We love seeing relatives at Christmas, but sometimes it is hard to get a conversation going.

Why not fill in the silence with one of these super six facts about Macclesfield?

1. A Decking Good Fact!

Macclesfield may be 40 miles from the nearest coastline, but that didn't stop the first patent for the deckchair being made in our town.

In 1886, John Thomas Moore (1864-1929) took out a patent for adjustable and portable folding chairs in and started manufacturing them in Macclesfield.

He started manufacturing his wood and fabric furniture the following year, and even later supplied 600 deck chairs to the SS Titanic ahead of the ship's ill-fated voyage in 1912.

Sadly, he wasn't the world's first as an American had beaten him to the punch 13 years prior.

Our deckchair picture was supplied by https://www.cheapsurfgear.com/collections/beach-stuff-sale

2. The final word from Priest

Footballer Christoper Priest spent five years at defunct club Macclesfield Town FC. The midfielder scored 13 goals in 150 appearances from July 1999 to May 2004.

Just five months into his tenure with the Silkmen, the Englishmen scored the final Football League goal of the 20th Century on 28 December 1999.

It was a great day for Priest, as he actually scored a brace that day. The Silkmen won 2-0, and 2,836 saw the milestone goal.

The final goal of the 2nd millennium AD came at the 90th minute at the Moss Rose against Carlisle United, meaning both our town and old football club also hold the honour of hosting the century and millenia's last Football League goal.

3. Abandoned Treacle Market Origins

It may have been over 137 months ago, but some of you may remember this fact.

While it is not used for it now, the Treacle Market actually started off by letting vendors trade at the Waters Green carpark.

The Treacle Market Started as a handful of stalls in July 2010 at two original sites - Waters Green carpark and Market Place.

There had been a successful Farmers market in Waters Green at Barnaby festival the month before, which led to the inception of the event we all know and love.

Now just a carpark for Treacle customers, the market has since expanded to Mill Street, Chestergate, Castle Street, Unicorn Gateway, and Exchange Street.

4. Macclesfield = Alton Towers?

One of Macclesfield's churches was designed by the same man who designed Alton Towers.

Augustus Pugin (1812-1852) designed St Alban's Church on Chester Road.

The Grade II*-listed Catholic Church was designed in 1838. This was seven years after he added improvements to the then-called Alton Castle in Staffordshire, after it was severely damaged by fire.

Pugin designed a new entrance hall, banqueting hall and other miscellaneous rooms, extending the house further. So much so that the property gained a new identity and was renamed Alton Towers.

This sowed the seeds for the site being ready for public use. From 1839, Alton Towers' grounds were opened to the public at various times of the year, and in 1980 the grounds around Pugin's work became the theme park we all know and love today.

So next time you visit St Alban's, why not share this fact after church service?

5. Aussies in Macc

One of the cutest animals of Australian wildlife, wallabies were believed to have spent over 80 years in Macc, with the last sighting believed to be at the start of last decade.

Wallabies were introduced to the Peak District in the 1930s by the Brocklehurst family, when five of the animals escaped from their private zoo at Roaches Hall in Leek.

They soon spread to Macclesfield's countryside, and unverified claims suggested there were as many as 50 living on the moors at one time, but many were hunted and have not been sighted since.

6. Macclesfield is the Second-Happiest Place in the North-West

The most recent entry on our list, a 2021 survey revealed Macclesfield is one of the happiest places to live in the UK.

Our town has constantly-topped lists of this kind, and placed just below the Lake District town of Kendal this year.

Macclesfield came 15th in the list, fourth in the North and second in the North West.

You can read more about the feat and what factors went into the ranking here.

So what was your favourite fact Macc? Join the conversation on social media...

Macclesfield: Have you signed up for our Friday weekly newsletter? It contains each week's top 10 Macclesfield news stories, and one FREE exclusive article?

990 of you have signed up already. Simply enter your email address in the shaded box below or on this link.

Free from pop-up ads, or unwanted surveys, Macclesfield Nub News is a quality online newspaper which produces 30-40 stories a week for our town.

You can find us on Facebook and Twitter.