Towns are often seen as an object, or at most a collection of objects, however this objectification of the town creates issues with the way we perceive it. Towns are contextual and ecological, they are not static, but sit in dynamic equilibrium with the forces that their hinterland, and more so globalisation, press onto them. Macclesfield is no different. This book provides a snapshot view, a single frame in the real life movie that is Macclesfield’s future and past. This frame shows a town in transition: at a crossroads. In its past, Macclesfield has continually engaged with global forces, that have at times threatened its very existence, and at other created a boom-time. This book aims to present the background and benchmark to that process. In collating a range of indicators (social, spatial and geographic), we provide the first steps in creating trajectories that create new futures for Macclesfield. Towns have always been a place for public debate, and this must continue if towns are to flourish in the new Century.