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Leek, "Capital of the
Moorlands", is a town with very interesting past
and anyone who enjoys discovering how history
affects the present will not be disappointed by a
stay here.
From 17th century, the town developed as an
industrial centre based on textiles, particularly
silk and dyeing, with many large multi-storey
mills of which several are still used today -
although not necessarily for their original
industry.
However, there are still textile manufacturers in
the town and several "factory shops" selling
famous brand names direct to the public.
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The open market, held every
Wednesday in the Market Place which is still
covered with cobbles, was first established by
Royal Charter in 1208.
Adjacent is the Butter Market which today houses
stalls selling a variety of goods and produce. |
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There are many attractive
buildings in the town which was particularly
influenced by the Sugden family. William, a
Yorkshire architect, came to Leek in 1848 to
oversee the construction of stations on the
Churnet Valley
Railway. He set up in business
in Leek and his eldest son, William Larner
Sugden, joined the firm in 1881.
The firm was responsible for the design of a
wide variety of buildings in the town;
residences for the gentry, shops, factories,
schools and other public buildings of which the
most prominent is probably the Nicholson
Institute and the adjoining School of Art built
between 1880 and 1900.
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The Brindley Mill in Mill
Street houses a museum to this supposedly
illiterate engineer who was responsible for the
construction of many local canals and the first
Harecastle canal tunnel at Kidsgrove north of
Stoke-on-Trent.
These canals were responsible for much of the
development of North Staffordshire as they
enabled the cheap and convenient transportation
of raw materials and manufactured goods.
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One of his major
achievements in
this area was
the construction
of the Cauldon
Canal which
linked the
Churnet valley
with "The
Potteries" and
via the Trent &
Mersey canal to
the world
beyond.
The town is
dominated by St
Edward's church.
The present
building dates
back to 1297
when a
disastrous fire
destroyed its
predecessor and
boasts a
magnificent
timber roof of
the nave where
each cross beam
was hewn from a
separate oak
tree. The
Ashenhurst
monumental brass
inside the
church became so
popular with
brass-rubbers
that they were
in danger of
causing
irreparable
damage and the
process is now
prohibited.
No description
of Leek could be
complete without
mentioning the
antique shops
which seem to
flourish in the
town. On
Saturdays there
is even an
antiques and
crafts market.
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From Leek, taking the A53
Buxton road, you will find "Ramshaw Rocks" and
"The Roaches", outcrops of dark millstone grit
popular with climbers but pleasant countryside
for any lovers of the outdoors.
The black rocks have caused this area of high
moorland to be named the "dark peak" as distinct
from the "white peak", limestone areas further
east and south.
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Continuing on
this road will
bring you to the
turning to
Flash, "Highest
Village in
England - 1,158
feet above sea
level" and to
Three Shires
Head where the
county
boundaries of
Staffordshire,
Cheshire, and
Derbyshire all
meet.
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