Mereside Chronicle

A tribute to Charles F Tunnicliffe (1901 - 1979)

When I was a very small Maalie, my sister gave me a book that had a life-changing influence on me: Mereside Chronicle by C F Tunnicliffe, naturalist and artist. His book records his observations and sketches through the year at various meres and water bodies around his home near Macclesfield, Cheshire.

Even at the tender age at which I read the book, its impact was to impress on me the discipline of making regular observations, and recording them. The book was published in 1948 and therefore the pictures show scenes as they existed at least 63 years ago. My aim on this rather misty-murky New Year's Eve was to try to locate and photograph some of the scenes depicted by Tunnicliffe.

Capesthorne Pools 
Capethorne Pools are old fish ponds associated with Capesthorne Hall

There can be no doubt about which tree Tunnicliffe was depicting in his drawing (above): although the tree has grown thicker in the ensuing 65 years, the individual branches can be recognised.

The arches of the bridge across these old fish ponds appear through the fog

My sister Jill sits on the parapet of the bridge 

once again holding the book she gave me so many years ago

Redesmere

 Redesmere is a reservoir that was clearly one of Tunnicliffe's favourite places. Unfortunately the foggy whether did not permit some of the scenic views but nevertheless some features were clearly recognisable.

The road has been widened and a car park constructed, but the Henbury Road leading down to Redesmere 

can be recognised from Tunnicliffe's drawing

Despite the fog concealing the mere, Tunnicliffe's white railings remain.

However the un-eroded state of the concrete posts 

suggest the fence has been replaced

 Further along we find an old dilapidated, eroded  section of fence 

which no doubt dates back to Tunnicliffe's era

 Gawsworth Pools

The Gawsworth Pools are old fish ponds associated with Gawsworth Hall. With the church and buildings still present, it was easy to relocate the scenes of Tunnicliffe's sketches

 The growth of vegetation around the church has changed, but the view is clear

 At the Upper Pool the sign has changed and the square building has an extension

North Rode Pool

 North Rode Pool seems to have changed very little since Tunnicliffe's day.

The outlet shaft and white house at the far end of the pool are still present

 To find out more about the life and work of this remarkable birdwatcher and artist, 
you can visit the website of the Charles Tunnicliffe Society