The Wharf Marple Project
Supported by The Marple Website
The Marple Website is a shareholder and has invested £1,000 in this great community project.
23 July 2025:
The Wharf Marple secures major National Lottery Grant to open Marple’s first Heritage Centre and Community Hub
Today, The Wharf Marple CIC has received a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of £864,210 that will see them move into the final and most exciting phase of this project, transforming the Grade 2 Listed former Warehouse building into Marple’s first Heritage Centre.
Wharf Marple CIC Directors and supporters celebrate!
Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the award will fund the final stages of renovation and refurbishment of The Wharf building and bring it back into use for the benefit of the community in Marple and beyond.
Project aims now in sight
Foremost in the plan is the creation of The Wharf Heritage Centre which will bring together all the town’s rich heritage sites and enable local people, for the first time, to discover the origins and explore the fascinating history of Marple’s canal transport heritage all in one place. In addition, the building will boast a purpose designed health and wellbeing studio for groups such as Aikido, Tai Chi, Yoga and Pilates to train. And, The Wharf’s beautiful canal side location will be the perfect spot to relax with tea and cakes and watch the boats go by.
It couldn't have been done without your community support
The CIC bought the Warehouse in September 2022, having raised an impressive £196,000 from local investors via Wharf Marple CIC’s Community Investment Scheme and matched by the Department of Housing & Community’s COF.
A vintage image of Marple Wharf from the Virtual History Tour of Marple
They are also still looking for more local investment support so please do share the news with friends, families, colleagues and workplaces if you feel they may be interested in supporting this exciting project – thank you and please follow the link to the project's investment page.
Opportunities for "hands-on" involvement too
As the final phase of construction work starts, the team will be looking for more people to get involved and volunteer their time and expertise for tasks such as market research, admin support, heritage guides, heritage shop assistants, to a spot of gardening.
The wonderful view of Marple Wharf from Bridge No. 2 on the Macclesfield Canal.
There will also be opportunities for volunteers to learn new skills such as lime mortar pointing, rural crafts and digital media communications. And there will be a series of workshops, training sessions and talks on these topics for anyone interested in getting involved over the next few months.
Reactions to the award:
The Wharf Warehouse is a Grade II Listed building of national significance, much loved and well known by many people in Marple and beyond. The Warehouse building was built around the time of the construction of the Peak Forest Canal and Macclesfield Canal in the early 1800s and sits between two Grade II Listed Roving Bridges. In its heyday the Warehouse would have been busy as a trans-shipment point conveying goods to and from the neighbouring Historic England Listed Lime Kilns.
Marple Wharf in the winter of 2008, by David Burridge.
Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Communities are at the heart of many of the projects we support and this project from the Wharf Marple is a wonderful example of that. We are thrilled to award this grant, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, to ensure that the community will not only showcase the fascinating heritage of the canal ways of the area, but also ensure that the Warehouse will be conserved for future generations and transformed into a thriving community hub for the people of Marple.”
Commenting on the award, Director, Susan Ingham said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received this support thanks to National Lottery players. This amazing grant is the final piece in the funding jigsaw and the realisation of our dream to secure this much-loved historic building and Marple’s fascinating heritage that we are all so proud of, into community hands”.
Marple Wharf in its working days, from Marple Local History Society Archives.
And Heritage Director, Bob Humphrey-Taylor said: “I have devoted much of my time and effort, over the past fifteen or so years, to successfully promoting the Cultural Heritage that exists in and around Marple. I have realised for some time that what has been missing, for visitors, is a central location to bring the stories of our heritage sites together. The Marple Wharf will provide that opportunity in a convenient and comfortable environment. I look forward to when the Heritage Centre is up and running and we are able to showcase the influence the Industrial Revolution had on the development of Marple town and surrounding communities.
Director Malcolm Allan said: “The award means our team will be able to realise our vision from many years ago of a vibrant heritage community hub in a historic building that signifies the true birthplace of the village where we live.
An image of Marple Wharf from the Virtual History Tour
Chris Wallace, Building Director said: “I am delighted that we have secured funding for the final stage of this exciting community heritage project. As a Structural Engineer it gives me great pleasure to see this Grade II listed canal-side warehouse building brought back to life and saved from dereliction. The new community facility will enable the local people of Marple and its visitors to enjoy and experience this little gem, for many years to come.
Finance Director, Andy Baggott commented: “Receiving the grant is absolutely key to being able to fund this final phase to see the building being operational. Without The National Lottery Heritage Fund support it would have been very difficult to see how we could fund the project to ensure this heritage building is saved and put to great use for the community, as well as keeping the heritage story is kept alive."
The vision for The Wharf Marple
Local MP Lisa Smart said: “I am delighted, both as the local MP and as a dedicated supporter of the Wharf project. The Wharf is a perfect example of the unique industrial heritage of Marple, and bringing it back to life to celebrate this is a wonderful thing. I am firmly of the belief that the Marple Locks, Viaduct and Aqueduct are the best example of this heritage in the country, and are well worthy of World Heritage site status. Having this building as a living, breathing example of that heritage is a huge milestone in getting the area recognised and appreciated by a whole new generation of residents and visitors.”
Learn more and invest in your community
For more information about The Wharf Marple Project and how to invest go to the website www.thewharfmarple.co.uk where you can learn about the Directors and their ambitions for The Wharf, browse the detailed Business Plan and download the Investment Prospectus.
You can also follow The Wharf Marple Project on Facebook.
