Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. Bristol [its treacle refineries].

1890–1904

Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.

2. Macclesfield [F&H posit an unlikely story of a treacle hogshead bursting and inundating the town’s gutters].

1884		Isle of Man Times 23 Feb. 5/7: Macclesfield, locally known as ‘Treacle Town’.
1896		Wrexham Advertiser (Wales) 6 June 3/5: The ancient and interesting town of Macclesfield, commonly called by the natives ‘Treacle Town’.
1916		Manchester Courier 17 Jan. 4/7: The author of ‘Streets and Houses of Old Macclesfield’ has previously shown his love of what the unrighteous still describe as ‘Treacle Town’.