Leek, Staffordshire
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| Leek | |
|---|---|
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| Statistics | |
| Population: | 41239 |
| Ordnance Survey | |
| OS grid reference: | SJ754485 |
| Administration | |
| District: | Staffordshire Moorlands |
| Region: | West Midlands |
| Constituent country: | England |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom |
| Other | |
| Ceremonial county: | Staffordshire |
| Historic county: | Staffordshire |
| Services | |
| Police force: | Staffordshire |
| Fire and rescue: | {{{Fire}}} |
| Ambulance: | Staffordshire |
| Post office and telephone | |
| Post town: | LEEK |
| Postal district: | ST13 |
| Dialling code: | 01538 |
| Politics | |
| UK Parliament: | Staffordshire Moorlands |
| European Parliament: | West Midlands |
| Image:Flag of England.svg | |
Leek is a town in the county of Staffordshire, England, on the River Churnet. It is an ancient borough and was granted its royal charter in 1214. It is the administrative centre for the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.
Contents |
[edit] Economy
The town has had a regular cattle market for hundreds of years, reflecting its role as a centre of local farming. During the industrial revolution it became a major producer of textiles. Though this industry has declined somewhat, it has continued through the large number of clothing manufacturers in the town, and the prominence of dyeing and allied trades.
[edit] Schools
- All Saints' Church of England First School
- Beresford Memorial Church of England First School
- Blackshaw Moor Church of England First School
- Churnet View Middle School
- Horton Lodge Community Special School and Key Learning Centre
- Leek First School
- Leek High School
- Springfield Community Special School
- St. Edwards First School
- St. Edwards Middle School
- St. Mary's Catholic Primary School
- St. Michael's Church of England First School
- Westwood College (Formerly Westwood High School)
- Westwood First School
- Woodcroft First School
[edit] Geography
Most of the town is at or above 600ft and is surrounded by the even higher countryside of the Staffordshire Moorlands which is situated on the southern uplands of the Pennines. Leek is built on the slope and crown of a hill which is situated just a few miles south of The Roaches which rises to 505m and lies on the tip of the Peak District National Park.
[edit] Architecture & Development
Many beautiful Victorian period, and older, buildings grace the town although the original town centre cattle market was demolished and replaced with a bus station and shopping centre in the 1960s. This bus station is an example of the worst architecture of that period. The new cattle market was built on the edge of town adjacent to the railway station. Later, this was one of the stations closed following Dr. Beeching's recommendations. It was later replaced with a supermarket now owned by Morrisons.
[edit] Notable Residents
Leek was the home of James Brindley, the 18th century engineer who built most of the canal network. He built a water-powered corn mill in 1752. This watermill is now the Brindley Mill museum.
William Morris, founder of the Arts and Crafts movement, lived and worked in Leek between 1875 and 1878. Local rumour suggests that he founded the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in 1877 as a result of his successful campaign to prevent the demolition of the building that now houses Greystones tearoom, winner of the Tea Council's [1] Tea Room of the Year award for 2000.
[edit] Tourist Attractions & Leisure
Nearby Rudyard Lake is a popular tourist attraction and home to a narrow gauge steam railway (Rudyard Lake Steam Railway) running along its eastern shores. Other nearby local attractions are Alton Towers, the cultural and leisure facilities of the city of Stoke-on-Trent, and the Peak District National Park.
[edit] Trivia
- One legend in Leek is the one of the Mermaid Pool. It is said the pool is bottomless and that the mermaid appears by the lake and draws men to their deaths. It should be noted that there is a pub right by the pool, which could place this legend down to inebriation.
- Amongst the Leekensions it has become something of a custom to write letters regarding the current state of affairs (locally, nationally or internationally) to the local newspapers (The Leek Post and Your Leek Paper) using a pseudonym - this often results in debates. (Recent examples include the Lord of the Roaches, The Proud Leekension and King Thomas of Merica).
Leek Market Square |
Leek Golf Club |
River Churnet |
A view of Leek with The Roaches behind |
[edit] External links
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- Mapping from Multimap or GlobalGuide or Google Maps
- Aerial image from TerraServer
- Satellite image from WikiMapia
Ceremonial county of Staffordshire 
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| Unitary authorities: | Stoke-on-Trent | |
| Boroughs/Districts: | Cannock Chase • East Staffordshire • Lichfield • Newcastle-under-Lyme • South Staffordshire • Stafford • Staffordshire Moorlands • Tamworth | |
| Cities/Towns: | Biddulph • Burntwood • Burton upon Trent • Cannock • Cheadle • Eccleshall • Hednesford • Kidsgrove • Leek • Lichfield • Newcastle-under-Lyme • Penkridge • Rugeley • Stafford • Stoke-on-Trent (Burslem • Fenton • Hanley • Longton • Stoke • Tunstall) • Stone • Tamworth • Uttoxeter See also: List of civil parishes in Staffordshire | |
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