Leys

Settlement in Staffordshire Staffordshire Moorlands

England

Leys

End of Caldon Canal, Froghall Wharf, 1978 Looking from the extreme end back towards the partly derelict warehouse. This was later restored with some alteration, it is a grade II listed building. — End of Caldon Canal, Froghall Wharf, 1978 Credit: Robin Webster

Leys is a small village located in the county of Staffordshire, England. Situated in the heart of the country, Leys is surrounded by picturesque countryside and offers a peaceful and tranquil setting for its residents. With a population of around 500 people, the village exudes a strong sense of community and provides a close-knit environment.

Leys is known for its charming architecture, with many traditional cottages and houses dotting the landscape. The village center features a quaint village green, which serves as a gathering place for locals and hosts various community events throughout the year. Additionally, Leys boasts a historic church, St. Mary's, that dates back several centuries and adds to the village's character.

Despite its small size, Leys is well-equipped with essential amenities. It has a local primary school, providing education for children in the area, and a village hall that serves as a hub for social activities and meetings. While there are no major commercial establishments within the village, residents can easily access nearby towns for shopping, healthcare, and other services.

Nature lovers will find themselves in paradise in Leys, as it is surrounded by beautiful countryside and scenic walking trails. The village is also within close proximity to Cannock Chase, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, offering opportunities for outdoor activities such as cycling, hiking, and wildlife spotting.

Overall, Leys, Staffordshire is a charming and idyllic village, providing a peaceful and close-knit community for its residents, while also offering easy access to the stunning natural landscapes of Staffordshire.

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Leys Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 53.022248/-1.954497 or Grid Reference SK0347. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

End of Caldon Canal, Froghall Wharf, 1978

Looking from the extreme end back towards the partly derelict warehouse. This was later restored with some alteration, it is a grade II listed building.

Robin Webster

Churnet Valley 2021 Christmas Polar Express

Brian Deegan

Kingsley & Froghall trains

A preserved railway line near Leek in Staffordshire, running from Froghall up the valley to Cheddleton with one intermediate stop at Consall, and (since 2011) on an extension to a former quarry at Cauldon Low, where as of 2012 there is no station. The society has plans to connect to the national network at Stoke-on-Trent. The lines were originally constructed by the North Staffordshire Railway (the "Knotty"). According to one writer, "the buildings on the Churnet Valley line are of local stone, straightforwardly neo-Tudor, and effective" [Lloyd & Insall, "Railway Station Architecture", David & Charles 1978, p.17].

Ralph Greig

Cherryeye Bridge, Caldon Canal

Presumably the Cherryeye name comes from the unusual shape of the bridgehole. This furthest stretch of the Caldon Canal east of Flint Mill Lock is exceptionally narrow and is similar in some respects to the Llangollen Canal west of Trevor.

Stephen McKay

Caldon Canal, Froghall

Lattice Cottage overlooks the Caldon Canal, near its end just west of Froghall Tunnel.

Stephen McKay

Froghall Tunnel, Caldon Canal

Froghall Tunnel is only 76 yards (69 metres) long but its very low profile means that it is an impenetrable obstacle to most modern narrowboats. To ensure boats do not enter and then get stuck there is a profile gauge hanging over the tunnel mouth. Another gauge is provided at Flint Mill Lock to give boaters forewarning so oversized boats should not get this far.

Stephen McKay

Kingsley & Froghall Station

The southern terminus of the Churnet Valley Railway looks immaculate in the late afternoon sunshine although things are not quite what they seem. Firstly, although this might look like a country station, it was built to serve an area of heavy industry with limekilns and a copper works nearby (the latter did not close until 2014). After closure, the station buildings were demolished in 1968 and the new building is a replica using some original material. It was opened in 2004 by Pete Waterman, the well-known record producer and railway enthusiast.

Stephen McKay

Kingsley & Froghall Station - running in board

Interestingly, the Churnet Valley Railway has chosen to use replica LMS signs for the running in boards (the larger signs used at the ends of the platforms, a practice largely discontinued on the modern railway) rather than the later British Railways style. The LMS usually angled these slightly outwards and that has been done at the other end of the platform.

Stephen McKay

Kingsley & Froghall Station

This second platform at Kingsley & Froghall was restored by the Churnet Valley Railway in 2008 to include the replica waiting shelter. The overall effect has been to create an authentic period feel. Perhaps only the 'volunteers needed' banner could not have been part of the scene 70 years ago.

Stephen McKay

Woodcutters Row, Foxt

Adjacent to the steep road up from Froghall to Foxt is a terrace of cottages called Woodcutters Row including, at the east end, the former pub seen here. See also SK0248 : The Woodcutters' Arms and Woodcutters Row which suggests the pub ceased to be operational sometime in the 1960s.

Stephen McKay

Entering Foxt

The Staffordshire village of Foxt, high above the Churnet Valley, has an unusual name of Olde English origin. This is the approach heading up the hill from Froghall.

Stephen McKay

New Cottages, Foxt

These terraced houses look as they should belong in an industrial town rather than on the edge of a tiny village in the Staffordshire hills. Still, they enjoy a spectacular view down into the valley.

Stephen McKay

The Fox & Goose, Foxt

The Fox & Goose seems an appropriate name for this attractive pub in the village of Foxt. It has spectacular views across the Churnet valley.

Stephen McKay

Moorings at Froghall

Some things defy understanding. Here at Froghall a canal basin has been restored capable of taking several full sized boats on the tiny stretch of what remains of the Uttoxeter canal. The moorings are excellent. But there is a huge snag. The only way boats can get here is to navigate the height restricted Froghall Tunnel - so it is only accessible to a small proportion of the craft currently using the canal network. Unsurprisingly on this May morning there was not a boat in site.

Stephen McKay

Lime kiln at Froghall

This is one of a set of lime kilns close to Froghall Wharf believed to date from the 1880s. The kilns are set into a retaining wall 50 metres in length and 12 metres high.

Stephen McKay

Hetty's Tea Shop, Froghall Wharf

Hetty's Tea Shop is located in this beautifully restored canalside warehouse at Froghall. Upstairs there is a holiday apartment. The building dates from the early 19th century and is grade II listed.

Stephen McKay

Hetty's Tea Shop, Froghall Wharf

The towpath terrace water huts are part of Hetty's Tea Shop in this restored canalside warehouse by bridge 55. Customers are extremely unlikely to see any boats here, however; craft that are able to pass through Froghall Tunnel would turn off and head for the Uttoxeter Canal basin.

Stephen McKay