The Roebuck, Sunday April 20th 2008

I am yet to step into this lovely pub, it looks gorgeous from the outside, built in 1626 I am sure there are some ghosts pacing the floors of this lovely building, the exterior is grande, I will let you know if the interior is as quaint as the exterior....Watch this space!

Newsflash... (9th July 2008) The Roebuck is old
fashioned inside, on the downstairs, the first and last time I (or should I say
we, as phil was with me), ventured into here was the day after my birthday, 24th
May 2008, it was strange to go outside (yet under cover) to the toilets, and I
know after experiencing the ghost tour with Bill Cawley, that this particular
public house/hotel is supposed to be haunted, although I never felt a presence
when we were in there. We ventured to the 'Cock Inn', on the opposite side
of the road to this particular public house/hotel. (more my kind of pub as they
had heavy metal music on including AC/DCs Thunderstruck).

Bird In Hand Inn on Market Square, Leek

This is one of the older pubs in Leek, notice the victorian timbering on the house! This is the Bird in Hand, it is situated on the Market Square in Leek. You will also notice the St Georges flag below the sign, this was taken during the St Georges day celebrations over the weekend of the 19th and 20th April (2008)

The Olde House

A zoomed in view of a typical weavers house on King Street, Leek. Weavers would do their work in the upper top floor of the house, where you see the slim window, just below the roof tiles. The door surround seems to be natural and the existing one from when the houses were first built?!

The lamp outside the house looks of the character of the existing gas lit lamps of the Victorian era. There are no cobbles down this street which is a shame but if you turn the corner at the top, into Albion street, the cobbles are still there, mainly because the council removed them and were protested against to replace by the local residents ... good on the residents I say!

Another thing you may notice about these houses is the brick work, this is obviously an old fashioned method as the bricks look so tightly weaved together, its just a total different style to the modern day building as we know of today!

King Street, Leek

Again, as earlier sepia photographs show, this is King street, just off Albion Street, these are old weavers cottages and the feint sighting of street lamps that you see would have looked very similar yet gas lit by a lamp lighter every day/evening. The lightly coloured building right at the end, on the right, is the start of the 'Albion Mill', these have been redesigned into homes, namely "Albion mill loft homes" so at least the old mill has been put into some new use but most of the old brickwork doesnt look like a mill now, its fairly new although they have complimented the buildings by installing old fashioned looking doors.
This bloke was chasing after his son across the road, and probably wondered what I was taking photos of although he probably also thought I may be a tourist/visitor to the area, no! We moved to Leekbrook in September 2007.

The Lower end of Mill Street (p66)

"This picture of the lower end of Mill Street, with some local children walking home, shows the row of trees which added a touch of greenery to an otherwise industrial scene".

Mill Street houses (p65)

Top photo..."These old properties were typical of the houses on Mill Street, many of which stood three or four storeys high. The tightly knit community was virtually self contained, having its own shops, pubs, schools and churches".

Bottom photo..."The Methodist chapel and Ragged School are on the extreme right of this picture. Above this, and towering over the houses, is 'Big Mill', build originally by Sugden and Son for the textile firm of Lovatt and Gould in 1860. From 1896 it became Wardle and Davenport Ltd, providing employment for many people living in the area".

Mill Street, Leek in the late Victorian years (p64)

Just as it says "Mill Street, Leek, in the late Victorian years" It does look a heck of a lot different now!

Goodwin and Tattons factory (p63)

"The Extremely tall chimney of Stephen Goodwin and Tatton's factory dominates this view of the top of Mill Street. The factory was burned down during the 1940s. On the extreme right is the old drinking fountain in the wall of St Edward's churchyard". (something to inspect next time im in town with the camera)

Buxton road & Ashbourne road (p62)

Top photo..."Buxton Road. This early view of what is now a very busy road junction whos Abbotts Road, formerly Abbotts Lane, leading off to the left."

Bottom photo..."The row of fine victorian town houses on the right were desirable properties on the edge of town".

Crusos yard and broad street (p61)

Top photo..."A well-earned feed was the reward for this horse after a busy day of deliveries. The scene is Cruso's Yard, with Stockwell street in the background"

Bottom photo..."This picture of Broad Street shows the builder's yard of Thomas Grace on the right, with a row of typical weavers' cottages on the left."