Further clarification on Eccles Bridge from the Macclesfield canal society. It is good to put a human face to some of Marples historic landscape.
"Noel,
Thanks very much indeed for this interesting piece of history. I suspect that many of the bridge names came about as a result of common use, so because Aaron Eccles owned the adjacent land his name was lent to the bridge. There are many bridges that are known as accommodation bridges - they accommodate the owner of the land that has been divided by the canal. I dare say there was an element of negotiation about where these were to be built and would have taken the name of the land owner. I think we have always assumed that all the stone bridges and, I think, 12 or 13 swivel bridges were built as the canal was constructed. With one or two obvious exceptions such as foot bridges, I can't think of any bridge that has been added once the canal was opened. A few have disappeared though.
Regards,
Tim Bollington (Macclesfield canal society)"