Marple, Greater Manchester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marple |
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 Marple Wharf |
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 Marple
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| Area | 34.67 km2 (13.39 sq mi) |
| Population | 12,980 |
| • Density | 374/km2 (970/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | SJ971893 |
| • London | 154.5 mi (248.6 km) |
| Metropolitan borough |
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| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | STOCKPORT |
| Postcode district | SK6 |
| Dialling code | 0161 |
| Police | Greater Manchester |
| Fire | Greater Manchester |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Marple is a town located in Greater Manchester, England. It sits by the River Goyt, about 9 miles (14 km) south-east of Manchester. It is also 9 miles (14 km) north of Macclesfield and 4 miles (6 km) south-east of Stockport. In 2021, Marple had a population of 12,980 people.
Historically, Marple was part of Cheshire. The town is famous for the Peak Forest Canal, which includes the Marple Lock Flight and the Marple Aqueduct. The Roman Lakes, south-east of the town, are popular for fishing and walking. Marple has two train stations, Marple and Rose Hill Marple. These stations connect the town to the wider train network. The Middlewood Way, a path for walking and cycling, also starts here. It follows an old railway line south to Macclesfield.
Contents
Exploring Marple's Past
What's in a Name? The Meaning of Marple
The name Marple first appeared in history as Merpel. People believe this name comes from an old English phrase, maere pill. This phrase means 'the stream at the boundary'.
Early Settlements and Ancient Clues
Scientists think that the first people lived in the Marple area thousands of years ago. You can find clues about them near Ludworth. These clues include standing stones and tumuli, which are ancient burial mounds. In 1998, an archaeological dig in Mellor found many signs of Marple's earliest residents.
The area was mostly covered by Macclesfield Forest long ago. It was not even mentioned in the Domesday Book, a famous survey from 1086. The first time Marple was written about was in 1122, in a document about land sales. In 1220, the land went to the Vernon family, who owned it for many years.
Before the Industrial Revolution, most people in Marple worked on small farms. Others made a living by weaving linen or making hats. After 1790, a man named Samuel Oldknow changed life in Marple a lot. He built lime kilns and mills, which were part of the Industrial Revolution. More people moved to Marple, and houses were built for mill workers. The town centre also grew with new businesses.
Samuel Oldknow was very important to Marple's development. There is even a street named Oldknow Road today. He built homes for workers and churches. He also brought aspen trees to the area. He helped build the Macclesfield and Peak Forest Canals. The Marple Aqueduct, which opened in 1800, carries the Peak Forest Canal over the River Goyt. It was designed by Benjamin Outram, a pioneer in building canals. Sadly, seven men died while building it. Samuel Oldknow passed away in 1828. His mill was destroyed by fire in 1892. These canals helped Marple grow quickly. However, they fell into disrepair when the railway arrived in 1865. Today, they have been fixed up for leisure boats and are part of the Cheshire Ring canal system.
Marple in Modern Times
In the early 1900s, Marple thrived because of the successful cotton industry in nearby Stockport and Manchester. The canals helped connect Marple to other industrial towns. In 1936, Marple Urban District, then part of Cheshire, took over the areas of Ludworth and Mellor from Derbyshire. Marple grew as a place for people to live and commute to Stockport after bus and train services became common in the 1920s.
Marple's Location and Landscape
Marple is close to Derbyshire and covers about 11 square miles (28 sq km) of countryside. This area includes thick forests in valleys and open moorland on hilltops. The land rises from about 262 feet (80 m) above sea level at the River Goyt to 1073 feet (327 m) at Cobden Edge. On a clear day, you can see the Beetham Tower in Manchester and the city centre. You can also spot the Winter Hill TV transmitter. From these hills, you can even see parts of Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, West Yorkshire, and the mountains of North Wales.
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Stockport | Romiley | Mellor | |
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 Marple  |
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| Hazel Grove | Hawk Green, High Lane, Disley | Strines, New Mills |
How Marple is Governed
In 1866, Marple became a civil parish in Cheshire. Then, in 1894, it formed an urban district. In 1974, the urban district was removed. Its area became part of Greater Manchester and joined the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport.
Marple has six councillors who represent it on the Stockport Borough Council. These councillors are from two areas called Marple North and Marple South. Currently, four are Liberal Democrats and two are Conservatives. The Stockport Borough Council has 63 councillors in total. For the United Kingdom Parliament, Marple is part of the Hazel Grove area. This area is represented by Lisa Smart, a Liberal Democrat, who was elected in 2024.
Marple is twinned with Motril, a town in Spain. This means they have a special friendship and often share cultural exchanges.
Public Services in Marple
United Utilities supplies water to Marple. The closest hospital is Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport. Marple has a police station run by Greater Manchester Police. It is near the library and Memorial Park. There is also a fire station, run by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. It is located behind the Asda supermarket in the town centre.
Community Life and Culture
Since 1932, Marple has had its own cinema, the Regent Cinema. The building was first designed in 1878. The 'Marple Cinema Company' bought it in 1932. It is still open today and is one of the few independent cinemas in the UK.
The town is home to two brass bands: the Marple Band and the Hawk Green (Marple) Band.
Media and Local News
Local news and TV shows for Marple come from Salford-based BBC North West and ITV Granada. TV signals are received from the Winter Hill TV transmitter.
Local radio stations include BBC Radio Manchester, Heart North West, and Smooth North West. There are also Capital Manchester and Lancashire, Greatest Hits Radio Manchester & The North West, and Your FM. Your FM is a community station that broadcasts from Stockport.
The local newspaper that serves the town is the Manchester Evening News.
Marple on Screen
In 2008, Marple was used as the setting for the BBC drama Sunshine.
Marple was also featured in a 2010 BBC documentary about Dr Beeching. This program talked about the long-term effects of closing many UK railway lines in the 1960s. The show highlighted how difficult it became to travel from Marple to Stockport by train. Road traffic also made the journey very hard.
Important Places in Marple
Marple is well-known for its 16 canal locks, called the Marple Lock Flight. These are close to the town centre. The Peak Forest Canal runs near the village, passing Marple Memorial Park and Brabyns Park. It then reaches the Marple Aqueduct and goes towards Dukinfield Junction. To the south, it goes towards Bugsworth Basin. The Macclesfield Canal joins the Peak Forest Canal at Marple Junction. It then heads towards Birmingham. These two canals are part of the Cheshire Ring canal system. They were very important during the Industrial Revolution. Today, they are peaceful places for walkers, anglers, and boaters.
The Roman Lakes leisure complex is in the valley bottom near Strines. It is popular with walkers, anglers, nature lovers, and horse riders. The area was named in the Victorian era to attract tourists. It has no real links to the Romans, just like the "Roman Bridge" over the Goyt. Near the river, there was a mill built by Samuel Oldknow. It was destroyed by fire in 1892. In 2011, volunteers found the mill's wheelpit and entrance. They are now trying to get money to keep exploring. The wheelpit, which was once the largest in the world, can now be seen.
The Middlewood Way is a 10-mile (16 km) path for walking and cycling. It runs between Marple and Macclesfield. It follows the route of the old Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple Railway.
Marple Hall: A Historic Home
Marple Hall was once located near where Marple Hall School stands today. You can explore the remains of the hall, though very little is left. The hall was the family home of the Bradshaws and later the Isherwoods. It was torn down in 1959. The writer Christopher Isherwood, who inherited it, offered it to the council in 1954. By then, vandals had damaged the hall. Much of the estate is now houses or the school. You can see the old hall foundations on the corner of Marple Hall Drive. There is a plaque on a stone, which is the only remaining part of a doorway from the house. The window shutters from the hall have been restored and are on display in Marple Library. The hall overlooked the River Goyt. You can still walk from there to the river on a path that once led to the estate's Dooley Lane entrance. Nearby Brabyn's Hall also met a similar fate. Wyberslegh Hall, now privately owned, was once a ruin.
The famous author Agatha Christie once explained how she got the name for her character, Jane Marple. She was staying with her sister in Cheshire. They went to a sale at Marple Hall. There, Christie bought two old oak chairs. She still had them when she wrote the letter. When she needed a name for her old-maid character in The Thirteen Problems, she thought of Marple Hall.
Getting Around Marple: Transport Links
Marple is part of the Greater Manchester public transport area. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) manages public transport here.
Train Services
Marple has two train stations: Marple and Rose Hill Marple. Both are on the Hope Valley Line. Marple station has regular trains to Manchester Piccadilly, New Mills Central, and Sheffield. Rose Hill was originally on the Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple Railway, which closed in 1970. Now, it is at the end of a short line that provides services to Manchester Piccadilly.
Some people mistakenly think that Agatha Christie's character, Miss Marple, was named after the railway station because Christie was once delayed there. However, her grandson, Matthew Pritchard, clarified this in 2015. He brought a letter to the station's 150th anniversary. The letter confirmed that the name came from Marple Hall, as mentioned in the Marple Hall section above.
Bus Routes
Marple has many bus services. These are mainly run by Stagecoach Manchester and High Peak. Some key routes include:
- 358: Stockport–Marple–New Mills–Hayfield
- 375: Stockport–Stepping Hill Hospital–Marple–Hawk Green
- 383: Stockport–Offerton–Marple–Romiley–Bredbury–Stockport circular
- 384: the reverse route of the 383
- 394: Glossop–Marple–Stepping Hill Hospital
Road Connections
The town is located along the A626. This road runs between Glossop and Heaton Chapel. In the centre of Marple, it meets the B6101, which goes south to New Mills.
Education in Marple
Education in Marple is managed by Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council.
There are two primary schools in Marple. The secondary school is Marple Hall School. It is built on the site of the old Marple Hall, which was the home of the Bradshaw-Isherwood family. Marple Sixth Form College (formerly Ridge Danyers College) offers courses for young people and adults. There is also an independent school and nursery called Brabyns Preparatory School.
Sports and Recreation
Marple Rugby Club has three adult teams. It also has "Marple Minis Rugby" with teams for ages 7 to 17.
Marple Cricket Club started around 1900. It has been at Bowden Lane since 1951. The club is part of the ECB Cheshire County Cricket League. It has five senior teams. The first, second, and ‘2A’ teams play on Saturdays. The third and fourth teams play on Sundays. The club also has a junior section. In the 1970s, the cricket club built a squash section. It has three courts and four teams that play regularly.
Brabyns Tennis Club has four clay courts and three floodlit artificial grass courts. This allows play all year round. The club has several men's and ladies' teams in the Slazenger North East Cheshire League. It also has mixed teams in the East Cheshire Winter League. There is a junior section and many coaching programs.
Marple Golf Club was founded in 1892. It is located in Hawk Green, Marple. It is an 18-hole course for private members.
Famous People from Marple
- Stephen Bradbury, an artist and illustrator, grew up in Marple and went to Marple Hall School.
- John Bradshaw (1602–1659) was the president of the court that tried King Charles I.
- Lieutenant Colonel John Stanhope Collings-Wells VC DSO (1880–1918), who received the Victoria Cross, lived in Marple.
- Edmund Cooper (1926–1982) was a poet and wrote many science fiction and detective novels.
- Christopher Finney received the George Cross.
- Jonathan Gledhill (1949–2021), who became the Bishop of Lichfield, was a church assistant at All Saints' Church from 1975 to 1978.
- Christopher Isherwood (1904–1986), a novelist, had his family home at Marple Hall. He was born nearby at Wyberslegh Hall.
- Timmy Mallett, a TV presenter, grew up in Marple and attended Rose Hill Primary School.
- Samuel Oldknow (1756–1830) was an industrialist who built a huge textile business. He became Britain's top manufacturer of muslin. He moved to Marple after learning his trade in Nottingham. His lime kilns can still be seen in Marple.
- Edward Parrott (1863–1921) was a teacher and author. He was also a Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South.
- Joyce Porter (1924–1990), a crime fiction author, was born in Marple.
- Matt Walker MBE, who won many medals in the Paralympics, went to Marple Hall School.
- Tony Wilson (1950–2007), a journalist and record label owner, moved to Marple with his parents when he was five.
- Several musicians, including the bands Delphic, Dutch Uncles, and Egyptian Hip Hop (band), grew up in and around Marple.
Images for kids
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Marple Wharf
See also
In Spanish: Marple para niños
