Samuel Oldknow was a great advocate for good roads, many of which be made at his own expense, and probably the only in­stance of his reminding the inbabitants (of Marple) of any thing he had done for their good occurred in 1819, when a meeting was held in the church to determine a ques­tion between him and the then surveyor of the highways; which being deter­mined in his favour, drew from him the following observation, delivered with peculiar energy; " Gentlemen, I have made you excellent roads upon earth, and (pointing to the church) I have made you an excellent road to Heaven”. Extract from The Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Chronicle, from July to December, 1828, Obituary.