Leek guidebook

  pic: St Edward Street
Leek lies on the edge of the spectacular Peak District in the Staffordshire Moorlands and is known as the 'Queen of the Moorlands'.

Although it's close to the Potteries, its textiles and farming heritage perhaps give it more in common with its neighbours of Buxton and Macclesfield, in Derbyshire and Cheshire respectively.

Leek sits proudly on a hill at more than 600 feet above sea level, and The Roches, a prominent rocky landmark familiar to climbers, is only a few minutes' drive away, signifying the start of the Peak District National Park.

Leek has been a prominent town since the 11th century, but most of its current wealth came from the textile industry following the industrial revolution.

Some textile manufacturing remains, although Leek is now better known as an excellent centre for antiques. Many shops selling collectible items can be found, making for an interesting shopping scene.

An attractive development known as Getliffe's Yard is well worth a visit, where an interesting range of shops and places to eat and drink has been created in an historic courtyard in the heart of the town centre.

In recent times, developers have seen the potential of Leek's old textile mills, turning them into attractive homes, and this trend has brought residents back into the centre and has led to an upsurge in places to eat and drink.

Leek has a popular outdoor Wednesday market; indoor markets on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; and an outdoor craft and antique market on Saturdays, too. There's also an excellent range of independent shops selling gifts for all occasions.

The town's heritage is celebrated at Brindley's Water Mill and Museum, a former water-powered corn mill built by the famous canal pioneer James Brindley in 1752.

An unusual feature of Leek is the "double sunset" - a phenomenon which can be witnessed on Midsummer's Day from the grounds of St Edward the Confessor's Parish Church - when the sun appears to set behind Cloud hill, only to reappear.

Leek has several large employers, the most significant being the Britannia Building Society which has its national headquarters on the A520 on the outskirts of town. A second building society, Leek United, is also based here.

The North Staffordshire conurbation, with a population of around 400,000 people, is a short drive south and also offers many job opportunities.

Property in Leek

Leek is large enough to accommodate a varied range of housing set in a traditional market town.

Older parts such as the West End have many small terraced homes and former mill-workers' cottages, while attractive Victorian family homes can be found slightly further from the centre in areas such as Junction Road.

Modern estate-style four-bedroom properties have been developed in several districts including Badgers Rise, overlooking Brough Park, and Hillside Drive, backing on to Westwood Golf Club.

There are several very large homes in the Ladderedge area on the approach to the town centre from the Potteries, and the rural northern outskirts have many hillside farmhouses on the main A53 road to Buxton.

There are several attractive villages and hamlets in the countryside surrounding Leek including Cheddleton and Endon. 

The former, on the A520, has a large, modern mixed housing development built in the picturesque grounds of the former St Edwards psychiatric hospital.

Many of the old hospital buildings - including a water tower - have been transformed into impressive looking homes, with the extensive grounds now serving as a beautiful countryside setting for the development.

Endon is on the A53, which runs from Leek to Stoke-on-Trent, and has a wide range of attractive homes, from small historic cottages to very substantial country houses.

Leek has its own further education college and a high school with specialist technology college status. Younger children are catered for by first and middle schools run by Staffordshire County Council.

It is the largest town in the Staffordshire Moorlands and is the administrative centre for the district council, whose main office is at Moorlands House in Stockwell Street.

Living here

Transport:

Trains: Leek has not had a railway service for several years; the closest station is around ten miles away in Stoke-on-Trent.
 
From here, there are direct links to London and Manchester, and cross country trains to other destinations such as Crewe and Derby.

Roads: Leek town centre is situated on a junction of the A523, A53 and A520 roads.

These provide good links to the nearby towns of Macclesfield and Congleton, in Cheshire; Buxton and Ashbourne, in Derbyshire; and the city of Stoke-on-Trent, in Staffordshire.

The latter has two junctions onto the M6, giving easy access to Birmingham and Manchester, while the A50 runs from the Potteries to the M1 near Nottingham.

Buses: Services are operated by a number of companies, many under contract to Staffordshire County Council. 

The number 16 bus runs from Stoke-on-Trent to Leek via Werrington, Cellarhead crossroads, Wetley Rocks and Cheddleton.

The number 18 operates from Hanley to Leek, and the 118 from Hanley to Buxton stops at Leek, as well as Milton, Baddeley Green and Endon. 

Stoke-on-Trent's main bus station at Hanley has links to major bus routes throughout Staffordshire and Cheshire.

Air: Manchester, East Midlands and Birmingham airports are all within a 90-minute drive.

Eating and drinking:

Leek has a variety of traditional tearooms, restaurants and pubs.

These include a Belgian bar, Indian restaurants and country inns – a well known example is the Three Horseshoes at Blackshaw Moor.

A short distance away, Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle both offer lively nightlife and a wide range of restaurants.

Sports:

Leek Cricket Club play to a high standard, as do nearby Ashcombe Park and Endon.

Leek Rugby Club is based at St Edward's Park in Cheddleton, having moved from a base in Leek town centre in the 1990s to a purpose-built ground and clubhouse.

There are two local football clubs, Leek Town and Leek CSOB (County School Old Boys).
 
Leek has two excellent golf clubs, the Leek Club at Birchall, and Westwood, close to the A53 at Ladderedge.

Brough Park Leisure Centre, owned by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, has a swimming pool, a fitness suite and sports hall, and Leek High School has good sports facilities for hire.

There is a sailing club based at Rudyard Lake near Leek, and horse riders are spoilt for choice with a wide range of stables and bridle paths in the area.
 
Leisure and Entertainment:

Nearby attractions include steam railways in the Churnet Valley and at Rudyard Lake.

Churnet Valley also has a nature reserve and is set in some stunning countryside; Rudyard Lake is also in a beautiful country setting, and is popular for sailing and fishing, or just walking.

The Blackbrook Zoological Park at Winkhill near Leek houses the UK's largest bird collection, and is well known for its achievement in breeding rare birds and conservation work. 

Biddulph Grange Gardens and Cheddleton Flint Mill are also nearby.

Alton Towers, one of the best-known theme parks in the world, is situated in the Staffordshire Moorlands. It has a range of white-knuckle rides and attractions, as well as hotel facilities including Splash Landings, a hotel incorporating an indoor water park.

Parks and open spaces:

Residents of Leek are spoilt for choice.

Recreation grounds and parks include Brough Park, Birchall Playing Fields, Ball Haye Green War Memorial Recreation Ground, Pickwood Recreation Ground, Ashbourne Road and Westwood Recreation Ground.

The town is surrounded by country parks and beauty spots including the Churnet Valley, Rudyard Lake, Ladderedge Country Park and Tittersworth Reservoir, which has excellent children's play facilities.