Meet a character
Ann Vanpine
c. 1811 – 1890 · Apprentice spinner · Schoolteacher
Came to Marple aged fourteen as one of Mr Oldknow's apprentice cotton spinners. Lived in his row houses for the rest of her life, and in middle age opened a school for the next generation of mill children. Ask her about the work, the schooling, or the master.
Begin the conversation. Pick a question below, or write your own.
Try asking her
Three places to meet Ann
Same character. Three ways to find her.
At the kiosk
Inside the heritage centre, a full-screen avatar with voice and lip-sync.
On the towpath
Walking the trail with the app. She talks about Mellor, Marple, and the route the cotton took.
Here, anywhere
On this site. The conversation, the personality, the same Ann.
Meet someone else
Samuel Oldknow has a different view of all this.
The industrialist who built the mills Ann worked in. He houses her, but he doesn't know her. Worth hearing his side too.
Meet Samuel Oldknow →