Reverend Ian Parkinson, All Saints' Church, Church Lane, Marple. 18th December 2002 Dear Reverend Parkinson, Re: Oldknow's Memorial Plaque My name is Peter Clarke and I represent The Marple Website, Marple Local History Society and Friends of War Memorials for the Stockport Region. Through these organisations I'm involved with various initiatives in the Marple Area, including the campaign to restore the Iron Bridge in Brabyns Park. Following our recent telephone conversation I would like to set out our proposals regarding the construction of a prominent public memorial to Samuel Oldknow in the centre of Marple. Background With the aid of a personal fortune gained from his pioneering work in the cotton and linen trade, he began a scheme of work that would change the face of Marple beyond all recognition. He was personally responsible for the construction of Mellor Mill, the Lime Kilns and the Corn Mill, thus providing jobs for a population up until then almost entirely reliant on farming. To facilitate the supply and distribution to these new businesses he undertook a road-building programme that turned what were little more than packhorse routes into the highways we know and use today. In order to house his workforce he built numerous homes that were let at affordable prices. He had an apprenticeship programme into which he placed homeless children and built accommodation for them on his estate at Mellor. By the standard of the time he was reputed to be an extremely generous benefactor to these unfortunate orphans and pauper's children. He was also a leading figure in the construction of the Peak Forest Canal, the Aqueduct and the Marple Locks, all of which are a defining part of Marple's present day character. As if this were not enough, following storm damage to the original All Saints' Church in 1804, he became the driving force and a major financial contributor toward the building of a new Georgian church, completed in 1812. Of course this has now become known as the 'old' church, with only the bell tower remaining. Oldknow died in 1828, at the age of 72, and over 3,000 people were said to have attended his funeral, considerably more than the population of Marple at that time. A marble plaque was placed on the wall of the old church in honour of his great achievements, so that the people of Marple would remember the fine service that Samuel Oldknow had given to this community. Around 1870, when a swelling congregation necessitated the enlargement of the church, it was found that the structure was not strong enough to be extended, so a new church was constructed alongside. This church, consecrated in 1872, is, of course, the one still in use today. The old church also remained in use until 1959 when, with the exception of the bell tower, it was demolished. At this time several memorials and plaques from the church were preserved by placing them in the tower. There they have languished ever since, out of sight and out of mind of the general public, and forgotten by most of the local community. Oldknow's memorial itself now resides beneath the stairs, a wholly unfitting location, where it cannot be properly photographed or even viewed square on. Proposals It has long been an aim of The Marple Website, as part of our drive to encourage more interest in Marple's unique heritage, to promote the erection of some type of lasting memorial to Samuel Oldknow. The obvious position for this, we feel, would be at the entrance to Memorial Park. During a recent meeting of the Iron Bridge Campaign group it was brought to our attention by council representatives that plans were at present being drawn up for a complete overhaul of the park entrance, including a paved area which, in our opinion, would be an ideal position for an Oldknow memorial. It is The Marple Website's intention to press for such a memorial to be included in the design. I have discussed the possibility of this inclusion with the architect, Andy Williams, and he is keen to develop the plans further. We are approaching you, as our initial point of contact with the church authorities, to ask if we could base our planned memorial around the existing plaque that is still in storage in the old church tower. Our proposal is to remove the marble plaque and re-locate it as the centrepiece of a plinth of stone or brick to be erected at the park entrance. The plaque was originally placed in the church as a reminder of Oldknow's deeds and by returning it to the public arena we would be complying with the original wishes of those who donated it in his memory. Any work that would need to be carried out during removal would of course be done in complete collaboration with the church and the council's works department. I am aware that a request such as this will need to go through the correct channels and committees and hope that you will be prepared to initiate the process necessary to seek approval for this scheme. Both Mark Whittaker and I are available to answer any questions you may have and we hope that you will look on our plan in a favourable light and be able to help us obtain permission to proceed, thus creating a suitable memorial to this great man in the centre of the village upon which he had such an enormous and lasting effect. I look forward to your reply in due course. Yours faithfully,
Peter
Clarke. |
