Marple, Cheshire

Description
Marple, a village, a township, and three ecclesiastical parishes in Stockport parish, Cheshire. The village stands on the Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canal, near the river Goyt at the boundary with Derbyshire, 4 miles ESE of Stock-port, and has two stations-one on the M.R. and M.S. & L.R. and another on the Macclesfield branch of the Cheshire lines-and a post, money order, and telegraph office under Stockport. The township includes Barns Fold, Hawk Green, Middlewood, and Windlehurst, and comprises 3053 acres; population, 4844. It is governed by a local board of nine members. The manufacture of cotton is carried on. There are a library and reading-room, Conservative and Liberal clubs, a bank, and five almshouses. Marple Hall and much of the land belong to the Isherwood family. The mansion is one of the most beautiful Elizabethan houses in the county, and contains the bed of Bradshaw the regicide, old tapestry, and armour. The ecclesiastical parish of All Saints, Marple, was constituted in 1876; population, 2576. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Chester; gross value, £300 with residence. Patron, the Rector of Stockport. The church was erected in 1880, the previous edifice being used now as a mortuary chapel. The ecclesiastical parish of St Martin, Low Marple, was constituted in 1870 ; population, 1266. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Chester; net value, £99. The church was erected in 1870. The ecclesiastical parish of High Lane is a vicarage in the diocese of Chester; value, £200 with residence. Patron, the Rector of Stockport. Population, 1226. The church, dedicated to St Thomas, was built in 1860. There are Congregational, Wesleyan, Primitive, and Free Methodist chapels.