Hi everyone,
My name is Steve Gent, I have recently bought a stretch of land on the canal near Marple top lock and I wanted to introduce myself and to communicate some of our hopes for the land.
Built in 1795 as a wharf for boats to unload into a temporary tramway which took goods down to the bottom level of the canal until the lock flight was completed the land has a rich history which we are only just starting to research now.
It is our hope to restore some key features of the site, in particular I'd like to reconstruct a tramway carriage to match one on show in Bugsworth basin and hopefully map out a cycle/walking trail that follows the route taken by limestone from there to the land and down the tramway to the Marple aqueduct. The route would highlight sites of historic or cultural significance along the way.
Further to that, and following on from fifteen years working within arts and regeneration projects in Liverpool, I would like to see a part of the land be useable for projects that benefit the wider community, initially I'm thinking that offering a shaded space for local acoustic musicians and choirs to practice on sunny days might be nice.
I also have an passion for historic narrowboats, I am hoping that we might encourage some more to visit and provide an opportunity for folks to learn more about them in relation to the wharf and wider Marple history and contemporary culture.
Well that's us, if you would like to get in contact please message me or look at the (quite basic and new) website and email us through there.
Best regards, Steve