Rudyard Kipling did you say?

Rudyard Lake is a splendid area, situated on the outskirts of Leek!

Here I have found some information that will interest you to visit such a lovely, splendiforous, natural lake, with beautiful wildlife!

The story of Rudyard really began in 1797 when an Act of Parliament authorised the construction of a two and a half mile long reservoir just north of Leek in the Staffordshire Moorlands. Its purpose was to feed the ever growing system of canals that were vital arteries of the Industrial Revolution in the Midlands.

Then, in 1829, the North Staffordshire Railway Company laid a track skirting the lake, part of a line linking Manchester with Uttoxeter, and built two stations at each end of the lake. Before long it became a weekend mecca for day trippers, with a constant stream of excursion trains from Manchester and the Potteries disgorging thousands attracted by the beautiful surroundings and the many activities laid on for their pleasure. Awaiting them was a fleet of rowing boats, a funfair, brass band concerts and dozens of tearooms.
Among the numerous courting couples who walked the tranquil banks of the lake in 1863 were a certain John Lockwood Kipling and Alice Macdonald. Their love blossomed, they married, and their first-born was named after the lake. He became one of Britain's greatest writers.

Rudyard Lake's peak of popularity was towards the end of the 1800s, when in one day as many as 20,000 excursionists would buy cheap train tickets. There were plenty of celebrities to entertain them too. The world's greatest trapeze artist, Blondin, fresh from his feat of crossing Niagara Falls on the high wire, came to Rudyard to repeat his achievement. And Captain Webb, the first man to swim the English Channel, delighted the crowds lining the line with a demonstration of his prowess.

Researching the "Leek"

I have been trying to research 'Leek' and Surrounding Area, and I have come across some lovely photos as you can see by this blog already! However, I was really impressed to find this photo, the insides of the junction box at 'Leekbrook Junction'...

It's half term in Leek this next fortnight so I'm hoping to take the children exploring and see what we can find!

Leek History by a 10 year old

Well Dec had his school report back and as far as history goes, he is and should be learning about Leek!

I have told him that anything he learns, any pictures he has in school books or writing i want to scan and include on here!

It will be excellent to have his input! His school report is exceedingly perfect!!!!

I am yet to find any evidence of him doing any history of Leek but if i find some I WILL be copying it onto here!

Leekbrook and Leek March Adventures

Well EJ and I went on one of our little adventures today! We walked down the Leekbrook Line. I took some photos of EJ and most of all i managed to capture the Leekbrook line signal box (which is to the side of where the estate is where we live)













We got talking to a couple walking their dogs and they told us the easiest way to get to the canal before walking towards Denford and the well known 'Holly Bush' public house.

Once we got into town I took the opportunity to take some photos (again in sepia tone) of St Edward Street, where, if you travel along, has some grand old buildings, some were built in the early 1700s which are nice to see still standing.











I have to admit that I would have liked to have a look around the town a bit more, maybe go beside Clark Bank, by the side of St Edwards Church yet sadly EJ was too tired so maybe next week it will be a time for adventure with both EJ and Dec.

I'd like to go and visit St Edwards the Confessor to see the Saxon crosses, ancient and yet still standing in the church yard and near the vicarage.

Returning home, I have to say that by the time you get to the Birchall playing fields you can see this tower...





...it towers above the trees, and although I'm not sure as yet what part of the hospital it originally was, it has now been formed into a home? Yes it is actually a home to somebody now! Redrow builders have constructed/renovated buildings all around this including renovating the old hospital site which must be a listed building so they cannot disrupt most of the original work there.

Leek's Edwardian Charm

Just before the Christmas of 2007, I came across Leeks own Edwardian Charm, the name as such belongs to a shop just off the market square in Leek, thus 'Market Street'. The owners are very relaxed and charming in themselves, and the shop is like stepping back in time! At Christmas they open their top floor to reveal such lavish Edwardian charm in a Christmas theme, from tuneful mini Edwardian village style houses that have lights on and sing Christmas music, to snow globes and garlands that take you back in time to yesteryear!

The gentleman that owns it gave my daughter a couple of Christmastime treats, one being a little dolly with plaits in to hang off our Christmas tree and the other a little wooden heart and snowman festive decoration with proper string on.

They won an award for their Christmas 2007 window display! Believe me, it was truly well earned! It is the best quaint little shop in leek other than that of the ones in Getliffes yard which in itself is truly a step back in time.

...don't know much about geology...

ok im not singing the rest of the song yet here we go... accumulative history of Leekbrook and Leek, Staffordshire as I know and as I learn...
this photo was taken on the Leekbrook line, if I'm right the unused junction/signal box should be behind to the left and to the right, a view to the new Wainhomes development at Wardle Gardens.. Where WE live!




this photo is further down the line, just before you reach the Leekbrook line tunnel




This is a great tunnel! the children love to shout and hear their echo's in here and I do believe that when its really icy you can see really beautiful icicles in here yet we've not seen any as yet, I do believe there is plenty of time to see them though!







On walking to town yet avoiding the old railway due to bad weather, this is one of the roads we use to get into town via car/bus/walking. The catholic church is the stone walls you see to your left of the road.





Here is Derby Street, the main Shopping area, behind are shops like Woolworth's and the Edinburgh wool shop, down to bottom of the street you can see the old square! If you travel down a bit to the left, just before the bargain booze shop, you will find a little alleyway to your left, this is known as Getliffes Yard! Its a quaint alley with a few small gift shops and then there is Coffee Clique including Internet access and Guava Guava for a Tapas or two.

Here are the roaches, lovely, splendiferous rocks on the edge of Leek, travelling towards Thorncliffe and Flash.





A fair few weeks ago we took the children up to the roaches! We rambled up the paths and around the rocks, down the steep steps built into the rocky hills and despite me holding on (god what a wimp) I have to say that I really enjoyed that walk with the family! It was a lovely sunny Sunday, it was warm, and not too cold up in them their hills! Well Mountains as EJ calls them! We came across the well known house in the rocks.. here it is in all its glory...

... i have to say though! it wasn't open when we went by, could have had a nice cuppa tea in there we could!








There are some wondrous old buildings around Leek, Cheddleton and Wetley Rocks. Down the road in Cheddleton we have a flint mill, apparently free entry but I've not been in YET...



Here is a link to a picture taken from half way up St Edwards Street to the foot of it, by the crossroads, in the near distance you can see the Alms Houses from the mid 1600s.



Here are the infamous Alms Houses!
and now for a black n white version...

Alms House: The Gift of Elizabeth Ash, widow, the eldest daughter of William Jollife Esqr. A.D. 1696. Restored 1911

I had always guessed they may be Alms houses yet weren't quite sure, after searching for a while on the net for images around the area of Leek, Staffordshire, I finally came across proof that they are in fact, Alms Houses.

Further down the road, back towards home is a little road that leads to what were old mills in Leek, These are the Albion Mills, here is a black n white picture of what they look like before fully transformed to trendy apartments...

why oh why can't old be left to their original glory! these could have easily been renovated to look like, well, what they used to look like in their hay day without modernising them!

Not many buildings have gone as I can see, there is a pink building, and a blue building on what's known as Clark Bank, however it originally looked like this...