Fact & Fun Day 4th September 2016
A day is a long time in Fact & Fun days, to paraphrase Harold Wilson. Saturday arrives, 24 hours to go, and what can you say? The heavens opened, the tap was turned on. Rain, rain and then even more rain falling on Bob, Rachel Miller and crew preparing at the mill, and Bernard, Rachel Sewart, Kevin and team toiling at Roman Lakes.
Sunday dawned overcast, but thankfully dry, but for some early morning drizzle, Roman Lakes and Mellor Mill wake up to their big day. By 9am, Rachel Sewart & Kevin were ‘on site’ ere
cting tables, hoisting bunting, delegating places. Straw and hay bales lay between the stalls with bunting overhead, all contributing the ‘festival’ feel. With the beer tent at one end and the bijou lecture theatre at the other end, and the café open, all needs fulfilled.
But hold on there! That’s Roman Lakes for now, but what about Mellor Mill ? What would the visitors find venturing for a tour? New areas to explore, more revelations to be viewed, recent public archaeological digs have revealed the stables and coach house remains, and two thirds of Mellor Lodge’s cellar, breath-taking, relics of a lifestyle and time. Down either of the two hills, which descend from Marple and Marple Bridge, the visitors came, to encounter, first, the Booking Office, the brand new Trust Gazebo, market standard build, where tickets bought gave opportunity for an extensive, tour of the Mill site enhanced by new digs.
A Mill site that was devastated by a fire early one Thursday morning in 1892.
Great Mill Fire, Marple : A Gigantic Blaze. The Building Completely Gutted. A dismal Outlook for the Villagers.
Newspaper article from Cheshire County News 19th November 1892.
Early on Thursday morning a most destructive fire broke out in the Mellor Mill, Marple by which in about two hours the main structure was entirely destroyed. Spinning and doubling were carried on at the mill, which afforded employment for about 200 workpeople.
The premises were six storeys high with side wings filled with new machinery which was only partially insured. The mill was built in 1790 and was of historic interest. Shortly after two o'clock in the morning a cottager who resides in close proximity to the mill noticed from her bedroom window flames issuing from the centre of the factory. She immediately ran to the village and raised the alarm. The shouts of "Fire" were soon resounding throughout the whole neighbourhood, and an hour later there was a general stampede of the villagers en route for the scene of the conflagration. On their arrival at the mill a sight, terrible in its magnificence, met their view........
Read more at Great Mill Fire on the Marple Local History Society website
The cloudy skies of the morning may have dissuaded early arrivals, but by one o’clock the ‘Roman Lakes market place’ was buzzing. The café was open, serving their scrumptious food and revitalizing drinks. To the accompaniment of music provide by the excellent Dr Butler's Hatstand Medicine Band, to be enjoyed amongst the stalls, home produce, Friends of the Memorial Park, Rollins Wood, Stockport Hydro, a chance to weave in willow, to pot wash (finds), play with the model canal and locks, Hook a Duck, Splat the Rat and maybe have your face painted. Though the latter did not seem to appeal to the volunteers on the Trust stall, far too busy for that kind of thing, thank you very much. The children had just returned to school the previous week, so different a life to their ancestors of two centuries ago.
Indoors, besides the café, the customary lecture, this year’s series….
1st Talk: Ben Alexander, Managing Director of Stockport Hydro, speaking on the trials and tribulations of developing Stockport Hydro.
2nd Talk: Dr John Glithero, Talking about Water Power from the River Goyt and how it powered Mellor Mill.
3rd Talk: Bob Humphrey-Taylor. Talking about Samuel Oldknow's Life and dressed as "Sam the Man".
In previous years tours had been scheduled at set times, but from early during the day, this year, the Tours were conducted more on an ad hoc basis, a group forms - take them on their way, we are learning year by year. Besides the old favourite of the Wellington Wheel pit, the almost new engine and boiler house, the new areas, uncovered in the past year, the stables/coach house, Mellor Lodge cellar.
Memories of Mr. Lenthall: Marple Lodge & Mellor Lodge
Mr. Lenthall who lived as a boy at Marple Lodge, and as a young man in Mellor Lodge. He left Marple for New Zealand, Australia and Norfolk returning in 1927. When he returned to this district, although he worked in Manchester, he lived in Marple for the rest of his life. He died in 1964 aged 80.
Opposite Mellor Lodge (left) there were also large buildings of stone for stables and food stores and general stores. The mill was built of brick and was, I believe, six storeys. We lived in Marple Lodge until 1898 but there was a period of 18 months when we had to leave because at 3.0’clock in the morning on Christmas Eve 1893, or perhaps 1894, when we were turned out of the house on account of a landslide. The whole of the embankment fell down and just missed the house and they were expecting a further fall. We went right up to Station Road in Marple to Beech Mount and were taken in by friends, the Highways at the time.......Read more at Mr. Lenthall's Memories on the Marple Local History website.
Wonderful additions to the tour, more evidence of the times gone, being revealed, being enjoyed. The guide’s thanks must go to Bob, as at the Mill on the Friday night before the event he took us on a walk around the site, guides guided round, crib sheets created. Many questions asked during the tours, interest grew in the project as the groups were led round. This serves as an indication of the invaluable work that has been carried out by Bob and his team in opening up the area, to reveal some of the history of this important site.
Another F& F Day, fulling and fascinating too!
All photos copyright Arthur Procter
Martin Cruickshank September 8th 2016
Click or press on the images below, for a larger image.
