Heros

About 100 soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment "the Staffords" took part in a parade, which was led by the band of The Prince of Wales's Division, ahead of their posting to Germany. A great spectacle and a fitting salute to our lads.

The maude

Back to Leek for this shot of the old Maude institute building, that is the one on the left, next to the HQ of the 2nd Leek scouts. The Maude was built in 1896 and the scout HQ in 1723. The Maude is now home to Leeks newest gym and club, Genetix, a great venue to see live acts, as i found out only last week. Its about time we had a good venue again, in the past Leek has seen some good acts perform here, including the Rolling stones and the Beatles.

Castro's

Just a bit along the canal from the last shot,showing the lock gates and Castros, one of the best restaurants in the Leek area

Tunnel vision

This is just outside of the flint mill,looking back under the main road.

Beatrice

Special children need a special person, meet Beatrice a canal boat run by a charity to help give kids that need it a day on the canal. As one shouted to me as the boat passed, "i'm on a Rosie and Jim boat", he really looked happy.

Cheddleton Flint mill

Just outside of Leek, tucked down off the main road that runs through the village is the Flint mill. Its a great little spot right by the canal and the perfect way to spend a quite hour.

Water wheel no2

The same wheel as yesterday at Cheddleton flint mill but showing the blossom of nearby trees, at first glance this looks like water spraying up from the wheel

Water wheel

The water wheel at Cheddleton flint mill.

Spring time

Spring time down on the canal just outside Cheddleton. This spot is just a a short walk from Cheddletons famous flint mill.

Strange name

Garden street Leek, and not a garden in sight, lots of color though.

Snow scape

An old barn just down from the pigsty at the back of the Roaches.

Back Alleys

A view down an alleyway off one of Leeks streets showing the back of Wellington Mill.

Full color

Yet another house over looking Mill street, just a few feet away from the old house from earlier this week, a bit of a difference in styles.

Pigsty

A disused pigsty up in the hills at the back of the Roaches, quite a grand building just for pigs, it's stone built with great details.

Shade mill

This mill is just down bank from the disused one in the picture before last, in fact you can see it in the back ground. The mill is called Shade mill and is now apartments.

Old house

An old sandstone built house over looking mill street, Leek

Disused mill

The back of one of the disused mills, the fate of this one is unsure but there was talk of it being turned into a hotel.

Cruso Street

A typical street in the centre of Leek, tightly packed terrace housing with an old mill dominating the sky line. The street its self was named after a Leek land owner of the time.

A country view

Roaches house over looking Titesworth reservoir, with Leek in the distance. Click on the picture for a better view.

West street club

West street working mens club, or at least the build that used to be its home. For me this was where we would go on a Sunday lunch time with mum and dad for a fizzy drink and a packet of crisps.

Morning

Dawn light cutting through the morning mist in the hills overlooking Leek

Weavers windows

Terrace houses in Albion street, showing the large top floor windows that let in loads of light for the weavers that used to live here.

Room with a veiw

The balcony on a block of flats built on the site of the old bingo hall, a very Mediterranean feel.

Village church 2

The village church at Onecote, a beautiful little village that also has a great pub.

The court house

Now a bathroom showroom, formally the court house, formally the Co-op. Now up for let again, i wonder what the future holds for this wonderful building.

Post bike, post

The trusty mount of one of the Royal mails postmen.

Wellington Street Mill

Yet another of our old mills that has now being converted in to flats.

My old school

West street school, or the building that was West street school. The school is now a place of worship and there is an electrical retailers built on the site of the play ground.

Morning mist

Early morning mist over Longsdon, seen from the hill that divides it from Leek.

Mill in detail

The end wall of an old mill that is now been converted into flats. Not the sort of detailed work you would see on a modern industrial unit.