Kidsgrove
| Kidsgrove | |
 Victoria Hall |
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  Kidsgrove |
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| Population | 23,756 (2011 census) |
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| OS grid reference | SJ835545 |
| District | Newcastle-under-Lyme |
| Shire county | Staffordshire |
| Region | West Midlands |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Postcode district | ST7 |
| Dialling code | 01782 |
| Police | Staffordshire |
| Fire | Staffordshire |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament | Stoke-on-Trent North |
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Coordinates: 53°05′15″N 2°14′52″W / 53.0874°N 2.2478°W
Kidsgrove is a town in the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England, near the border with Cheshire. It is part of the Potteries Urban Area in North Staffordshire, along with Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme. It has a population of 24,112 (2001 census), increasing to 23,756 at the 2011 Census.[1] Most of the town is in the Kidsgrove ward, whilst the western part is in Ravenscliffe.
History
From the 18th century, Kidsgrove grew around coal mining, although the pits have now closed. Clough Hall Mansion in the town, now demolished.
The engineer James Brindley cut the first Harecastle Tunnel on the Trent and Mersey Canal near the town; Thomas Telford cut the second. Kidsgrove also marks the southern extremity of the Macclesfield Canal. There is a legend regarding a headless ghost that is said to haunt the Harecastle Tunnel. The ghost is said to be that of a young woman who was murdered inside the tunnel. She is referred to as the "Kidsgrove Boggart".
Kidsgrove was made an urban district in 1904 with the abolition of the Wolstanton Rural District, including the parishes of Kidsgrove and Newchapel. Talke, previously part of the Audley Urban District, was added in 1932.
Kidsgrove is served by Kidsgrove railway station which was opened by the North Staffordshire Railway on 9 October 1848 as Harecastle, later becoming Kidsgrove Central. This railway station is still open as a junction (now Kidsgrove). However, there were two other stations on the closed loop line namely Kidsgrove Liverpool Road, opened 15 November 1875 and Market Street Halt, opened 1 July 1909.
Bathpool Park, south of the town is where Donald Neilson, the killer known as the Black Panther, took 17-year-old heiress Lesley Whittle after kidnapping her in 1975, and prior to murdering her.
The town has a library, post office, health centre, bank and supermarket. Market Street has smaller shops, restaurants. Schools include The King's Church of England School.
Transport
The First Potteries Bus Route numbers 7/7A, 3 and 4A buses each have terminuses in Kidsgrove, and the railway connects Kidsgrove railway station with Crewe, Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent. The Trent and Mersey Canal runs through the town. Kidsgrove is also home to a portion of the A50 road and is very close to the A50 and the A500.
Sport
Kidsgrove Athletic F.C. play in the Northern Premier League Division One South.
Kidsgrove has a rugby club and a cricket club
Notable people
R. J. Mitchell designer of the RAF's Battle of Britain fighter, the Spitfire was born in Butt Lane village, Kidsgrove.
Brewster Mason, RSC Actor; 1922-1987.
Mark Bright, footballer, sports pundit, (born 6 June 1962) attended Maryhill High School, Kidsgrove.
Kidsgrove Scouts
Kidsgrove is home to the First Kidsgrove Scout Group in the district of Potteries North. After having two fires at their original location, Kidgrove Scouts moved to their current location on the Avenue. Recently there has been another fire at this building but only the small back building was lost, along with some of their Archery and Air-Rifle shooting equipment. 1st Kidsgrove Scouts also has a multiple contest winning drum corps known as the Kidsgrove Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps who are the 6 time British Drum Corps Champions and have competed in DCA and DCE competitions. Winning DCE in 2010 to become European champions.
Kidsgrove Scouts also has a junior band known as Kidsgrove Scouts Juniors.
Kidsgrove Town Council
Kidsgrove is situated in North West Staffordshire on the Cheshire border and is part of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme. The Wards of Kidsgrove, Butt Lane, Ravenscliffe and Kidsgrove are in the Stoke-on-Trent North Parliamentary Constituency represented by Ruth Smeeth and Newchapel Ward is in the Staffordshire Moorlands Parliamentary Constituency, M.P. Karen Bradley. Kidsgrove has a Town Council of twenty four members. Kidsgrove Town Council was created in 1974 when Kidsgrove Urban District Council became part of Newcastle Under Lyme Borough Council as part of the Local Government Act 1972. Kidsgrove has a mayor who is elected by the Town Council every 12 months. This position is mainly a civic role, and the mayor acts as an ambassador for Kidsgrove.
Rotary Club of Kidsgrove
Founded on 15 January 1969 and presented with its charter on 2 July the same year, the Rotary Club of Kidsgrove (RCK) has been active within the community whether fundraising, volunteering or helping out local projects for over 40 years. The club is also part of District 1210 within Rotary International in Britain and Ireland.
Originally meeting in the Masonic Hall and Institute in the town, the group now gets together at the Bleeding Wolf, Scholar Green.
During November RCK hold a bonfire night and fireworks at Clough Hall Park and during December they can be seen on the streets of Kidsgrove with their Santa float, collecting for local good causes.
In April 2012 RCK were also announced as the Rotary International in Britain and Ireland winners of the Club Online Presence Award. This was the first time the award has been presented and recognises the achievements the group have made through their website and a variety of social media avenues in the year.
References
- ↑ "Town population 2011". Retrieved 1 December 2015.
External links
Local websites serve the residents of Kidsgrove and surrounding areas. Each website has a forum area where local issues can be discussed with local councillors and the local police.
Local Community Websites
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