Lock 17 Dedicated To Gordon Mills - Marple, United Kingdom - Citizen Memorials on Waymarking.com

It is a narrow canal and is fourteen miles long and connects Buxworth with Dukinfiled where it joins the Ashton Canal. The sixteen locks near the town of Marple raise the canal a height of 210 feet in a distance of 1 mile.

The canal had fallen into disuse by1960 but an upsurge in interest in leisure boating led to a campaign to have the canal re-opened. Gordon Mills was one of the people who helped in this campaign which led to it being reopened in 1974.

This memorial lock was opened on 20th September 2009 and has been numbered 17 as though it is the first new lock to be built on the canal in 200 years.

Although this memorial has been made to look as though it has traditional wooden gates, they have actually been constructed out of metal as they will last much longer than wooden ones.

The lock gates are surrounded by a floral display representing water flowing along the canal. It is a recreation of display from a Royal Horticultural Society competition in 2006 at Tatton Park. The display won a Gold Medal in the competition.

A bronze plaque on a stone in front of the memorial has the following inscription.

GORDON MILLS 1935 – 2006

This display, based on Stockport Council’s 2006 Gold Medal
winning entry to the RHS Tatton Show, is dedicated to the
memory of Gordon Mills.

Remembered as a printer, publisher, author and photographer
with a vast knowledge of Marple’s local history, his legacy of publications will continue to give pleasure for many years to
come. Gordon was also a dedicated campaigner for the
restoration of the canals and waterways and a great fundraiser
for the British Heart Foundation, but most importantly of all
he was a devoted family man. Marple is a better place for his
contribution.

This display was recreated as a joint project between Marple Locks Heritage Society
and the friends of Marple Memorial Park. Funding was provided by Stockport
Council, The Marple Website and Marple Area Commitee.

Website with more information on either the memorial or the person(s) it is dedicated to: [Web Link] Location: Oldknow Gardens near to the real lock 13.

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