Leek, Staffordshire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Leek | |
|
Leek shown within Staffordshire | |
| Population | 41,239 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | Staffordshire Moorlands |
| Shire county | Staffordshire |
| Region | West Midlands |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LEEK |
| Postcode district | ST13 |
| Dialling code | 01538 |
| Police | Staffordshire |
| Fire | Staffordshire |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament | Staffordshire Moorlands |
| European Parliament | West Midlands |
| List of places: UK • England • Staffordshire | |
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. King John granted Ranulph de Blundeville, Earl of Chester, the right to hold a weekly Wednesday market and an annual seven-day fair in Leek in 1207.
Leek was served by a railway station which was opened by the North Staffordshire Railway on July 13, 1849.
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. The mills from the town's textile era still remain. Many are currently being turned into houses. The town's markets still remain active to this day.
[edit] Geography
Most of the town is at or above 600 feet (180 m) 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 Victorian period, and older, buildings still stand in the town although the original town centre cattle market was demolished and replaced with a bus station and shopping centre in the 1960s. 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 canal engineer. He built a water-powered corn mill in 1752. This watermill is now preserved as Brindley Water Mill and Museum.[1]
William Morris, founder of the Arts and Crafts movement, lived and worked in Leek between 1875 and 1878. Local rumour[citation needed] 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[2] Tea Room of the Year award for 2000.
[edit] Tourist Attractions & Leisure
Nearby Rudyard Lake is a popular tourist attraction and home to the Rudyard Lake Steam Railway, running along its eastern shores. Other nearby local attractions are the local football club Leek Town F.C., Alton Towers, the cultural and leisure facilities of the city of Stoke-on-Trent, and the Peak District National Park. Leek's "Double Sunset" also attracts many tourists. Leek is also visited regularly by people from its twinned town Este in Italy.
[edit] Local transport
The town of Leek is served by First with a regular number 18 bus service (or 16 on an alternative route via Cellarhead). There are also frequent bus services to Sheffield and the nearby town of Buxton using 118 bus.
[edit] Trivia
| Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- 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.[3]
- There is also a yearly phenomenon known as the 'Double Sunset'. This event, first recognised by Dr. Plot, occurs when the sun appears to set behind Bosley Cloud, subsequently reappearing in the hollow of the hill's vertical northern side, before setting again. It occurs three or four days before the summer solstice. Dr. Plot's detailed account can be found in his book 'The Natural History of Staffordshire.'
- Leek's Coat of Arms is made up of a Saltire Shield. On the top is the Staffordshire Knot, either side is the famous leek 'Double Sunset' and below a gold garb. The crest is a mural crown with three Mulberry leaves on a Mount of Heather on top of which a Moorcock is resting his claw on a small-weave Shuttle. The motto 'ARTE FAVENTE NIL DESPERANDUM' translates to: Our skill assisting us, we have no cause for despair. The Coat of Arms was granted on 7th May 1956.[citation needed]
- Leek High Specialist Technology School uses three local rivers as their house names: "Dane", Manifold" and "Churnet".[citation needed]
- Westwood College uses two towns in staffordshire as two of their house names: "Lichfield" and "Stafford". It also uses the names of two people associated with the school for the names of the other two houses: "Davenport" after the person who built the old part of the school building and "Johnson" after the person who turned the old part of the school from a manor house into an actual school
- Leek has more public houses per square mile than any other town in the United Kingdom.[citation needed]
- In the grave yard at St. Edward's Church there is a gravestone of a person called James Robinson who died in 1788 and supposedly lived for 438 years
Picture 093.jpg
Leek Golf Club |
Relaxing.jpg
River Churnet |
Picture 537.jpg
A view of Leek with The Roaches behind |
[edit] Schools
- All Saints' Church of England First School[4]
- Beresford Memorial Church of England First School
- Blackshaw Moor Church of England First School (in the neighbouring village of Blackshaw Moor)
- Churnet View Middle School
- Horton Lodge Community Special School and Key Learning Centre (in the neighbouring village of Horton Lodge)
- Leek First School
- Leek High Specialist Technology School
- Springfield Community Special School
- St. Edwards First School (in the neighbouring village of Cheddleton)
- 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] Notes and References
- ^ Brindley Mill. Retrieval Date: 22 August, 2007.
- ^ The Tea Council. Official website. Retrieval Date: 22 August, 2007.
- ^ Mermaid Pool Legend. Retrieval Date: 22 August, 2007.
- ^ All Saints' Church of England First School. Retrieval Date: 22 August, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Local Leek Website
- Local Website
- Rudyard Lake Steam Railway
- Leek Arts Festival
- Leeks past in pictures and music
- Leeks past in pictures and music No2
- Leek, Staffordshire is at coordinates
Ceremonial county of Staffordshire | |
|---|---|
| Unitary authorities | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Boroughs or districts | Cannock Chase • East Staffordshire • Lichfield • Newcastle-under-Lyme • South Staffordshire • Stafford • Staffordshire Moorlands • Tamworth |
| Cities and 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 |
nl:Leek (Engeland) no:Leek (England) vo:Leek (Staffordshire)
