Marple Local History Society Trips in 2013 - 2014
- In October 2013 the Society visited MediaCityUK, a development site, of mixed-use and some 200acres, and in particular BBC North
- As March, as winter was drew to a close, the society ventured even nearer to home-ground by taking an afternoon trip around Robinsons Brewery in Stockport, a tale of three tokens, two baker’s dozen, and one tower of 54 steps.
- The following month of April saw the Society off to ‘distant’ parts exploring Cheshire's hidden gems, the trip inspired by the book of that name, written by our very own Donald Reid. A journey that started not on this day, but many summers ago, when a fresh-faced and innocent Donald Reid took his bike, thermos flask and butties to Neston Old Quay.
- June that year the destination was Arley Hall & Garden. The trip to the home of Viscount Ashbrook and his family, took place on mid summer’s day. We were fortunate that the weather was kind to us even though it was not quite so sunny and warm as the previous few days had been, no rain until the heavens opened as the journey to home was made.
MediaCityUK, a development site, of mixed-use and some 200acres, on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, is the home, amongst others of BBC North. And was the destination of the Society’s autumn trip. The land, part of the former Port of Manchester and Manchester Docks, a series of nine docks in Salford, Stretford and Manchester, completed in 1894,closed in 1982. The BBC signalled its intention to move jobs to Manchester in 2004, and the Salford Quays site was chosen in 2006. The Peel Group was granted planning permission to develop the site in 2007, and construction of the development, with its own energy generation plant and communications network, began the same year.
- Category: Trips 2013 - 2014
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The Society trip to Robinson’s Brewery; a tale of three tokens, two baker’s dozen, and one tower of 54 steps.
Judith Wilshaw had kindly organized this tour, this ‘trip’ in which a coach was not to be seen, but cars parked, buses caught, or even a rather long walk taken to meet at the appointed hour in the Visitor Centre. The brewery is an impressive Victorian building, having a prominent position in the Stockport skyline. It rests on the foundations of the Unicorn public house, beginnings of the family business, and six generations of who have continued to operate the brewery over the last 175 years.
- Category: Trips 2013 - 2014
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The ‘Curious Cheshire Charabanc Caper’, was a journey that started not on this day, but many summers ago, when a fresh-faced and innocent Donald Reid took his bike, thermos flask and butties to Neston Old Quay. This early convert to history could not have dreamt that he would return a lifetime later, with a group enticed there by his book and by his illuminating talk, both sharing the title ‘Curious Cheshire’.
Anxious faces peered from behind drawn curtains that morning. Anxious minds took in the view. “Spot on”, a bright, dry spring day beckoned. A wait of months was over.
- Category: Trips 2013 - 2014
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Our summer trip to Arley Hall and Gardens, the home of Viscount Ashbrook and his family, took place on mid summer’s day. We were fortunate that the weather was kind to us even though it was not quite so sunny and warm as the previous few days.
We were welcomed to Arley by Margaret Rowland-Jones, Group Bookings Organiser, who explained the plan for the day, which started with a short break for refreshments in the Tudor Barn restaurant before we split into two groups to begin our tour of the Hall with guides Geoffrey Lomas and Eric Foster.
- Category: Trips 2013 - 2014
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