Heritage Projects Index

Rescue of the Liberal Club sign

Some time in 2004 the Marple Website was approached to see if we could shed any light on what had happened to the Marple Liberal Club sign. Most of you will remember that the club stood facing The Navigation on Stockport Road and was demolished in 1993.

When the building was demolished, three local residents who had longstanding connections with the club saved the sign from the rubble and agreed with the owner of the last remaining part of the building to keep it on display. The sign remained on the side of that building for a number of years but, unfortunately, when he sold the property the owner took the sign with him to Wales.

Using contacts within the local business community Peter was able to locate the gentleman and, after a number of telephone calls over a period of a year or more, he was finally persuaded to return it to its rightful home in Marple.

After over 115 years of being out in the elements the sign was in remarkably good condition. However, the solid oak carving was showing signs of rot in places and it was decided that it should no longer be displayed outdoors.

The Marple Website paid for the whole sign to be stripped and it was lovingly re-painted to bring it back to it's best. The sign was then given to Marple Local History Society to preserve it for future generations and can now be seen on permanent loan in The Ring o' Bells on Church Lane.