Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/571

Rh LEEDS, NEW. 663 LEES. LEEDS, NEW, a yU. in the par. of Bradford, West Biding co. York, 2 miles from Bradford. It is a modern place situated near the source of the river Aire, and is a suburb of Bradford. The living is a cur. in the dioc. of Eipon, val. 100, in the patron, of the vicar. LEEDS, NEW, a vil. in the par. of Strichen, co. Aberdeen, Scotland, 4 miles N. of Deer. LEEFAIK, a hmlt. in the par. of West Ardsley, West Biding co. York, 5 miles N.W. of Wake-field. LEEGATE, a railway station on the Maryport and Carlisle railway, 4 miles from Wigton. LEEGRAVE, or LIGHTGEAVE, a hmlt. in the par. of Luton, hund. of Flitt, co. Bedford, 2 miles N.W. of Luton. It is situated near Leegrave Marsh. LEEK, a par. and market town in the N. div. of the hund. of Totmonslow, co. Stafford, 10 miles S.W. of Buxton, and 13J S.E. of Macclesfield. The Churnet Valley section of the North Staffordshire railway has a station at Leek, and a branch line from Leek to Stoke is now in the course of construction. There is also a branch of the Trent and Mersey canal to Leek. The town, which is situated on an eminence above the river Churnet, con- tains several well-built and spacious streets, which arc well paved and lighted with gas. It contains a town- hall, erected in 1806 at the cost of 900, a literary and mechanics' institute, established in 1837, a savings-bank, recently erected, a penny bank, self-supporting dispen- sary, a police station, in Mill-street, and several friendly and other societies. The population in 1851 was 8,877, which had increased in 1801 to 10,045 ; in the same period the number of inhabited houses had risen from 1,769 to 2,219, showing a considerable increase in the wealth and prosperity of the town. The principal source of employment in the town is the silk manufacture in its everal branches, such as sewing silk, twist, buttons, ribbons, handkerchiefs, shawls, sarcenet, mohair galloons, and broad silk. Several large establishments for twist- ing and doubling silk have likewise been recently erected. A county court is held in the town monthly, and petty sessions at the court-house, West-street, every alternate Wednesday. The court-lect for the town is held in October, when the town officers forregulatingthcmarkcls, lie., are appointed. Leek is the head of a Poor-law Union embracing 19 pars, and tnshps. The union workhouse is situated on the London road. There are gasworks near Leek railway station, and water- works on the Buxton road. From the churchyard, where stands a dilapidated ancient cross, is an extensive view towards the hills in the N. and W. ; one of which, called the " Cloud," is celebrated for a remarkable phe- nomenon connected with the summer solstice, at which time the sun, after sinking below tho summit of the mountain, appears again on tho northern side before finally setting, presenting the appearance of a double sunset on the same evening. At a short distance from the town are the remains of a Cistercian abbey, which at tho time of the Dissolution had a revenue of 243 3s. Gd. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Lichfield, val. 170. The church of St. Edward the Confessor is an ancient Gothic edifice with a square tower surmounted by eight pinnacles, and containing a clock and eight bells. In addi- tion to the parish church there are five district churches viz. St. Luke's, erected in the town in 1846, and four churches in other parts of the parish Endon, or End- over, Mecrbrook, Onecote-cum-Bradnop, and Rushton ; the livings of which are all perpet. curs., varying in val. from 170 to 120. There is also a school church at i > ton, where service is regularly performed by a curate of St. Luke's church. Tho Wesleyans have three places of worship, and the Independents, Primitive Methodists, Methodists' New Connexion, and Roman Catholics have each one. The grammar school was founded by the Earl of Macclesfield in 1723. There are besides National schools in connection with the parish church and the district church
 * . Luke's, also infant schools belonging to the Inde-

pendents and Wesleyans, and a Roman Catholic school for both sexes. Tho parochial charities produce about 200 per annum, exclusive of tho endowment of tho alms- houses founded in 1676 by Elizabeth Ash for eight widows, who receive a weekly allowance of 3s. 4<f., and a bequest by John Roth well of 10 yearly, to pay six poor persons of Leek Id. each weekly, and the remainder to the vicar for four sermons yearly. This last, with several other minor charities, was commuted for 18 acres of land, set apart for this purpose at the enclosure of the parish in 1805. The principal residences in the vicinity are Highfield, Ashcombe Park, Barford Hall, Ashen- hurst, Ballhaye, Hare Gate, and Westwood Hall. The Earl of Macclesfield is lord of the manor. Roman and British antiquities have been found here. Wednesday and Saturday are market days, the latter chiefly for butchers' meat and vegetables. A cattle market is held every alternate Wednesday from 28th July to Christ- mas. There are nine fairs held in tho course of the year, chiefly for cattle, and three cheese fairs. A statute fair for hiring servants is also held on the 13th November, and the feast on the Sunday next to 18th October. Tho principal pleasure fair is held on the 18th May. LEEK FRITH, a tnshp. in the par. of Leek, N. div. of the hund. of Totmonslow, co. Stafford, 5 miles N. 01 Leek. It includes the chplry. of Meerbrook. The vil- lage is considerable. Tho charities produce 10 per annum, tho produce of a bequest by John Stoddard for education. LEEK-WOOTTON, a par. in the Kenilworth div. of the hund. of Knightlow, co. Warwick, 2 miles N. of Warwick, its post town, 4 N.W. of Leamington, and 1J mile S. of the Kenilworth railway station. Tho village, which is small, is situated near tho river Avon, and on tho road leading from Warwick to Coventry. The hmlt. of Hill Wootton is included in this par. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture. Tho soils consist of loam, gravel, and clay. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Worcester, val. 400. The church, dedicated to All Saints, is a structure of stone, built in 1792, -with a square embattled tower containing a clock and five bells. A new chancel was added in 1843, in which arc several marble tablets. The E. window is of great beauty. The register dates from 1583. Tho parochial charities consist in a share with Bidford, besides 18 per annum, tho endowment of Winter's school for both sexes. Woodcote, about a quarter of a milo from the village, is the principal residence. Lord Clarendon is lord of the manor. LEEMAILING, a tnshp. in the par. of Bellingham, N.W. div. of Tindalo ward, co. Northumberland, 1 mile N.W. of Bellingham. The township is situated on tho North Tyne river. Hesley side, the seat of the Charltons, is a white freestone mansion, with a domestic chapel attached. It is surrounded by extensive and well- wooded grounds, in which tho river Tyno spreads into a lake, abounding with trout. Stone is quarried for exportation to a largo extent. The chief part of the township is in heath. Lee Hall is situated near the river. LEEMING, a hmlt. and chplry. in the par. of Burneston, wap. of Hallikcld, North Riding co. York, l~ mile N,E. of Bedale, its post town, and 1 S. of the Leeming Bar railway station. The village, which is small, is situated on the Roman way Ermine Street, called hero Leeming Lane. It is joined to the vil. of Exelby. The petty sessions for the division are held at the Oak-tree inn. The land is nearly evenly divided between arable and pasture. The living is a perpet. cur. in the dioc. of Ripon, val. 120, in tho patron, of the Vicar of Burneston. The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is an edifice built of red brick, con- taining ono bell. There is a National school. The Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists have places of worship. LEEMING, LITTLE, a hmlt. in the tnshp. of Aiskew, and par. of Bedale, North Riding co. York, 1 milo N.E. of Bedale. It is situated on a branch of the river Swale. LEENANE, a vil. in tho bar. of Ross, co. Galway, Ireland, near Killeries Harbour. LEES. See LEIOJIB, co. Essex. LEES, a tnshp. in the par. of Dalbury, hund. of