Leek is a market town and civil parish in the English county of Staffordshire. Located on the River Churnet, it is 10 miles north east of Stoke-on-Trent. It is an ancient borough and was granted a royal charter in 1214. The majority of the town is at or higher than 180 metres above sea level, and it is surrounded by the countryside of the Staffordshire Moorlands, which is set on the southern uplands of the Pennines. It is the administrative base for the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council. The town was constructed on the slope and crown of a hill, and it is at the foot of the Peak District National Park. The town is, therefore, referred to as the 'Gateway to the Peak District', alongside being often called the 'Queen of the Moorlands'. It has a long history of being a market town, with the right to host a weekly market and an annual week-long fair being bestowed by King John in 1207. Numerous structures dating from the Victorian period remain standing in the town, and much of these were designed by the architectural practice of the Sugdens, 'Sugden and Sons'. William Sugden arrived in Leek in 1849, brought over thanks to his work on the design of the railway stations in the Churnet Valley Railway. Distinctive structures include the Congregational Church, Myatt; s Mill, Mill Street Methodist Chapel and Ragged School, and West Street School. Their influence of their styles on the town continues to be profound. Other local attractions are the regional football club, Leek Town F.C., Alton Towers theme park, and Rudyard Lake Steam Railway near Rudyard Lake. For all your house upgrades, make certain to make use of reputable contractors in Leek to make certain of quality.