Leycett Online - Recently Updated Pages

Friends of Leycett - All about the organisation

kathryning — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:33:46 CDT

(Website Logo) FRIENDS OF LEYCETT (Website Logo)

KEEPING THE MEMORY ALIVE

“Our aim is to promote Leycett’s history and support Leycett’s future”

'GODS COUNTRY'

kathryning — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:43:46 CDT

Welcome to Leycett Online

My website gives you an in depth look at what life was like in the picturesque mining village of Leycett, which was built in what my father describes as “Gods Country”.
The village was situated between Madeley and Silverdale.Records show that there were families living in Leycett in around the1840's (there are early census entries to show this) prior to this there were dwellings, but they were never really documented.The main village as we know it is documented on cenus entries in 1851 (which can be seen on the census pages of this website).The colliery was already fully manned and working by this time as were the tile and iron works.I have found records to show that people worked at Leycett coalbur in 1710.However I have researched local parish records and there are baptisms ,mariages and burials as far back as the early 1600's but the area that we know as Leycett was then documented as Levershede,Leasitt,Leysitt,Leasett and Lysot aswell as various other spellings - wether this is down to the stone mason, Preist or scribes at the time or just that people couldnt spell very well I do not know. Further research shows that Leycett (then known as Levershede) was an area which was occupied and primitivley mined by Romans some years BC.
Here you will find photographs of Leycett as it is now and of those glorious by gone days that have been captured on film so that we can be reminded of the way we once were. You will also find stories, statements and historical information on this website that will give an insight of what life in Leycett was like.
Anybody wishing to add to this site or ask questions regarding the site content please feel free to email me at kathryn641@hotmail.com and I will be only to happy to help and advise in any way I can.

WHAT LEYCETT MEANS AND WHERE THE NAME DERIVES FROM

The name Leycett means "The clearing in the Wood".

In the mid 1500's the names that I have found documented for the area of Leycett have been Lycett and Lysot,however the name has changed many times over the centuries and all signify that Leycett has always been a woodland area or an area of greenery in the hills.In the mid 1600's Leycett as we know it was documented in Madeley Parish records as being spelt Leasitt or Leasit and also leysitt.Earlier records suggest that Leycett began it's years with the name Levershede,obviously this has changed considerably, the reasons for which are not documented to my knowledge.

*******PLEASE RESPECT THE PHOTOS AND DO NOT JUST COPY THEM .IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO USE THEM JUST EMAIL ME AND ASK .THIS IS A NON PROFIT WEBSITE AND ALL COSTS FALL TO MYSELF TO PAY.IF PHOTOS ARE USED ON ALTERNATIVE WEB SITES THEN PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE WHERE YOU OBTAINED THEM FROM.ALL PHOTOS ON THIS SITE ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT*********************

TAKE A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

NEWS

kathryning — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:29:09 CDT

This page will detail all news from Leycett and any up and coming events at the cricket pavillion,ie cricket matches and local rambles.

APOLOGIES:

I would like to say that it has recently been brought to my attention a mistake in the latest Friends of Leycett newsletter - It was stated that the planning permission which had been turned down by the council for new access to Leycett tip was unfortunate when actually it was a major victory for the Park Terrace residence association and colleagues who have been fighting for the plans to be turned down since the proposal was tabled late last year.As I am sure you will agree it is a very good thing that the campaigners have achieved and are continuing to oppose, with the aim of a more centrally located site that is easier for all residents of Newcastle under Lyme to access.
If you wish to join the campaigners and offer any support you can please get in touch with me on 01782 317419 with your details and I will ensure that the correct person gets in touch with you.

We (Friends of Leycett) are hosting an event at the planned Madeley Festival in October 2009.All details will be added on this page as and when available.

The 2010 Leycett Calender is now underway as deisgn work has just begun, so if you have any pictures that you think would be good in the calender please send them in to kathryn641@hotmail.com

PLEASE CAN ALL LEYCETT ONLINE MEMBERS SUPPORT THE:
LEYCETT 4TH ANNUAL BEER FESTIVAL
LEYCETT CRICKET CLUB 28TH JAN -1ST FEB 2009
WED - 7-11 First sampling Night
THU - 7-11 Music & Cheese platter night
FRI - 6-12 Early doors night
SAT - 12-12 Session day
SUN - 12 until they run dry - Newspaper day (sit and read all the Sunday newspapers)

The LEYCETT CHALLENGE - A half from every barrell for free draw entry

Food will be available all week at the cricket club
Sky Sports TV on throughout

TEL: 01782 751588 (Club)

Leycett Calender 2009 - NOW ON SALE - Hurry not many left.

The 2009 Leycett calenders are now on sale and available to buy at a cost of £2 each and postage is 50p if required ,they will be hand posted where possible.Please call or email if you require any calenders - all proceeds will go to the new Leycett memorial fund.To order calenders call 01782 317419 or 07966156919 alternativley you can buy them from Leycett Cricket Club during opening hours.

CONGRATULATIONS LEYCETT CC

Welldone Leycett Cricket Club for going all the way to the Cricket Premiership.
We knew you could do it and we are all in elation.Leycett Online would like to congratulate each and every player not forgetting everyone behind the scenes who made the promotion possible.Your forefathers would be so proud to see the club they started all those decades ago reach such great heights.
We wish you all the best for the 2009 season.

New Photo Album

I have recentley been working on some fundraising ideas for the Village memorial that we have planned for next year.One of my thoughts were to publish a book of all the photo's that I have been able to gather of the Village over the last 2 years.This book would take a while to publish & print and would need to be sold somewhere around the value of £8-£10 each depending on the amount printed.
If there was not enough demend for the book to be printed then I would consider loading the photos onto a CD which could be sold instead - this would reduce the outlay slightly and could be sold for £6 - £9.
All proceeds would go to the Village memorial and the upkeep aswell.
If anyone has any suggestions about this please drop me an email at kathryn641@hotmail.com or call me on 01782 317419.

Committee members needed

If there are any of you outhere who would like to be on the committee for the new memorial which is being planned then please send your details to me at kathryn641@hotmail.com or call me on 07966156919.We need a further 4 members,there are no costs involved and the only general requirement will be to attend meetings each month until the memorial is complete and then once a year thereafter.

Leycett Calender 2009 - Complete

Calenders are now printed.
The 2009 calenders will be sent out as free gifts again to all members of the website and to all who have contributed to the site this year as a thank you gesture.Any remaining calenders will be available to buy at a cost of £2 each to cover print and postage.Please call or email if you require any calenders - all proceeds will be put into the new Leycett memorial fund.

Leycett CC - New electronic score board

Leycett CC have now officially unvieled the new electronic scoreboard which has been situated at the far corner of the pitch.It looks absolutely fantastic and is a brilliant addition to the club.
The club has also been awarded the ECB Club Mark status for the work they do for young children,which is also a fantastic acheivement and gives them the credit that they so well deserve.

Leycett Colliery Memorial

I have been working closley with with a few members of the website in order to get a new (but by no means better) memorial for Leycett Colliery which is to bot soted outside the original entrance to the colliery on Leycett Lane,so far we have decided to apply for a grant and planning permission from the council in order to start design work.If anyone has any thoughts or would like to make a donation towards the memorial please contact me on 01782 317419 - 07966156919 or alternatively kathryn641@hotmail.com

There is a Colliery memorial page that has been started on this site where all contributions and donations will be recored and any updates on plans and designs will go on a weekly basis after meetings.

Leycett CC.

Well they have started off the season i a grand fashion ,raring to go and get to the top of the table where they belong.
I will be sending out fixtures in the next week accompanying the next newsletter and also putting them online on the Leycett CC page.

Woodlands School

I have had quite a few enquiries from some of you about the recent activity at the school and that you are all concerned that the school is not goingto be demolished in any way.
Well after speaking to the local planning department I have been assured that there have been no applications on the school or the school house ,so you can all rest safe in your beds that Leycett school will live on a little while longer without threat as the planning department explained to me that the whole area is a place of natural protection and is classed as green belt land.

Match Fixtures 2009

kathryning — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:53:26 CDT

Good Luck Leycett CC for 2009

Saturday 15th April

Leycett vs Knyspersley -Home

Coming Soon

kathryning — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:37:51 CDT

On this page you will be able to keep a track of what I am about to add to the site.If there is anything on the list that you need to know about before I have entered it to the site please just email me on kathryn641@hotmail.com and give the details and I will do my best for you.

Friends of Leycett will be hosting an evening event at the Madeley Festival in October 2009, all details about our event will be updated on the NEWS page as and when confirmed.

Leycett Online will now be sending out quarterly Newsletters detailing updates on the site including printed copies of new photos added to the site.The newsletter will be sent to all Leycett Online supporters and contributors.If you are a supporter or contributor and would like to be added to the mailing list please email your postal details to me or just give me a call.My contact details are on the contents page.

Leycett School attendance register;
This document has been copied from the original school register and will be copy typed page by page and added to the website as it is done.To view
the register so far you need to go to :The School page-School register.Please bare in mind this is a very old crumbly document and will take several months to complete,if you have any specific queries please email me at kathryn641@hotmail.com or call me on 01782 317419.

Wage record details from Leycett Colliery 1916 - 1946

Mine Rents 1927 - 1944

Survey Book of Leycett Colliery 1889 - 1899

Statistics and Mining Record Book 1899 - 1938

Leycett Colliery fire , explosion , gas outburst reports 1879 - 1883

Legal Papers concerning Bailey & Hams etc VS Bagnall - Crew Coal & Iron Co Ltd 1875- 1877

Video footage of the Hollywood Festival

Parish Magazine archive

and much much more........................

New Leycett Village Memorial

kathryning — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:33:52 CDT

All donations will be recorded on this page that are kindly made,all these proceeds will go towards the up keep of the memorial.To make a donation please call 01782 317419 or 07966156919 to arrange a collection alternatively just send a cheque made payable to Leycett Memorial Trust and send to Leycett Online ,176 Longton Hall Road,Blurton,Stoke on Trent,ST3 2EJ.

Donators:

Mrs N Machin (Hough) - Formerley of Leycett

Mrs E Spragg - Formerley of leycett

Mr H Titley - Website member

Mr A Jackson - Formerley of Leycett

Mrs C Farnell (nee Whaling) - Formerley of Leycett

Mr & Mrs Wainwright - Formerley of Leycett

Mr & Mrs A Wainwright - Formerley of Leycett

Mr & Mrs H Viggars - Formerley of Leycett

Mr John Hill - Formerley of Leycett

Mr Mick Hodnett - Formerley of Leycett

Mrs Shirley Royall (nee Harrison) - Formerly of Leycett

Mr Mark Royall -Formerly of Leycett

Mr J Cartledge -Formerly of Leycett (Cartledge family descendant)

Mr Andy Gethin - Formerly of Leycett

Mrs Brenda Lawton - Formerly of Leycett (Descendant of the Hughes family)

Mr & Mrs J Ham - Descendants from the Dykes family (Leycett)

Mr & Mrs D Elliott - Of Leycett

Mrs Margaret Peake (Nee Elliott) - Of Leycett

Mr Bertie Morris - Formerly of Leycett

Meeting 3 - 25/10/2008

Papers filed for planning permission and highway authority.

Photographs of surrounding area taken and sent to highways authority

Bank account papers filled in and sent off to open account for memorial donations and calender payments.

Committee named as Leycett Memorial Trust.

Meeting 2 - 29/07/2008

Committee members needed

If there are any of you out there who would like to be on the committee for the new memorial which is being planned then please send your details to me at kathryn641@hotmail.com or call me on 07966156919.We need a further 4 members,there are no costs involved and the only general requirement will be to attend meetings each month until the memorial is complete and then once a year thereafter.

Secondry meeting to discuss governing document details, committee name,committee members and planning permission update.
No name for the committee has yet been decided but we do need suggestions if anyone has any.

Meeting 1 - 16/5/2008

Initial meeting to discuss funding ,planning permission,general ideas for memorial location and design.

UPDATE:

Planning permission requested and plans put forward with memorial location and all current details.Council planning dept in discussion at present.

New to Leycett Online this week

kathryning — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:32:48 CDT

2009 Leycett calender now on sale - £2 each + Postage of 50p .Can be collected and dropped off if possible.To order a calender please call Kathryn Ing on 01782 317419 - if no answer please leave name and number and i will call you back.

Leycett Cricket Club Fixtures 2009 Season First XI

Leycett School Register 1885 - 1901

More families from Leycett photos added.Do you have any that we can add? If so send them to kathryn641@hotmail.com

Photos of sleepy valley - a rural retreat for the lads of Leycett

Several more Cricket team photos

Leycett 2008 calender - A great success

The 2008 Leycett Village calenders have now all gone,the calender was a fantastic sucess and was extremeley popular.
Next years calender is already on the cards and images are already being sent in by very kind visitors to the site.
If you have any pictures old or new you would like to see in the 2009 Leycett calender please send them into kathryn641@hotmail.com or call me on 07966156919 and I can collect them.

With Special Thanks

kathryning — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:58:08 CDT

I would like to say thank you to all the people who helped me to make this website possible. All photographs, statements and stories were and still are gratefully received and of the utmost help. Those people include:

My father (Charles Vernon Ing)

My Uncle (Herbert Viggars)

My Uncle (Alfred Viggars)

My Uncle (Harold Viggars)

My Grandad & Grandma (Selwyn & Gladys Ing)

Harold & Carol Viggars (My fathers cousin)

Jill Goldstraw (Formerly of Park Terrace)

Mr Harold Thompson - Former Leycett Villager

Norma Machin - Former Leycett Villager

James Hopkin - Descendant of Leycett family

Newcastle Art Gallery & Museum

Ann Watson (who was previously a resident of Keele village)

Rob from Digiscopediary

Alan Taylor of www.mungomania.com

Garry Marsh of The Coppice Special School,Clayton.

Leycett Cricket Club

George Thompson (Twem)

Ron Porter (Tupnee)

Arthur White

Mr & Mrs Christopher Cooper - Miles Green

Mr & Mrs Alan Wainwright - Madeley

Mr Reg Salmon - Madeley

Collette Warbrook - The Sentinel

Mrs Eunice (Noon) Spragg nee Thompson

Mr & Mrs Shuttler - Nee Nancy Beardmore of Rock Cottage

Mr Don Rogerson - Former Miner at Leyett

Mr George Salmon - Formerly of Leycett

Mrs Millecent Griffiths - Born and bred in Leycett

Margaret Peake (Elliott) - Former Leycett villager

Dennis Elliot - Former Leycett villager

Eva & Irene Wagstaff - Former Leycett villager

Mr & Mrs Brian Williams - Former Leycett villagers

Mr Daniel Evans - Local Historian

Vicar Wilson - All Saints Madeley

Sue Oakes - Descendant of the family Hough

Margaret Raynor - Descendant of the family Hough

Glennis Hassell - Former Leycett villager

Mick Hodnett - Former Leycett villager

Trevor Brown - Former Leycett villager

Mr Chris Hopkin & James Hopkin - Leycett Cricket Club

Mr John Hill - Former Leycett villager

Mrs Sylvia Tempest nee Broadgate - Former Leycett Villager

Mr Bernard Woodvine - Former Leycett Villager

Mrs Linda Baddeley - Former Leycett Villager

Mrs Margaret Buxton - Descendant of the family Wrench

Mrs Jennifer Ham - Descendant of the family Dykes

Miss Kate Summerfield - Descendant of the family Hughes

Mr Frank Moran - Fellow historian

Mr Jim Worgan - Colliery Historian

Miss Helen Burton - Keele University

Comments Page

kathryning — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:54:02 CDT

On this page you can read the comments and opinions of visitors to the site and if you want to add a comment or leave an opinion you can do so by sending them to this email address kathryn641@hotmail.com and i will post them at the end of each week.Thank you for your continued support.

Dear Kathryn,

I have just been browsing your site, which is very interesting for me

P.Corness

Hello Kathryn

I have only recently had my attention drawn to your website.

Your website brought back a lot of memories for me and names that were all but forgotten.
H.Thompson

Dear Kathryn

I came across your website a few weeks ago whilst trying to find out a little more about my family history.
With many thanks for an invaluable source of information.

R.Wilkin

Hello,

I went to leycett school 4 a while and can still remember thankyou 4 bringing back those memories keep up the good work.

Stephen Peake
30/08/08

Hi Kathryn,

I had a quick look at your website, it's looking great, will be having a good read through later. I'm just going to show my sons the photos from the 'Hollywood Music Festival'! I can remember it so well - it was a scorching hot weekend and I had really wanted to go, but as I was only 12 my parents said TOO YOUNG!!!!! However my cousins came to visit and we sat in our garden and watched from a distance through binoculars! Of course it was so loud that we could hear everything - I remember Mungo Jerry's "In the Summertime" being the hit of that summer.

Mrs Watson

Just a quick note to say "What an absolute delight it has been to read through all the information on this site ,its really nice to see that the village hasnt been completly forgotten" I myself used to live at Leycett in the village,we lived in Middle Street and I can still remember it like it was yesterday."I will be certain to return to the site and try to help with any info i may have that could be of assistance to your progress with the site.
Good Luck with your continued research.

A.Tinsley
11/06/2007

Leycett Online is such a refreshing memory of Leycett,I used to play cricket for a team in the same league as Leycett many years ago during the 1950's,I must say it has brought back many glorious memories for me flicking through the pages of this site.What a wonderful idea.

C.Evans
25/06/2007

"I lived in Leycett village after lots of the families moved away when the pit closed,there were only a few of us left.Reading the facts about Leycett on your site i have been able to find out things I never knew about Leycett,very interesting".

27/06/2007

Hello Leycett online (Kath),

My comment is that I was really pleased to stumble accross such a site that looks back on the history of a village that my ancestors were born in ,i thought it was just a peice of forgotten history these days - obviously not!!
I have found Leycett Online extremely helpful towards my research into the Hollywood Music Festival and I would like to thank you for all the help you gave me on this subject and also in confirming a few facts about Harrison Woodburn Cottages for me,I would never of managed it without your help,thanks again and ill certainly keep in touch and keep my eye out for updates on the site.
FABULOUS!!!!!

Keith Jones
29/6/2007

Inbox

Hi Kathryn

After reading your letter in the Sentinel I visited the Leycett website and was very impressed.I used to live in Leycett.

K.Thompson

29/7/2007

Hi Kathryn,

I have been browsing your Leycett website and found it amazingly interesting.My father originates from Leycett.

A Hough

29/7/2007

just a quickie to say what a great site youve created.

We moved into Park Terrace in june 2003 and have been in love with the place

from day one. It's wonderful to look back at the history.

Thanks again

Nick Chidlow

18/8/2007

Greetings,

I am writing to let you know how good I think your website is,I have family history at Leycett,my family moved there from Wales to work.I will keep dropping in as I think it is fantastic.

L.Washington
01/10/2007

Hello,

very interesting site

S.Oakes
24/09/2007

Hello,

What a fantastic wesite you are building.

Andy Gethin
25/08/2007

Hi Kathryn,

Wow! what an amazing collection of photos ,I've never seen so many of Leycett.
I have been reading the website for a couple of weeks now and I think it's great.I have been researching the whole rural area and you seem to know more than anyone I have spoken too.
Please add me to your mailing list,details on separate email.

P.Swift
01/11/2007

Hi Kathryn

I've just been looking at your website and found it really interesting as
it dredged up many memories from my childhood.

L.Craine (nee Hughes of Old Offices)
21/01/2008

Dear Kathryn
I have just wisited your website which bought back so many memories for me.

Margaret Buxton - nee Wrench

Dear Kathryn,
First of all may I please applaud your Leycett Online site.

Jennifer Ham

Hello! Just a note to say the Leycett online website is fantastic. I stumbled across it today and was amazed to see images of family members there. My granddad was Bill Hough, of Lane Farm (brother to Les and Barbara, cousin to Jacky Ted etc). My mum, Norma, has many fond memories of Leycett and I can’t wait to show the website to her. I too well remember going up to feed my uncle Les’ goat as a little girl.. All the best,
Corinne Caddy

WHY NOT SEND IN YOUR COMMENTS TO kathryn641@hotmail.com

The Colliery

kathryning — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:06:14 CDT

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

Leycett Colliery circa 1950.
This front view photo was taken from the head of the driveway into the colliery.
Although the colliery seems quite small from this picture it was in actual fact extremely large.
When the colliery opened it was named the Harrison & Woodburn Pit, and managed by
Mr G P Hyslop. One of the pit shafts that were dug at Leycett had the most pretty name a shaft
could have- Fair Lady, this was the main shaft and was situated on the left, on the opposite side
the right pit shaft was named Bangup .As far as my knowledge goes there is no documented
evidence as to why the pit shaft could have been given the name Fair Lady. There were several
other pits/shafts at Leycett colliery, which were named after relevant events of that time.
Leycett colliery was no exception where explosions were concerned and it had its fair share.
The first explosion was on 3/1/1871 and claimed the lives of 44 men and boys, the second
explosion occurred in 8/9/1879 and claimed the lives of 41 men and boys, the explosion of
Fair Lady on 21st October 1883 took the lives of 6 men and injured another 3 very badly, but the
largest and most tragic of the explosions was to claim the lives of 62 men and boys, this explosion
was n 21/1/1880,there were only 15 survivors on that shift. All these explosions were caused by
either methane gas or firedamp – each as deadly as the other. As far as my research tells me all
bodies were recovered. The coal, once extracted had to be carried away from the pit for
resale etc…When the pit first opened in 1801 there were no railway lines in place to transport the
coal from the mine so tramways were built that ran from Scot Hay to Madeley and from
Leycett to Madeley Heath via Waltons Wood. It wasn’t until 1837 when the Grand Junction railway
opened in Madeley that a private mineral line was built to transport coal trucks from Leycett colliery.
And then on June 28th 1880 a full service railway station opened,which was served by North
Staffordshire Railway.
In 1896 the Colliery was taken over by The Madeley Coal & Iron Co Ltd.The manager was
William Meadows. At that time the colliery employed 339 underground workers and 71 surface
workers. Lord Crewe, as the landowner, received 6d for every ton of coal, iron ore or brick clay won
from his land. He also had free coal for his home - which required 2 cwt each morning to feed the fires.
It was during this period of ownership that in 1934 the Pit-head Baths are opened at Leycett Colliery.
During 1947 the Colliery was taken over by The National Coal Board, and then known as
Madeley Colliery, until its sad closure in 1957.Altough the Colliery had closed it was not yet
redundant, it was continued as a ‘foot rill' or ‘foot rail’ until the late 1960’s.

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)
This is the Colliery entrance as it is now - a little different don’t you think?

Below is a photo of Charlie & Reg Jackson circa 1925 at the colliery in their family run firms
new lorry which the purchased from Peppers Garage.History tells that previous to this lorry they
employed an old cart which was too slow and could not make the same amount of deliveries a
day as other companies were doing who had what Charlie described as "newfangled lorries".
Once they had the new lorry they were able to make lots more deliveries ,but they however
experience more than their fare share of punctures and eventualy had to replace the rear tyres
with solid ones to prevent future punctures accuring.

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

Very first photos of Fair Lady & Bang Up just as they were sunk.(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

Fair Lady winding gear - below(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

These are the men who worked on the sinking of the Fair Lady & Bang
Up,the man on the far left is my gt uncle Sam Tomkinson.
(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

Colliery Memorial Wheel (Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

The Church

kathryning — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:05:02 CDT

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)
St Saviours Church
St Saviours was built in 19?? And was a C of E Church. It stood opposite the school and in front of the miners institute. St Saviours was built of wood from the inside and on the exterior it was coated with dark red corrugated steel which was nailed to the wooden structure,and nicknamed the tin tabernacle.I have been advised that the Leycett receipe book published by the cricket club in 1909 was written and sold for 2 shilling to raise funds to build this mission church.This book was re-released by Mr Brian Whalen to raise funds for the Cricket Club some years later and then I have re printed them to send as souvineirs with the Leycett Online newsletters.
This area is now Leycett Recycling Centre owned by the council, there are no remains of St Saviours at all. However I believe all records for the church are now kept at Keele Parish, and are available to view by appointment.
Once the Colliery had closed and the village deserted the church was pulled down and the wood from inside was used to fit out the old wooden cricket hut and then reused on the new pavillion house,all that remains of the wood is now above the doors at the club.The first thing to be removed from St Saviours was the bell from the roof which was in actual fact stolen,obviously by someone who has no regard for anything sacred.There were 2 brass vases that were bought by the villagers to honour the lives of Mr Broadgate and ?? who were sent back to war and unfortunatley killed in action,these vases were always on display at St Saviours but when it closed they were taken to All Saints in Madeley and only come out on special occasions i believe.All Saints also had the plaque of names of all the miners killed in 1880 so as they are included on rememberance sundays.

St Saviours on Harvest Festival
(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

Do you know these Leycett folk?

kathryning — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:04:29 CDT

The photos on this page are of people from Leycett who I cannot name,if you know the names of these people please can you drop me an email at kathryn641@hotmail.com or a line on 01782 317419 / 07966156919.

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

Family Albums - Leycett Families

kathryning — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:03:30 CDT

This page is the Leycett family album - please send your family photos to us - details on the contacts page.

Adam Thompson (Front Street)

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

Back Row Left to Right:

Ginny Thompson

Harold Thompson

Adam Thompson

Audrey Thompson

Mary Thompson

Front Row Left to Right:

William Thompson

Margaret Thompson

Ronnie Thompson

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)
Girl at the back is Jinny Thompson holding Margaret's hand.
Audrey is the the left of Margaret with William ROn and Harold in front.
The girl in the hat is Avis Thompson the daughter of Emanuel Thompson - the photographer.

Mr & Mrs Thomas Beardmore of Rock Cottage Leycett circa 1900 stood outside the Old Offices

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)
Back Row Left to right:

James Beardmore

May Beardmore

Jack Beardmore

George Beardmore

Bill Beardmore

Mary Beardmore

Samuel Beardmore

Front Row Left to Right:

Thomas Beardmore

Mabel Beardmore

Annie Beardmore

Sam & Kitty Beardmore

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

The Moores Family (Park Terrace)

Herbert Moores .Geoff Moores

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)
(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)
Ethel Moores

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

Mr Thompson - Noon and Twems Father

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

Ann Thompson at Morreys Corner - Leycett

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)
The Hough Family.
From left to right - Jack Bill & Ted Hough

Gertrude Hough. Reg Hough.

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)
John & Elsie Hough.

Jack & Reg Hough with friend Jimmy Hodgkins on the left smoking. Elsie (R) ,Lilly Hough (Mid) Reg (L)

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)
(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

Bill ,Jim, Jack
Reg,Margaret,Ted

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

TREVOR BROWN - (Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

Hodnett Family

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing) (Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

Edith Hodnett ,Mrs Edith Hodnett,Joyce Hodnett

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)
Ward Family

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)
Mr Joseph Ward (Park Terrace 114)

Rhodes Family

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)
Back To Front

William Rhodes
David Rhoades
Maria Rhodes
Nancy Rhodes
Thomas Rhodes
Alf Rhodes

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)
Mr Thomas Rhodes & Mrs Rhodes

Broadgate Family

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)
Sylvia & Margaret Broadgate

Hill Family- -(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

Top Photo L to R:

Tommy Hill,Minnie Hill (Symonds),John Hill,Jack Hill,

Bottom Photo L to R:

Jack Hill,Minnie Hill,John Hill,Tommy Hill,

End Photo L to R:

Minnie Hill,John Hill,Tommy Hill

Cartledge Family

Stan Cartledge - (Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

Golden Wedding of Mr & Mrs Stephen Cartledge

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

Sale Catalogue

kathryning — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:55:51 CDT

On this page you can see some of the extracts from Lord Crewes 1951 sale catalogue of his estate,some of which included properties in Leycett ,which are the ones below.You can just see written on them in pencil the price that they sold for all that time ago.

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

Birds eye views of Leycett circa 2000

kathryning — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:54:59 CDT

This page shows birds eye views of several locations at Leycett circa 2000.Anyone wishing to make any amendments or additions please email me at kathryn641@hotmail.com and I will be only to happy to add them for you.

Harrison Woodburn Cottages

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)
Colliery Site

The Big Razzer , behind Harrison Woodburn

And then it was gone

kathryning — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:54:01 CDT

On this page you will see the sole destroying image of the most terrible thing to happen to Leycett----demolition!!!!!
On a very sad day in 196? the coal board employed men to demolish one of the most warm & friendly,high spirited villages ever known.Gone was the community that had for centuries dwelled in Leycett and become more like a family than neighbours.The upset that this demolishion would caused for the families living in Leycett at the time was unimaginable and in some cases soul destroying.
I know from speaking to my family members and the older generation that were born and bred in Leycett that they still even now over 40 years on dearly miss the village and the community life that they were part of and thrived on for generations.Fond memories are all that is left of the nearly forgotten village that we can only reminisce about today.

The picture below was taken by a photography lecturer from keele ,his students are in the picture,they
do not come from Leycett.

You can see from the photo that contrary to the reasons given for the demolition of the village
(that it was still in the dark ages),Leycett house's had TV aerials,telephone cables &
outside electric lighting.It was certainly a very very sad tragedy to see the village go after so
many generations of families had spent so many happy times there together,I know that there
were also sad times in the village but in a community like Leycett when there were any tragedies
or hard times the people of the village pulled together ,like the one big family that Leycett was.
Although there were houses at the Cricket field that remained standing ,after the main village had
gone it seemed that the community spirit had also started to dwindle away leaving many hearts
very very saddened.Even today - decades on ,former Leycett residents hearts are still in mourning for the village
that they once knew as home.

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

The below photo was taken by a photographer from Keele and the people in the picture were his students.

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)
Below a picture of Front Street ,looking up towards the butcher shop - as you will see half the village
has already been knocked down and only the top half remains.

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

The photo below was donated by a valued visitor to the site.

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

Leycett Cottages

kathryning — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:51:41 CDT

This page shows other dwellings in Leycett.

Colliery Farm House
This photo was taken circa 1960 once demolition had begun,from this photo you can see how the once fantastic farm house has been burnt out and then just left to crumble before finally being pulled down.Just another example of mindless actions by the people responsible for the demise of Leycett village.
In the background to the left you can see the remains of the colliery dirt tip.

Twem & Noon Thompson have many wonderful childhood memories of the Colliery Farm as their father Mr Thompson was the Colliery Farm Bailif for many years.They both recall taking his lunch to him and helping on the farm.

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)
Rock Cottage

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

Park Terrace

kathryning — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:48:22 CDT

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

Park Terrace, Leycett Lane.Looking over from Kents Lane,Finney Green.(Donated by Nick Chidlow - Park Terrace)

Park Terrace is the only remaining street in Leycett, and still looks the same now from the front as it did when my father was a lad. The miners that lived in the houses at Park Terrace were given the opportunity to purchase their homes by Lord Quentin Crewe, who was then the landowner. My Grandad, Selwyn Ing was one of those miners. He purchased number 120 Park terrace for £1000,which even in those days was quite a good price for a 3 bed roomed property.120 remained the Ing family home until sadly in July 1997 my much treasured and beloved Grandma Gladys Ing (Nee Viggars) passed away. She remains in my heart today. I always remember from my childhood that life at Leycett was great, you could run through the fields of the Ponderosa Farm picking mushrooms, build tree houses in the woods and make rope swings over the old railway lines behind the cricket pavilion – it was the best. There are 11 houses at Park Terrace, one of which is detached and at the end of the row, closest to the Ponderosa. The house was called "The White Cottage" in my fathers childhood days he tells me. At that time the family living there were the Colliery Mangers family. At the front of my Grandparents house when it was first built there was an acorn planted which when it grew was to be the border between Madeley Parish & Keele Parish.The tree still stands today and is a marvellous Giant Oak Tree which is now protected by the National Trust and cannot be pruned in any way or felled. The Oak divides the garden wall and grew in what was my Grandads rhubarb patch. At the rear of the houses in each yard were the toilet and of course the coal shed.
Some miners tended to either rear their own animals for meat (chickens / Pigs) or grow vegetables as the cost to buy them from the shop on a miners wage was quite a lot then. My Grandad had previously kept pigs before he moved the family to Park Terrace, which was when they lived at ‘The Old Offices’ at the other end of Leycett Lane just past where the Level Crossings used to be. Also on my Grandad’s land at park Terrace he built a shed and an asbestos topped lean-too, this is where he kept all his work tools and chopped the logs for the fires inside the house. Some houses had an air raid shelter at the backs.Each house shared a front garden path and gate with the adjoining property, my Grandparents neighbour was a lovely man called Lenny Broadhead, he had moved in with his wife Lizzy (nee Elliott) when my father was a child.
If you stand with your back to Park Terrace you can see the hilltops and farmhouses of Finney Green,You can cut across the field opposite to get to Finney Green in about 3-4 minutes.

Bottom Street

kathryning — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:47:48 CDT

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)

Bottom Street This view is looking up towards the top of Bottom Street in July 1965 when the village was almost empty, it was like a ghost town. As you can see all the houses in Bottom Street were bricked up and uninhabited. The view of the fields in the distance are that of Agger Hill which leads to Finney Green.Agger Hill is still there today and home to about 4 farms and 8 residential properties. The road leading to Agger Hill is no more than a dirt track with room only for one-way traffic. You can walk across the fields to Agger Hill & Finney Green from a wooden style, which is unfortunately not visible from this photo I’m afraid.
I believe that Bottom Street was the first Street to be demolished as it was closest to the Colliery, which was by now just a big mound of dirt on the skyline.

Middle Street

kathryning — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:47:17 CDT

This is a photo of a Mr Joe Evans Sitting on his 1949 James Cadet Motorcycle in Middle Street.He purchased this motorcycle as he lived in Betley and worked as a miner at Leycett Colliery and wanted to save himself the bus journey to work and back every day which was roughly three miles each way - so when you had done a hard shift down the pit the last thing you would have wanted was a three mile trek home.
As you will see from the photo his motorcycle is as good as new and appears to be fitted with quite a few optional extras.

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)