Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/748

MACCLESFIELD FOREST. 740 HACHAE, NEW. centre of an extensive trade in wrought buttons of mohair twist and silk ; and even a century ago, as an encouragement to this trade, an Act was passed to prevent the wearing of buttons covered with the same stuff as the garment was made of ; but the attempt to enforce this Act brought into use horn and metal buttons. This particular manufacture has wholly given way, but Macclesfield may now be reckoned as the principal seat in England of the silk, satin, and velvet trade. The weaving of silk was introduced here in 1787, and numerous mills have been erected in all parts of the town. The oldest silk-mill is in Park-green, and the street leading from thence to the market-place is called Hill-street in consequence. The manufacture of cotton used also to be carried on, but has quite dis- appeared. Gimps, fringes, and other silk trimmings, are made in large quantities. There are also a few makers of engines, several dye works, foundries, pot- teries, and breweries ; and small wares are extensively made. The Macclesfield canal connects this town with Manchester, and the Grand Trunk canal with London, but the railway has almost superseded this mode of transit. The living is a perpet. cur. * in the archdeac. and dioc. of Chester, val. 201, in the patron, of Simeon's Trustees. It was once held by Watson, author of the "History of Halifax." The church, which is dedicated to St. Michael, was founded in 1279 by Queen Eleanor, but was almost entirely rebuilt in 1740. It has a tower with a peal of ten bells, and two mortuary chapels, one of Archbishop Savage, a native of Maccles- field, who died in 1508, and the other of the Leghs, of Lyme, who were at Agincourt and Cressy. There are five other churches in different parts of the town, the livings of which vary in value from GG to 250. Christ Church, a proprietary church under the old church, was built in 1775, and has sittings for 1,205 persons. It contains an organ upon which the great Handel often played, and a pulpit in which John Wesley preached. St. Paul's, Hallefields, was not completed until 1844, and cost about 5,500. It can be seen from almost any part of the town. St. Peter's, Windmill-street, was built in 1848, at a cost of some 3,000, with sittings for 600 persons. St. George's, High-street, erected by Dissenters in 1822, but since placed under episcopal authority, accommodates about 1,700 persons, and cost about ,6,500; and Trinity Church, Hurdsfield, was erected in 1839, at a cost of 2,500, with 800 sittings. Besides these churches there are places of worship for the Independents, Wesleyans, Primitive, New Connexion, and Association Methodists, Baptists, Roman Catholics, and Mormonites. The free grammar school of King Edward VI., founded in 1502 by Sir John Percyvale, Lord Mayor of London, and a native of Macclesfield, was originally endowed with 10 per annum. Its income now exceeds 1500 per annum, and it is considered one of the first schools in England. The present schoolhouse is of stone, and was built in 1856 at a cost of about 3,000. There is also a modern free school, built in the Elizabethan style in 1840 for about 2,500, and supported out of the surplus funds, of which not more than 500 per annum are ever to be ex- pended on the modern school. The Sunday-school is one of the handsomest buildings of the town ; and its principal room, which will hold 2,000 persons, is fitted with gal- leries, and an organ. It was completed in 1813, at a cost of nearly 6,000, and contains a library of 1,200 volumes. There are besides St. Michael's National school, Christ Church National school, St. Paul's, St. Peter's, St. George's, and some thirty others. Macclesfield publishe.-; i'k&MacclesfieldChronicle, Courier, andlfW,and gives the title of earl to the Parkers. Market days are Tuesday and Saturday. Fairs for cattle, cloth, hardware, wool, &c. are held on the 6th May, 22nd June, llth July, and llth November. The races take place in October. MACCLESFIELD FOREST, a tnshp. and chplry. in the par. of Prestbury, and hund. of Macclesfield, co. palatine of Chester, 4 miles E. of Macelesfield, its post town. This is the chief of several townships which formed part of the ancient royal forest of Macclesfield. The village is a small straggling place. The living is a cur.* in the dioc. of Chester, val. 120. The church is a small edifice, rebuilt about 1824 on the site of the old one. There are small charities of about 2 10s. per annum, also a parochial school. The Earl of Derby is lord of the manor and seneschal of the forest. MACDARA ISLAND, off the coast of Galway, Ire- land, 9 miles N.W. of Gorumna Island. It is about 1J mile in circumference. MACDUFF, a seaport town and burgh of barony, in the par. of Gamrie, co. Banff, Scotland. It is situated about 1 mile E. of the town of Banff, on the opposite side of the river Doveran, and on the declivity of a hill descending towards the sea-shore. It is included in the parliamentary boundaries of Band' burgh, and both towns are connected by a bridge of seven arches. It has a station on the North of Scotland railway. The town has risen since the early part of the 18th century from being a small fishing village to a place of respectable size and trade. It is built on the property of the Earl of Fife, whose seat lies in the neighbourhood, and to whoso family it has been chiefly indebted for its modern improvements and prosperity. Through the influence of James, Earl of Fife, it was created a burgh of barony by George III. in 1783, when its name was altered from Down to its present appellation, and it has from that period increased rapidly in extent and conse- quence. The houses are well built, and the streets regularly planned. There is a chapel-of-ease, a Free church, several schools, and a public library. There is a town-house and two branch banking establishments, viz. the Union Bank and the North of Scotland Bank. The harbour, the property of the Earl of Fife, is con- sidered the best in the Moray Frith, and has more traffic than that of Banff, the harbour dues being lower, and the accommodation better than the harbour of that town. As a station for the herring fishery it is exceedingly valuable, a greater supply of that fish being obtained and shipped from this port than from any other between Fraserburgh and Cromarty. The chief exports are, grain, salmon, cod, cattle, pork, and excellent granite ; the imports are, hemp, flax, timber, iron, lime, coals, and colonial produce. Several vessels trade with London and the Baltic. The town is governed by a provost, bailies, and council, and it has a weekly market on Tuesday. MACDUFF'S CASTLE, two fortresses of this name, one at Culross and the other at Wemyss, co. Fife, Scot- land; and at Kilconquhar in the same county are Macduft's Cave and Cross. MACEFEN, a tnshp. in the par. of Malpas, higher div. of the hund. of Broxton, co. palatine of Chester, 2 miles E. of the town of Malpas. Lord Kenyon is lord of the manor and sole proprietor. MACETOWN, a par. in the bar. of Skreen, co. Meath, prov. of Leinster, Ireland, 4 miles N.N.E. of Dun- shaughlin, its post town. It is about 2 miles in li ngth, and the same in breadth. The soil is generally of medium quality, and the road from Dunshaughlin to Duleek traverses the interior. The living is a perpet. cur. in the dioc. of Meath, val. with Kilmessan, 316, in the patron, of the crown and the Marquis of Drogheda. Ruins of an ancient castle are here. MACFIN, a vil. in the bar. of Coleraine, co. Antrim, Ireland, 4 miles from Coleraine. It is a station on the Belfast and Northern Counties railway. MACGILLYCUDDY'S REEKS, a group of moun- tains in the bar. of Dunkerrin, co. Kerry, pmv. of Munster, Ireland, 6 miles W.S.W. of Killarncy. They chiefly consist of slate, and are the loftiest summits in Ireland. Carn Tual, the highest, is 3,404 feet above sea- level. The purple mountains and Tooniies, with the pass of Dunloe, are among the group. MACHAIG, a loch in co. Perth, Scotland. It lies under Uaighmore Hill, and is about 2J miles in circum- MACHANY WATER, a trout stream j .lining the river Earn at Kinkel Bridge, co. Perth, Scotland. MACIIAR, NEW, a par. in the Aberdeen district of 01