I really hope that one day in the future, maybe 5 years, maybe 10, that you'll drive from Offerton with your children and pull up at the lights at 17 Windows and say " That house has such an indelible mark on Marple's history, and if it wasn't for the present owners you'd've not have had the same banner to welcome you home that I'd've had for the last 30-40 years....did you know 2 centuries ago people used to sit in the loft and weave silk....yeah.... you think that's good wait till I show you the remains of the other textile buildings around here.... "
I don't know about you but 17 windows and the sweep up through Dan Bank and it's 'tunnel' of trees* has always welcomed me home, and I would like to congratulate the owners of 17 Windows for giving the building a new lease of life. And any of you lot who think they've spoiled things by putting an extension on the side and knocked down a few trees to build a drive want to think about Marple Hall, Stone Row, Woodville,the Jolly Sailor and any number of historic buildings that no-one could be arsed with. Please, there are so many beautiful parts of Marple; but even in my short lifetime we've lost so so many that it really is so sad that people can be arguing over the renovation of what is such a landmark, such a homecoming building as 17 windows; and I for one would rather see an extension, a bit of rendering and a drive way than lose another of Marple's historic buildings.
But hey, I'm probably living in the past - let's just let them all fall to rack n' ruin and ....um oh yeah and once we've got rid of it we'll build another 6 Barratt homes there.
* that tunnel seems to have widened, much to my chagrin.
