The milkmaid

The last of the scarecrows for this year, this one looking like a milkmaid.

The walker

Another one of the scarecrows, this time made up tp look like a walker.

Scarecrow

Scarecrows from the scarecrow festival that takes place in some of the villages around the Roaches, this one was taken last year, but they are again on show this month.

Leek, Part 5

The last part of the view of Leek from the hills to the East of the town.

Leek part 4

Dominating the top of the picture is Westwood high school, starting top left with the old building and finishing top right with the new hall.

Leek part 3

Main point of interest on here is the roof car park for Wilkinsons, right in the centre just above the trees, and the Monument (right hand side, again just above the trees). The Monument is a clock tower built of Portland stone commemorating Leeks dead in the 2 world wars and stands at the heart of the town.

Leek part 2

Part 2, the main point that i noticed was how many trees we seem to have.

100th post

To celebrate my 100th post i give you Leek, or at least 1/5th of it, the others will follow over the next 4 days, see if you can spot some of the buildings i'v covered so far.

Swineholes Wood

The peace and tranquility of the scene hide a harsh conflict between the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and locals. One wants to chop trees down and the other wants to preserve the wood, and it is not who you would expect doing the felling. Read more from both sides here and here.

Love shack

A holiday home at the other end of Rudyard lake

Sunrise, Rudyard lake

No its not an early morning shot, but the name of the boat.

The Hollybush

Stormy skies over the Hollybush at Denford, yety another fantastic canal side pub.

Moorland view

A view over the moorlands from the ridge over looking Back forest

Black lion, Consal

The Black lion, Consal, a perfect place to rest and watch the world go by, and go by it does in the form of steam trains from The Churnet Valley Railway and canal boat. Best of all the pub serves a cracking pint and excellent food.

Westwood collage Leek

A new addition to the new part of the old hall (if that makes any sense). The old hall established as a grange in 1291 by the monks from Dieulacres abbey and continually rebuilt and modernized it remained a private house until 1920 when it was turned into a school.

The Mobiles

The temporary classrooms at Westwood Collage Leek, so temporary that they were there when i was there, over 20 years ago.

Westwood school

Another shot of the old building at Westwood School Leek, now renamed Westwood Collage.

School days

Westwood high school Leek, my old school. Over the next few days shots of my old school and some of the changes they have made to it.

Waterfall

The main waterfall at Three Shires Head, the point where Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire meet, taken from the Staffordshire side.

Tracks in the snow

A shot from earlier this year of the light railway at Rudyard.

Village resting place

The graveyard at Rushton Spencer, right at the northern end of the area covered by this blog.

Lake mist.

A view from the north end of Rudyard lake at sunrise.

Fire fire fire

Fire buckets at the Churnet valley railway, one of the best attractions in the Leek area

One stop shop

It may be the death of the corner shop (again) but on line shopping has even reached Leek, Tesco (free food always welcome) do a great service to Leek, but another well known supermarket does not yet deliver to our post code, even thought their vans pass my window 3 or 4 times a day!

Mill scape

A shot of Leek showing Britannia street mill (far Left) and facing it Wellington street mill. As you can see the moorland is never very far away.

Taking in the view

A lone walker enjoying the view of the Roaches

Upwardly mobile

Children learning to climb on the Roaches.

Back and beyond

The back of Wellington street mill, if you had the power to see straight through the mill you would see the view from yesterdays shot.

Bin day

Wheelie bins line Chorley street awaiting collection, at the far end you can see Britannia street mill.

Des res

An old farm building close to 3 shires head

Morning canal

Canal view heading toward Cheddleton from Deep haye