Irish country scene

Not the view you were expecting? Well this is Leeks latest building, and an eye sore that can be seen for miles around, so much for the planning office. Better yet adverts for the company lead you to believe that the product is produced on farm's set in the lovely Irish country side, no way would they let a monstrous building like this spoil their view.

Ilam hall

Looking over the village from the hills behind it, gives you your first sight of Ilam hall.

Ilam

Just 1/4 of an hours walk away from yesterdays shot is the picturesque village of Ilam. Such a lovely spot and a great place to stop for lunch in the National trust tea room.

Dove dale

This is the river dove running through Dove dale, the river forms the boundary between Staffordshire and Derbyshire, this shot is taken from the Derbyshire side looking back into the Staffordshire moorlands.

Pipe dreams

One of the storage yards for the concrete works in Leek, they make concrete pipes.

Pickwood recreation ground

The view from Pickwood recreation ground over looking Leek town center

Thor's view

Just outside Wetton there is one of the areas best natural wonders, Thor's cave and here is a view from the caves mouth

Wetton church

Wetton is a small village in the Staffordshire Peak District. It is located about 2 miles west of Alstonfield and 8½ miles east of Leek. It stands high above the Manifold Valley and contains mostly stone-built properties. The village has an inn, and a church.

The Church of St Margaret is now in the Benefice of Alstonefield, in the Diocese of Lichfield. The present building was rebuilt in 1820, but the tower dates from the 14th century.

End of the line

The last few feet of the old railway line's route into Leek, just under the bridge the route turns into a road. The bridge is called the shunting bridge and is now used as a rat run for commuters trying to get through rush hour traffic.

Pride of the Moorlands

This pub used to be called the herdsman and is right out side of the gates to the cattle market, just the place to go after a hard day at the market.

The farmers are here

Another shot of the cattle market showing all the farmers landrovers lined up

Cattle shed

This was taken just a few feet from yesterdays shot and shows one of the sheds at the cattle market.

Lovely Leek part 2

Another shot to show just how pretty the town can look. This field is sandwiched between the Cattle market, the head office of the Britannia building society and an industrial estate.

Lovely Leek

Looking at the pictures i've posted of Leek town center i feel i may leave you the impression it all brick and stone, a real case of "grim up north", so here is a shot that was taken just a couple of hundred yards from Leek town center, from the path up to Pickwood recreation ground.

Froghall wharf

At Froghall wharf,Limestone was loaded onto Canal Barges or burnt in Limekilns and then transported to the Potteries or furthur afield. It is hard to imagine the scene 100 years ago when loaded wagons came down the incline,with the noise from the crushing plant and the furnaces deafening and smoke from the furnaces polluting the atmosphere. Now the inclined Tramway is a walking route. The Canal basin at Froghall wharf is now a pleasant spot for pleasure craft.

Lud church

This is a place called Luds church, situated in the hills above Leek. It is a rock crevasse in the middle of a wood, very well hidden and quite deep and if you are lucky enough to have it to yourself, a very magical, if a bit scary, spot. It’s dark and damp and very quite, there seems to be no bird noise or the sound of wind in the trees and after leaving the bright summer wood it is very bleak and forbidding. There is a link to the legend of the Green knight and standing there you can almost hear the sound of an Axe being sharpened.

Snow balls

Leek bowling green covered with snow.

Ray of light

A ray of light picks out a moorland farm house in the middle of a storm

Light trails

Car lights on Mill street

Three shires head

The main waterfall at three shires head, the meeting point of Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire. Not the easiest place to get to as there are no roads that come close, but well worth the 1/2 walk.

Messing about with boats

Boats for hire on Rudyard lake

The Jervis arms, Onecote

I known it another country pub, but just how English can you get, right in the centre of the village at the side of a river. This one also serves great food and great beer and has a great womans darts team, a real traditional village pub! If you enjoy this blog try my other one at 365 to 42

For your information

The village notice board in Onecote. An insight into village life.

Foxt church

Foxt village church was built here in 1838, at almost the sole expense of the Rev. John Sneyd, the incumbent of Ipstones, at a cost of £800; it is in the early English style, with a tower, and contains 150 sittings.

D day

Village war memorial in Foxt, in remembrance of all those who fell on D day.

Moorland barn 2

A mmorland barn high on the hill above Onecote.

The corner of Spout street and Canal street

The corner of St. Edward Street formerly Spout Street, a name in use by 1637; the present name of St. Edward Street was adopted in 1866 and Canal Street, renamed Broad Street in 1881. Haywood Street that also forms one of the roads was built in the mid 1870s and named after Leonard Haywood Shoobridge, who owned the land.

Great pub grub.

The day before yesterday saw us celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary; I can not believe that it has been that long; the time has just flown by.

To celebrate we walked along the canal, at the back of the house, to the Holly bush at Denford. What a great spot to spend a warm summer evening, we had a meal first and then sat by the canal to finish our drinks, before walking back home.

This great canal side pub is what all pubs should be like, great food, great location and great beer. I had the Goulash and it was just perfect for me, the service was a bit slow but given the number of people that were there it was only to be expected and any way who wants to rush such a nice evening.

Frith street, Leek

A sunny day on the corner of Frith street and Belle Vue road.

Waiting for a pint

Another shot of the Black lion pub, this one shows just how popular it gets, with a cue that comes out the door and nearly over the railway line!