Cheddleton

Coordinates: 53°03′50″N 2°02′35″W / 53.064°N 2.043°W / 53.064; -2.043

Cheddleton
Cheddleton  Cheddleton shown within Staffordshire
Population	approx 5000
OS grid reference	SJ972518
District	Staffordshire Moorlands
Shire county	Staffordshire
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Leek
Postcode district	ST13
Dialling code	01538
Police	Staffordshire
Fire	Staffordshire
Ambulance	West Midlands
EU Parliament	West Midlands
UK Parliament	Staffordshire Moorlands
List of places: UK • England • Staffordshire

Cheddleton is a large village in the Staffordshire Moorlands, near to the town of Leek. It is divided into two distinct communities - the traditional village and the modern Redrow development located at St. Edward's Park, on the grounds of the old St. Edward's Psychiatric Hospital. This extensive site has been redeveloped and many of the old listed hospital buildings have been renovated, including the old hospital water tower, the highest building in the surrounding area, which now serves as an impressive private dwelling. The traditional village is served by a handful of shops, a post office, 3 public houses (the Boat Inn, the Black Lion and the Red Lion) and two churches: St Edward's (Anglican) and St Andrew's (Methodist). The modern development has limited amenities, although there is a Latin American cuisine restaurant, Castro's, situated on the canal side, nearby.

The village is twinned with Mitterteich in Germany. The twinning association holds regular meetings and exchanges between the two villages.

Tourist attractions

An information page and forum with all Cheddleton's info and pictures at [1] Notable attractions include:

Churnet Valley Railway

Cheddleton railway station was opened September 1, 1849. Although not open as part of the national network, it is operated by a private concern, the Churnet Valley Railway. It regularly holds special fun day events both in the day and at night along the refurbished line between the Leek Brook and Kingsley and Froghall stations. It has reopened and expanded in stages, funded mainly through share issues in the holding company. Train enthusiast Pete Waterman was a special guest invited to officially open the station at Consall, on the line between the Cheddleton and Kingsley & Froghall railway stations.

The railway was originally connected to the National Rail Network and was closed as part of the Rail Cuts made by Richard Beeching in his controversial report in 1963. However, a local consortium of residents, spearheaded by the late Norman Hacock (local resident and businessman) launched a campaign to keep the line open.

In 1976 the station was taken over by the NSRS (North Staffordshire Railway Society) - which became the North Staffordshire Railway Co (1978) Ltd who still run the CVR (Churnet Valley Railway) as a registered charity.

Cheddleton Flint Mill

Cheddleton Flint Mill is a Grade II* listed building, situated along the Caldon Canal. It is a prime example of Staffordshire's industrial past – a flint grinding watermill previously used for supplying the pottery industry further along the canal in Stoke-on-Trent. It is open to the public free of charge, and has been preserved, with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund, by the Cheddleton Flint Mill Industrial Heritage Trust.

Cheddleton Carnival

Every year there is a carnival organised by the Cheddleton Carnival Committee on the second Saturday in August, held on the Ashcombe Park Cricket Club car park. The committee also organises other events in the village throughout the rest of the year, most notably the Bonfire Night fireworks display – held, again, in the car park, and the 'Duck Race', held annually at the Boat Inn and raced along the canal. The committee raises funds for Cancer Research UK and to date have raised over £500,000.

Christmas Pudding 10K

Also organised by the Carnival Committee, principally committee member Stan Winterton, is the 'pudding run' which takes place every year on the final Saturday in November. It is a very popular event and attracts hundreds of visiting runners from surrounding running clubs, especially Staffordshire Moorlands Athletics Club runners. The event consist of the main 10K race (three laps of the course) and a fun run (one lap).

Cheddleton in Bloom

Over two days in July villagers put their gardens on show in the Cheddleton in Bloom event, organised by St. Edward's Church.

• Tourist Attractions in Cheddleton
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  Churnet Valley Railway - Cheddleton Station

• 

  St. Edward's Church

Notable residents

Paralympic Medalist Lee Pearson

Despite the size of the village it does have a fairly well known sporting hero, Lee Pearson. Lee is a paralympic horse riding champion, having won 9 Paralympic Gold medals, as well as an MBE, an OBE and a CBE from the Queen. In 2004 he was awarded BBC Midlands Sports Personality of the Year^[1].

Lee was born with Arthrogryposis, leaving him severely disabled, but, with the help of over 15 operations, can now walk with the help of splints and crutches.

Schools

Cheddleton is served by St. Edward's CE (c) First School, close to St. Edward's Church and the local community centre. Children attend the school from the beginning of their education up to Key Stage 2 (Reception class to Year 4). The school is also home to a popular after-school club.

The old schoolhouse has been turned into a well established tea room, just down the road from St. Edward's.

On the St Edward's site, the former isolation hospital has been restored and converted into a children's day nursery. Teddy's Garden Day Nursery was recently judged as 'Outstanding' by Ofsted.

In the Press

House fire

The village hit the headlines in March 2006 when a fire at a house on Hillside Road killed four people. The cause of the fire was quickly established as arson and eight months later a local man called Mark Goldstraw was found guilty on four counts of murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended minimum term of 35 years^[2].

Pointon's accident

An employee was crushed when he fell into the offal pit and was overcome by fumes at the Pointon's rendering plant. Glynn Thompson had been trying to rescue colleague Ivan Torr, who had become trapped. Pointon's were fined over £600,000 for breach of health and safety rules^[3][4].

Other information

• Cheddleton is home to Leek RUFC, who play their home games at Post & Times Park on St. Edward's Park. The club moved to their (relatively) new home having formerly played their home games at Birchall Playing Fields on the outskirts of Leek.
• Cheddleton is also home to Ashcombe Park Cricket Club, who play their home games at Ashcombe Park Cricket Ground at the south end of the village. Over recent years it has become a thriving social venue amongst locals.
• On the outskirts of the village, on the Wetley Rocks road to the south, is the Pointon's Animal Rendering Plant. Many villagers oppose this plant, due to its fumes and unsuitable access roads for traffic, notably large lorries, accessing the plant.^[5]

It should be noted, however that the current animal rendering plant has been operative at the Cheddleton site for over 50 years and that there has been a rendering plant on that site for over 80 years.

External links

• St. Andrew's Methodist Church website
• Cheddleton Community Forum and Info Centre
• Churnet Valley Railway
• Cheddleton Historical Society
• St. Edward's Park Community Website
• St Edward's First School website
• Website of the old St.Edward's Hospital, Cheddleton
• John Creber – Drawing On The Past

References

1. ^ BBC Staffordshire
2. ^ BBC News Man jailed for four fire murders
3. ^ Leek Post & Times Online £600,000 Fine For Pointon's Tragedy
4. ^ BBC News Boss accused over offal pit death
5. ^ BBC Staffordshire