Naming ‘Thistledowns’: The History of Macclesfield Silk

A quaint market town, lying below the Western edges of the Peak District, Macclesfield was once the centre of the English silk weaving industry. Commonly referred to as the ‘Silk Town’, textile heritage is laced into the urban fabric of this popular Cheshire community.

The History of Macclesfield Silk

Beginning on a micro-scale in locals’ homes, Macclesfield was originally known for button manufacture.

At first, the buttons were covered in linen but the import of luxury Spanish silk buttons, in Tudor times, began to alter tastes. The local Maxonians* soon followed suite to satisfy market demand. Initial hand-loom weaving in ‘garret houses’ was replaced with a much more sophisticated operation in multi-storey mills.

Luckily, the local geography provided a perfect climate to support silk production.

An abundance of holly trees (still found today in the Macclesfield forest) supplied hard wood branches which were perfect for cutting up into robust circular discs to craft the button.

Additionally, a ready supply of fast flowing water from the River Bollin provided energy for water wheels which powered the mill machinery. The clarity and cleanliness of this river water, was also essential in the dyeing process of the fabric.

The first silk throwing mill was founded in Macclesfield in 1743 and as time went on, the industry became a major employer and an integral component to the towns economic growth. By the mid-18 th century, there were 70 mills in the town and Macclesfield was weaving broadsheet silk fabric, considered to be of the finest quality and holding a worldwide reputation!

Modern Heritage and Culture

The heritage of silk manufacture is evident today in the remains of disused textile mills, like Paradise Mill; a lasting relic of a thriving industry which declined in 1825 when the demand for home produced silk dwindled.

Macclesfield Silk Museum exists today to educate on how silk shaped the town over 300 years and Adamley Textiles are one of the only surviving working mills in Macclesfield. A silk printers with headquarters just outside the historic town, Adamley have been in leader in luxury printed fabrics for more than 50 years, still using peak district water sources to craft their products. Take our word for it...their pieces are really stunning!

Also host to a variety of independent shops, butchers, tasty bakeries and lively bars, Macclesfield has grown into a vibrant Cheshire town with plenty of modern amenities.

Thistledowns

Our upcoming development has been named to capture the qualities of Macclesfield which we think define its varied cultural offering.

‘Thistledowns’ describes the soft feathery material of a thistle’s seed head, which can be likened to the smooth luxurious textures of silk fabric. The flower is readily found in the rugged moorlands, on the western edge of the Peak district which borders the town.

We think this is the perfect name for our new housing development, capturing the character of Macclesfield: A bustling modern town that references its industrial heritage, with easy proximity to wild natural landscapes for country hikes.