“And thou, O wall, O sweet, O lovely wall”*

A letter to the editor

S writes:

Recently this site drew attention to a plan to knock down an historic wall and put up three garages.

Oh dear!  This trashing of heritage is a frequent occurrence nowadays. Almost daily we hear of some building in peril (King’s School  Memorial Cricket Pavilion), or some open space to be built upon {land at Broken Cross), or some green belt to be rubbed out (countless examples). All over our historic and beautiful area things are being Removed for profit. 

There is a word – “deracinated” -which means “detachment from roots”. This is a woeful state to be in. If we remove pieces of our history and replace them with unimaginative, formula buildings, our town looks the same, and is the same, as any other. No roots for us to grasp.

However, Good News Follows! In the case of this particular wall, which is on Brocklehurst Avenue, just where it emerges onto Hurdsfield Road, the planning application for the prosaic garages has been withdrawn, and so the wall is saved from demolition. Amazing!

This wall, a thorough piece of 19th century work, is none other than part of a longer wall which must have run the length of Brocklehurst Avenue when it was the carriage drive to Hurdsfield House, home of the illustrious Brocklehurst family, well known in our town’s history for their involvement in the silk business. 

When you stand by this noble wall, opposite the former Gatehouse, it is not difficult to imagine the Brocklehurst carriages sweeping along to the House, which at that time was a mansion in extensive grounds. A family of consequence. A wall representing pride and achievement.

Here is an invaluable and irreplaceable link to our Macclesfield past. Long may this lovely wall continue to stand as a reminder of our heritage.

*”And thou, O wall, O sweet, O lovely wall”…. William Shakespeare