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Last additions - Historic Buildings
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Labrador Peter in Brabyns EstateLabrador Peter, owned by Miss Fanny Hudson of Brabyns Hall. Donated by Mary Moore to Marple Local History Society Archives.Apr 28, 2024
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Labrador Peter with Miss HudsonMiss Fanny Hudson in front of Brabyns Hall with Labrador Peter. Donated by Mary Moore to Marple Local History Society Archives.Apr 28, 2024
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Note from Miss Fanny HudsonA note written by Miss Fanny Hudson to Daisy Cooke that mentions she had a Corona Cold in 1931! Donated by Mary Moore to Marple Local History Society Archives.Apr 28, 2024
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Brabyns Hall StablesMary and Geoffrey Bowden outside Brabyns Hall Stables in c1928. Donated by Mary Moore to Marple Local History Society Archives.Apr 28, 2024
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Mary Bowden on the Iron BridgeMary Bowden standing on the Iron Bridge on the Brabyns Estate. Donated by Mary Moore to Marple Local History Society Archives.Apr 28, 2024
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Wedding Group at BrabynsGroom (Charles) Henry Cooke married bride Noel Bradwell at St Martin's Church on 23/11/1911. The reception was at Brabyns Hall. Donated by Mary Moore to Marple Local History Society Archives.Apr 28, 2024
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In Remembrance of Elizabeth CookeA note in Remembrance of Elizabeth Cooke, who lived at Brabyns Hall Farm. Donated by Mary Moore to Marple Local History Society Archives.Apr 28, 2024
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Ploughing on Brabyns EstateCharles Cooke ploughing on the Brabyns Estate. Donated by Mary Moore to Marple Local History Society Archives.Apr 28, 2024

Category Albums Files
Brabyns HallBrabyns Hall was built by Doctor Henry Brabin in 1749. The hall and estate were purchased by Nathaniel Wright in 1800 and he erected the historic Iron Bridge in 1813. The estate passed to the Hudson family in 1866 and on the death of Fanny Hudson, in 1941, was purchased by Marple Urban District Council. The estate opened as a park in 1949 and the hall was demolished in 1952. Click to read more about the Brabyns Estate.
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Brabyns Hall & Estate


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During the Great War Brabyns Hall was used as a Military Hospital. Sadly, plans to turn the Hall into an Art Gallery, Museum, Reference Library or Assembly Hall, as a memorial to the local men who died in the war, were to fail, and it was demolished in 1952. The estate was turned into a public park in 1949 and today is owned by Stockport Metropolitan Council, and is a thriving asset, extensively used and highly valued by the people of Marple.

114 files, last one added on Apr 28, 2024
Album viewed 3525 times

Marple's Iron Bridge


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Although the hall did not survive the destructive period in the 1950s and 60s when many of Marple's historic buildings were demolished, the Iron Bridge did. Today the bridge is the subject of a community driven restoration campaign that has successfully raised £556,000 to restore the bridge to its former glory. Click here to read more about the Iron Bridge.

59 files, last one added on Apr 28, 2024
Album viewed 3056 times

Iron Bridge Restoration


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This new album will become a photographic record of the restoration of the Iron Bridge in Brabyns Park. The Iron Bridge Restoration Project is a partnership between the Marple Website, Marple Local History Society and Stockport Council. For more information about the Iron Bridge and the campaign for its restoration visit The Iron Bridge Project Diary.

299 files, last one added on Dec 23, 2011
Album viewed 2049 times

Scroll Bridge Restoration


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The Scroll Bridge was orginally built a few years before the Iron Bridge, in 1804. That's around the same time that the Marple Locks were being completed. The bridge was badley damaged and partially demolished in 1991, when the Bailey bridge was installed. These photos chart its restoration in 2007.

18 files, last one added on Dec 16, 2007
Album viewed 1157 times

4 albums on 1 page(s)

Marple HallMarple Hall was initially constructed in 1658. Its most famous (infamous?) resident was Judge John Bradshawe, (1602-1659) who presided over the Court of Justice that sentenced Charles I to death. The Bradshawe family continued to live there until it was inherited in 1940 by Christopher Isherwood, who almost immediately passed ownership to his younger brother, Richard. He was ill prepared and financially unable to look after the Hall and when the caretakers retired in 1953 it was left empty and became the target of thieves and vandals. This ultimately led to its demolition in 1959. These galleries show this magnificent home at its best and, sadly, its derelict worst. Click here to read more about Marple Hall.

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Marple Hall and outbuildings.


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Photographs of Marple Hall and its outbuildings, from the heydays to the decay days. What might have been if these wonderful old buildings had been preserved just a few more years until people began to understand the value of our heritage?

172 files, last one added on Dec 07, 2021
Album viewed 3191 times

The interior and furnishings.


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Interior shots of Marple Hall, including images from the catologue of the auction of the hall's contents in 1929. Click here to read more about the items sold at auction.

43 files, last one added on Mar 09, 2014
Album viewed 2288 times

The Jack Wilkinson Album - decline and demolition.


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An album full of the saddest photographs but we're very grateful to have them to preserve the memories. These images were loaned by the family of the late Jack Wilkinson who recorded for posterity the final demise of Marple Hall.

40 files, last one added on Apr 16, 2006
Album viewed 2687 times

Commemoration, relics and souvenirs.


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This album includes the commemorative date stone and plaque erected by Marple Civic Society and Marple Antiquarian Society (now Marple Local History Society). There are also a few other remnants of this once great Hall still to found and we have photographed and recorded as many as we can.

43 files, last one added on Dec 19, 2023
Album viewed 3621 times

4 albums on 1 page(s)

Mellor MillSamuel Oldknow constructed Mellor Mill in 1790 on the bank of the River Goyt. The main mill building was an imposing structure with a central section six storeys high, 42 feet wide and 210 feet long. In order to supply water to the mill Oldknow literally reshaped the landscape and the Cheshire / Derbyshire border formed by the river. Click here to read more about Oldknow and Mellor Mill.
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Mellor Mill


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Photographs, etchings and paintings of Mellor Mill in its glorious prime and unfortunate decline after the horrendous fire that destroyed it in 1892.

39 files, last one added on Jan 14, 2022
Album viewed 2034 times

Mellor and Marple Lodge and other Buildings


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Oldknow built many other buildings near his mill, including a home for himself, Mellor Lodge, and another for the Mill Manager, Marple Lodge, on the opposite bank. Marple Lodge had a extensive ornamental garden running alongside the river, of which there are still a few traces if you look very closely.

36 files, last one added on May 17, 2016
Album viewed 1934 times

Mellor Lodge Plans


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These are photographs of plans of Oldknow's home, Mellor Lodge, which he built for himself on the Mellor side of the River Goyt. They can't be originals, because they have a telephone number on them. We know nothing of their history but if anyone knows where these are now we'd love the opportunity to take them again without the flash!

6 files, last one added on Jul 09, 2006
Album viewed 916 times

 

3 albums on 1 page(s)

Listed Buildings ExhibitionIn 1993 Marple Civic Society held an exhibition featuring the Listed Buildings of Marple & District. The first album in this category contains all the photographs that were selected for display in the exhibition. New albums will also be added to include many others taken during the same period. This category is under construction.
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Civic Society Photos Exhibited in 1993.


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This album contains 139 photographs that were exhibited by Marple Civic Society in 1993. The photos were taken over a period of approximately two years leading up to the exhibition. If you can tell us anything more about them, please get in touch.

139 files, last one added on Dec 31, 2009
Album viewed 2093 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)


Most viewed - Historic Buildings
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Sketch of Marple Hall from the ornamental lake.5071 viewsThis view is from Marple Dale, where there was an ornamental lake with steps leading down the bank from the hall. Updated from Marple Local History Society Archives 15 August 2010.
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Brabyns Hall4318 viewsA view of the rear of Brabyns Hall from across the pond, which is still there.
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Brabyns Hall3847 viewsAnother view of the rear of Brabyns Hall from across the pond.
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Marple Hall from the main driveway.3808 viewsThe hall's decline is not yet apparent in this shot from the main drive at the front.
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Marple Hall in ruins 1.3425 viewsThe hall begins to crumble.
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Marple Hall3254 viewsA full-on view showing the sundial and the balcony above the front door.
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Water Meetings Cottage3247 viewsWhere the Rivers Goyt and Etherow meet in Brabyns Park.
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Marple Hall3235 viewsA shot of Marple Hall from the front provided by Betty Longmate, daughter of Betty Tunstall who lived there from 1923 to 1932 with her parents, the caretakers.

Random files - Historic Buildings
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2008-05-29 Under the BridgeLast shots from under the bridge before the scaffold removal begins. Photo Aidan / Oly.
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090 - Iron BridgeIron Bridge in Brabyns Park.
From the 1993 Marple Civic Society exhibition of Listed Buildings.
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2008-02-12 Strengthening WorksA close up of the horizontal and diagonal bracing connection to the central arched rib.
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2007-09-05 Removal of "fill"A close-up detail of Nathaniel Wright's "W" cast as the centre piece of the handrailing with the bolted joint exposed below.
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2007-09-18 Scaffolding erectionThe scaffolding access to the underside of the bridge.
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2011-11-18 Viewing Platform ImprovementsViewing Platform Improvements in progress on Friday 18 November 2011.
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Iron Bridge Decking Renewed?This photo was taken by Ron Booth in the late eighties. Since receiving photos showing the gas main installation in 1979 we now think that this was probably taken during the installation of a new wooden deck.
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BMH Miss Hudson and StaffCasualties and medical staff with Miss Fanny Hudson (centre).

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