Marple, Greater Manchester

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Marple
Marple shown within Greater Manchester
Population	23,480
OS grid reference	SJ971893
Metropolitan borough	Stockport
Metropolitan county	Greater Manchester
Region	North West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	STOCKPORT
Postcode district	SK6
Dialling code	0161
Police	Greater Manchester
Fire	Greater Manchester
Ambulance	North West
European Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Hazel Grove
List of places: UK • England • Greater Manchester

Coordinates: 53°23′51″N 2°03′42″W / 53.3974, -2.0617

Marple is a large village within the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Goyt southeast of Stockport.

Historically part of Cheshire, Marple has a population of 23,480 (2001 Census).

1 History
2 Geography
3 Governance
4 Landmarks
5 Present day
6 Notable people
7 Sister city
8 See also
9 References
10 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Toponymy

Known as Merpille by the early 13th century, probably from the words maere and pyll meaning "a pool or stream near the boundary".^[1]

[edit] Early history

[edit] Recent history

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[edit] Geography

Goyt Mill was one of several cotton mills in Marple processing cotton goods.

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Marple is close to Derbyshire and is bordered by Hawk Green, High Lane, Marple Bridge, Mellor, New Mills, Moor End, Strines and Mill Brow.

The area covers just over 11 square miles (28 km²) of countryside, ranging from heavily wooded valleys to hill-top moorland. It rises from around 80 metres above sea level at the River Goyt to 327 metres at Cobden Edge. On a clear day it is possible to view the Beetham Tower in Manchester as well as the city centre, the Winter Hill TV transmitter and the surrounding counties of Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire and West Yorkshire and the mountains of North Wales from the top of these hills.

[edit] Governance

Footbridge over the River Goyt between Marple Bridge and New Mills

In 1866 Marple became a civil parish in Cheshire and in 1894 the parish formed an urban district.^[2] The parish and district was expanded in 1936 by gaining Ludworth and Mellor from the Chapel-en-le-Frith rural district, an area of around 4,000 acres (20 km²).^[3] In 1974 the urban district was abolished and its former area was transferred to Greater Manchester to form part of the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport.^[4]

Marple is twinned with the town of Motril on the province of Granada in Spain.^[5]

[edit] Landmarks

All saints church, a grade II listed building

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Marple is probably most famous for the series of canal locks, which sit just outside the village centre.

The canal circles around the outskirts of the village, alongside both Marple Memorial Park and then along Brabyns Park until it reaches the Marple Aqueduct and onwards along the Peak Forest Canal.

Marple Hall is located close to where the school of the same name now stands. The remains of the once grand hall can be explored, though very little actually remains.

The Roman Lakes leisure complex within Marple is popular with walkers, anglers, nature lovers and horse riders.

The Marple Aqueduct is an impressive landmark which towers high above the River Goyt as it carries the Peak Forest Canal.

The Middlewood Way is a popular 10-mile walking/cycling path starting at Marple and ending at Macclesfield, following the now defunct railway line.^[6]

[edit] Present day

Junction of Peak Forest Canal in Marple

[edit] Transport

The village is served by two railway stations: Marple Station (on the Hope Valley line) and Rose Hill Marple Station (originally on the now-defunct Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple Railway). It is also the junction of the Peak Forest Canal and the Macclesfield Canal. The two canals form part of the Cheshire Ring canal system.^[7] Marple Aqueduct can be found a short walk from the village centre. The village has many bus services running through it, most of which go to Stockport via the A626 and Offerton, along with an hourly service to Glossop in Derbyshire and Stepping Hill Hospital in the other direction. It also has bus services to Hayfield and New Mills, also in Derbyshire.

[edit] Education

Marple Memorial Park

Its secondary school - Marple Hall - sits on the site of the ancestral home of the Bradshaw-Isherwood family. There is also Cheadle & Marple Sixth Form College (formerly Ridge Danyers College) a local college offering courses to young people and adults. There are 4 primary schools in Marple; All Saints, Peacefield, Rose Hill and The Dale. Additionally there is an independent school and nursery Brabyns Preparatory School.

[edit] Football

Marple Library

Marple Athletic JFC, founded in 1985, play their home matches at Marple Hall School and at the nearby Brabyns Park. Like Rose Hill Rovers, MAJFC compete in the Stockport Metro League. The Rosehill Rovers football team play at the Cheadle & Marple Sixth Form College site, competing in the Stockport Metro League.^[8]

[edit] Cricket

Marple Cricket Club was formed in approximately 1900 and has been based at its Bowden Lane Headquarters since 1951. The club is a member of the Cheshire Cricket League and currently plays in Division 1. The club runs four senior teams, the First and Second Teams playing on Saturdays and the Third and Fourth Teams on Sundays in Division 3 of the Cheshire County League. The club also has a junior section.

The Regent Cinema, Marple

[edit] Golf

Marple Golf Club, founded in 1892, is located in Hawk Green, Marple. It is an 18 hole private members course.

[edit] Entertainment

Since 1932 Marple has had its own cinema, in a building originally designed (in 1878) as a place of worship/refuge. After the building was purchased in 1932 by "The Marple Cinema Company" it became The Regent cinema.^[9] It remains open to this day,^[10] as one of the few independent cinemas in the UK. Marple also hosts the Carver Theatre,^[11] originally built as a Boy's Club and gymnasium.^[12] The Carver Theatre now annually hosts the 1st Marple Scout and Guide Gang Show every March.

[edit] Notable people

John Bradshaw (1602-1659) President of the court that tried King Charles I.
Tony Wilson, journalist and record label owner moved to Marple at the age of 5 with his parents.^[13]
Samuel Oldknow, the industrialist who created a huge textile empire and became Britain's leading manufacturer of muslin moved to Marple after serving an apprenticeship in Nottingham. His lime kilns can still be seen in Marple.^[14]
Edmund Cooper (1926-1982) was a poet and prolific writer of science fiction and detective novels.
Christopher Finney, recipient of the George Cross.
Karl Davies is now a popular actor who once attended Marple Hall School.
Bob Whittaker was a presenter on Granada Reports. Now runs Orion TV in London.
Timmy Mallet grew up in Marple and attended Rose Hill Primary School
Chris Fawkes is a BBC weather forecaster who once attended Marple Hall School
Craig Cash Currently lives in Marple