MP celebrates Poynton heritage

Member of Parliament for Macclesfield, David Rutley, donned his hiking boots, when he recently went on a Poynton Heritage Walk.

David went on the specially designed walk with local history expert, David Kitching, on a two hour hike around the area, to learn more about Poynton’s rich industrial heritage.

The walk has been devised by Poynton Town Council, offering local residents and tourists alike the opportunity to find out more about the history of the area, and in particular, the rich coalmining heritage which the village celebrates. Not all visitors realise that Poynton once had the largest coalfield in Cheshire, with 74 pits, employing more than 1,000 people in its heyday. Although coalmining ceased in 1935, there remain many clues to this former industry and the walk is designed to provide a glimpse into Poynton’s fascinating industrial past.

The Council has also created a leaflet to guide walkers along the route, which is available from Poynton Civic Hall for 50p, or £3 for a set of eight.

Speaking following the walk, David said, “It is always good to get out into the open air, but it was particularly interesting to learn more about the area’s great mining heritage. This is a really engaging way of bringing the past to life, and I would like to thank David for showing me around the route, and Poynton Town Council for creating this important initiative. I would strongly encourage more local residents and visitors to get active outdoors, and learn about Poynton’s rich local heritage.”