Though it is hard to pronounce and spell, the town of Macclesfield is a lovely and idyllic town that offers some of the most scenic pleasure within the county of Cheshire. Most experts agree that the town earned its moniker as a translation from the original "Michael's Field". This Michael would of course be none other than the famed Christian Saint Michael and, to be sure, the famed St. Michael's Cathedral that stands as the cornerstone of the town has been the site of countless pilgrimages ever since its inception in the early 11th Century.
Though it grew up as a rather small town and even today only boasts a population of forty thousand, Macclesfield is by no means a backwards hamlet filled with rubes. On the contrary, the town boasts one of the most impressive railways in the surrounding area and the unemployment rate stays rather low in comparison to other parts of Cheshire. All the same, Macclesfield has earned the ire of some of its neighbors and the mainstream media and a particularly hurtful article in The Times came out in 2004 that gave Macclesfield the dubious honor of being the "most uncultured town in Britain". This wasn't exactly slander, though, considering the fact that at the time the town had few to none art galleries, museums, concert halls, and similar artistic edifices. Fortunately, the people of Macclesfield responded to this criticism with their typical poise and grace and have set about creating galleries and theaters to bring a little more respect to the town.
The funny thing about Macclesfield, though, is that anybody living in the town would disagree completely with the idea that there is no culture in their town. In truth, Macclesfield is home to a wide array of spectacular entertainment that transcends age and genre. John Mayall, one of the greatest blues musicians to live, grew up right in Macclesfield as did Ian Curtis of Joy Division. The story of the latter is a bit drearier but the fact remains that such talent couldn't have been produced by a city devoid of culture. The Macclesfield Chess Club, founded in the 1880s, is one of the oldest chess clubs in the nation as well as one of the most esteemed.
The entertainment industry certainly doesn't find Macclesfield dull, as is evidenced by the fact that multiple film studios that have shot movies in town. As far back as 1947 Macclesfield was being featured in movies like "So Well Remembered" and only two years ago a biopic known as "Control" was shot in the streets of the classic burg. The best evidence of the joy felt in Macclesfield, though, is found in each and every citizen of the town. In a recent nationwide survey, one that ranked towns based on their happiness, Macclesfield placed fifth. Perhaps the old adage about not knowing a place until you've lived in it rings true; Macclesfield may not have as many stadiums and museums as London but it most definitely provides the pleasure that these attractions evoke.
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