IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Market Place, LEEK, ST13 5HJ

Midday on a Saturday on The Market Place in Leek.

Market Cross on the Market Place in Leek. The building with the clock tower on the right is the Butter market.

This grade II listed lamp standard occupies a prominent position in the centre of Leek's Market Place. It dates from around 1890 and is made of cast iron; the casting was done in Glasgow,

This sign is attached to Image and depicts the sport of falconry. Falconry, also known as Hawking, is a sport involving using trained Raptors to hunt game. It is thought to date back to at least 2000BC, originating in the Middle and Far East and being introduced to Europe around 400AD. Since then falconry gained popularity as the sport of kings, with all the kings of England from Alfred the Great to George III participating. During the Middle Ages a social custom evolved, known as the Laws of Ownership, whereby each type of bird of prey was assigned a rank and no man could use a bird with a higher rank than him. This system of hierarchy seems to be related to the cost of the bird and it is unknown how strictly it was observed. Nowadays anybody can practice falconry in Britain without the need of a licence provided only captive bred birds are used, which must be ringed and government registered. It started to be used as a pub sign in the early 17th century.

Strong autumn shadows obscure part of the mock tudor frontage of this 19th century pub in one corner of Leek's Market Place. Presumably the metal bucket is for cigarette butts. Note the halloween decorations in the window.

The Butter Cross, old shaft, base and steps in a new cross, by the UC road, in parish of Leek (Staffordshire Moorlands District), Market Place; was in cemetery. Grade II listed. List Entry Number: 1268574. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1268574 Scheduled Monument. List Entry Number: 1012658 https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1012658 To be surveyed Milestone Society National ID: STMO_LEK02

The Grade II listed ( http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-461659-market-cross-leek ) cross is also a Scheduled Ancient Monument and stands at the bottom of the Market Place. The market cross was originally erected in 1214 by one of the abbots of Dieulacres Abbey of Leek as a badge of the town's dependence upon the Abbey, as Lords of the Manor the Abbots regularly collected tolls beside the Market Cross. The cross survived the dissolution of the monasteries, and old Town Hall records dating from the seventeenth century indicate that those convicted of extortion were forced to kneel in front of it on market days as a form of penance. In the 19th century the cross was moved to the cemetery before being returned to its rightful place later.