easier for those too young to drive to get around easily – and

exuberantly - from shop to shop. In that sense it's the same as any other town in England on a Saturday afternoon, except, in Macclesfield's case, it is set against a luscious landscape of green

hills and rolling fields.