Leek

The meandering course of the Caldon Canal took us round many of the lumps and bumps in the landscape, but nearing the end of the Leek branch is the Leek Tunnel.  It is lined with the red sandstone rock to be found in the ground here and is very narrow.  It is not very long, you can see the end from the beginning.

On Saturday morning there was a hard frost and ice on the water, though only a very thin layer.

We walked into town trying to spot some different things to photograph from when we were here in June, last year.

bank building

covered parade of shops and cafes

Leek Church set up on a mound

Clock Tower

The Clock Tower is really the Nicholson War Memorial, built by Arthur Nicholson who had made his fortune in the successful silk industry in the town of Leek.  It was built of Portland Stone in memory of his son who was killed in action in WWI and as a memorial to some 400 others lost from this town.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has aided its restoration and on certain days it is open to the public for a guided tour.  So today we had the chance to get a closer look and to see inside.

From inside, at the balcony level we could look out over the town and over the new road crossing where in the summer there was a roundabout with protesters camping on it, resisting its removal.

save our roundabout campaign June 2012

This is the first gold painted post box we have seen.  Painted to celebrate the gold medal won by Anna Watkins, Women's Double Sculls Rowing.  The gold painted boxes in the home town of each of the gold medal winnning Olympic and Paralympic athletes are to stay as a permanent feature commemorating the London 2012 games.

Endon - Leek
3 miles, 1 tunnel