A Vision for Marple by Ian H Bruce (2010) Recorded by Ian H Bruce They’re asleep in the valley, they’ll awake with the sun To tend forest and farmland, where the Goyt river runs Little thought for their future, just life’s daily grind As history drifts by and the seasons unwind ’Til came Samuel Oldknow with a vision, a plan And with Arkwright’s aid he built a mill great and grand The Goyt was diverted, water wheels looms did drive So that Mellor and Marple would prosper and thrive Chorus : So please don’t miss Marple, please stop and explore We’ve heritage, we've views and a vision once more The women, the work-force, cream muslin now weaved Man’s labour discarded like red autumn leaves Though money was short Oldknow didn’t shirk The canal he proposed would provide men with work Navigators built tunnels, stone bridges, the cut And the Goyt was traversed on a tall aqueduct From Ashton and Bugsworth the canal had advanced But there were no locks at Marple due to lack of finance When Arkwright’s deep pockets rescued Oldknow’s scheme Efficient transport of goods was no longer a dream A church, turnpike roads, weaver’s houses to let But as Marple bloomed, Sam fell deeper in debt Now the people of Marple can look back and appraise The zeal of Sam Oldknow and his ‘enlightened’ ways Was his vision unclouded, was this mill employer A benevolent despot, a poor entrepreneur? Since financial downturn swept away Sam’s success The Goyt has flowed onward and seen Marple progress While history’s seen mills burn and chimneys crash down They’re no longer asleep in this dormitory town Marple Civic Society have been active in trying to ensure the development of Marple Wharf was 'appropriate' and did not destroy its heritage value. In conjunction with Stockport MBC and British Waterways their ambitions for Marple have grown into an important document entitled 'A Vision for Marple'. This struck me as a potential song title and so I set to work. I hope the 'potted history' of Marple isn't too inaccurate and apologies for the recording and tune which needs 'pepping-up' a bit. - Ian H Bruce
A Vision for Marple by Ian H Bruce (2010) Recorded by Ian H Bruce They’re asleep in the valley, they’ll awake with the sun To tend forest and farmland, where the Goyt river runs Little thought for their future, just life’s daily grind As history drifts by and the seasons unwind ’Til came Samuel Oldknow with a vision, a plan And with Arkwright’s aid he built a mill great and grand The Goyt was diverted, water wheels looms did drive So that Mellor and Marple would prosper and thrive Chorus : So please don’t miss Marple, please stop and explore We’ve heritage, we've views and a vision once more The women, the work-force, cream muslin now weaved Man’s labour discarded like red autumn leaves Though money was short Oldknow didn’t shirk The canal he proposed would provide men with work Navigators built tunnels, stone bridges, the cut And the Goyt was traversed on a tall aqueduct From Ashton and Bugsworth the canal had advanced But there were no locks at Marple due to lack of finance When Arkwright’s deep pockets rescued Oldknow’s scheme Efficient transport of goods was no longer a dream A church, turnpike roads, weaver’s houses to let But as Marple bloomed, Sam fell deeper in debt Now the people of Marple can look back and appraise The zeal of Sam Oldknow and his ‘enlightened’ ways Was his vision unclouded, was this mill employer A benevolent despot, a poor entrepreneur? Since financial downturn swept away Sam’s success The Goyt has flowed onward and seen Marple progress While history’s seen mills burn and chimneys crash down They’re no longer asleep in this dormitory town Marple Civic Society have been active in trying to ensure the development of Marple Wharf was 'appropriate' and did not destroy its heritage value. In conjunction with Stockport MBC and British Waterways their ambitions for Marple have grown into an important document entitled 'A Vision for Marple'. This struck me as a potential song title and so I set to work. I hope the 'potted history' of Marple isn't too inaccurate and apologies for the recording and tune which needs 'pepping-up' a bit. - Ian H Bruce
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