Blowing our own trumpet, a little!
The origin and use of Marple Local History Society online Archives
Have you ever thought about a History Society leading the way in technology? If not, you might be surprised to learn that we believe we are doing just that! We have a fantastic collection of local records, photographs, maps, and artefacts, but previously, accessing this archive required a visit in person. In 2015, we took a significant step by making our valuable archive available online for anyone with internet access.
The idea to create an online platform for our archive originated from our former Chairman, Hilary Atkinson. Mark Whittaker, who manages and designs our website, explored various software options to help share this rich resource with the public. He ultimately chose the Omeka software program, which is a free and open-source platform designed for showcasing collections from libraries, museums, and archives. The name Omeka, derived from Swahili, means to display or unpack items.
Mark dedicated over two years to this project, establishing the platform, guiding us through necessary processes, and uploading the initial data. Thanks to the hard work of committee member Louise Thistleton, we proudly announced the opening of our digital archives in September 2017. While not all records are available right away, we aim to make more accessible over time.
Each week and month, we add new content, and as our reputation grows through word of mouth and our website, we continue to receive new contributions to our archives from both local and international sources. Like the Forth Bridge, there will always be more work ahead, and we look forward to that ongoing journey.
Using the MLHS archives online
Taking a wander round the rather luxurious society online archives, we shall first use the search facility, the red star, in the image below, the search facility.
To start the ball rolling, consider a rather well hidden historical site in Marple, the wall that denotes the existence of, some time ago, the Hollins Mill Canal Branch, that connected Hollins Mill to the canal network.
Typing in ‘Hollins Mill Branch’, in the seach box, as seen above, and clicking magnifier/ search button results in a journey to this page. Following this with a click on the first item will bring up a letter from British Transport Waterways, dated 16th April 1959, discussing the closure of Hollins Mill Arm.
To learn more on this former branch of the canal, let’s dip into this book, another MLHS production
Hollins Mill: The heart of Marple for over one hundred years
Ann Hearle’s book of 2014
“An integrated mill such as Hollins was designed to move cotton through a precise series of production processes that separated, straightened, and twisted cotton fibres, combined them into yarn, then wove the yarn into cloth.
The raw cotton in large bales was brought along the canal branch into the mill yard by barge. Each bale was approximately 54 inches long, 33 inches wide and 20 inches high (1.4 x 0.8 x 0.5 metres) and weighed 500 pounds (225kgs). These huge bales were unloaded and taken to the cotton preparation room. Here the bales were opened and the ties and bagging removed. Because of the dust and dirt and the ever-present danger of fire, this room was separate from the rest of the mill.
The opening machine tore apart the compressed cotton, removing dirt and short fibres. As the cotton was fluffed, a vacuum system (the blowing hole) carried it through a giant tube to the picker room, where pickers continued to clean the cotton and organize it into continuous, even sheets.”
(the starting point of Ann’s work on this book project was Peter Bardsleys notes)
A couple of 15 pages may be seen at Peter Bardsleys notes on the History of the Carvers & Mill etc. titled : "The Hollins Folk"on OMEKA at Photo 1 & Photo 2
[ Ann's talk to the Society in January 2015, on 'Hollins Mill, who owned it?]
The rundown on the respective Omeka Collection listing, shows the depth of records on Hollins Mill that the Society possesses:
- Hollins Mill: Folder 01: Carvers, Family and Mill
- Hollins Mill: Folder 02: (Misc. 1)
- Hollins Mill: Folder 03: (Misc. 2)
- Hollins Mill: Folder 04: Hodgkinsons and Walmsley.
- Hollins Mill: Folder 05: (Legal 1)
- Hollins Mill: Folder 06: (Legal 2)
We shall leave Hollins Mill/ASDA area behind and have a wander down Station Road/Brabyns Brow stopping to take a look at the well filled car park,, opposite Marple Station. This space, as is well known, was a cattle market, termed as The Smithfield Market as were many other similar markets. Reach for that clever little ‘computer’, a slab of a mobile that far outstrips the Apollo 11 computer, that you brought with you, to text home, to contact A.N. Other or check the cricket score, and click me, to see what you could have seen on this spot.
Or if are you at home, then -
Marple Cattle Market: a scene during the judging at Marple Smithfield, Christmas 1934
So what can MLHS Omeka Archives teach us?
Copy and Paste from Material on Marple Cattle Market
Subject
A Smithfield cattle market opposite Marple Station on Brabyns Brow was opened in 1909 and closed in the 1960s. On market days the public houses in Marple Bridge were open all day!
Description
- Research notes, correspondence and memories of Marple Smithfield Cattle Market.
- Transcript: Opening of Cattle Market, 6 & 13 March 1909.
- Newspaper cutting: Christmas Fat Stock: Winners at Marple Show.
- Newspaper cutting: Smithfield closing, 23 August 1968.
- Newspaper cutting: Auction closes after 70 years, 29 August 1968.
- Newspaper cutting: 3 farms hit by plague, June 1969.
- Newspaper cutting: Wind Storm Havoc, 16 February 1929. Click link.
- Newspaper cutting: 2 x photos of prize Christmas Cattle at Marple, 22 December 1934.
- Sale by Auction adverts, 1854 & 1941
- Map showing Cattle Market layout (disused).
- Map showing modern use of Cattle Market location.
[More on Marple Smithfield Market]
