Welcome to Marple Local History Society website
Quick links to the Society's Online Archives & many of the Society's images
St. Thomas' Church is at the top of a lane overlooking the village of Mellor, Greater Manchester, England, with views over Manchester, Cheshire and beyond. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building. The church contains the oldest wooden pulpit in England and a late 12th-century Norman font. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Chadkirk, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield, and the diocese of Chester.
Next Meeting: 16 September 2024:
‘Coronation Street - Early Days’ - Mark Llewellin.
Here are links to a record of the 2023 - 2024 Season and a glance at the programme for our 2024 - 2025 Season.
Elsewhere:
The complete series of 'The Adventure of English', by Melvyn Bragg, may be seen here. In this eight part series, of 2003, Melvyn Bragg, explores the development of the English Language over the last 1500 years. The first four programmes explain how this insignificant German dialect has evolved into a global language now spoken and understood by more people than any other in the world. The remaining four programmes visit various countries around the world to show the differences in modern English.
“Good old Arthur” : Mellor's Greatest Cricketer
Amongst the burial records of St. Thomas’ Church at Mellor one man has the simple term “Cricketer” attached to his name. That man was Arthur Morton, born and brought up in Mellor, who went on to achieve a highly successful cricketing career as a Professional Derbyshire player [Mellor was formerly in that county] and latterly a First Class Umpire, officiating at the highest levels of the game.
Unfortunately, Morton’s many achievements, accomplished during an involvement with the game of over thirty years, are now largely forgotten and his grave in the churchyard ignored. However, a member of our Archive team, the author of this article, was intrigued by the rise to national fame of this local lad, has been researching his life and has contributed an article about this outstanding sportsman.
In parish burial registers it is very common for a name to be followed by a social rank or occupation. Amongst the records for Mellor's parish church, however, there is a unique entry where the deceased is merely stylised “Cricketer”. This unusual entry is attached to the name of Arthur Morton, a local lad born and brought up in Mellor who went on to become a successful and widely-known professional cricketer in the period often referred to as “Cricket’s Golden Age”. His grave is still prominent in the parish graveyard, his gravestone reminding us of his cricketing career, However, his sporting exploits are now largely forgotten but deserve to be recalled given his contemporary reputation.