Leek is a market town and civil parish in the English county of Staffordshire. Situated on the River Churnet, it is 10 miles north east of Stoke-on-Trent. It is an ancient borough and was awarded a royal charter in 1214. Most of the town is at or higher than 180 metres above sea level, and it is encircled by the countryside of the Staffordshire Moorlands, which is located on the southern uplands of the Pennines. It is the administrative base for the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council. The town was built on the slope and crown of a hill, and it is at the base of the Peak District National Park. The town is, therefore, referred to as the 'Gateway to the Peak District', together with being typically 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 a yearly week-long fair being bestowed by King John in 1207. Many buildings dating from the Victorian period stay 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 due to his work on the design of the railway stations in the Churnet Valley Railway. Notable buildings include the Congregational Church, Myatt; s Mill, Mill Street Methodist Chapel and Ragged School, and West Street School. Their influence of their designs on the town continues to be far-reaching. 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 of your house upgrades, make sure to make use of reputable professionals in Leek to make certain of quality.