Waterhouses, Staffordshire

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Waterhouses is a village in the south of the Staffordshire Peak District. It is on the River Hamps, a tributary of the River Manifold, and at the southern end of the track of the former Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway (now the Manifold Way, a walk- and cycle-path), which ran to Hulme End. The village is on the A523 road, which here follows the southern boundary of the Peak District National Park. Nearby is the Cauldon cement plant of Lafarge Cement.

Waterhouses was served by a railway station opened by the North Staffordshire Railway on July 1, 1905, on the line from Leek to Waterhouses. Waterhouses was also served by a railway station which was opened by the Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway on June 27, 1904, whilst being entirely operated by the North Staffordshire Railway. These two lines were next to each other. Due to the railway not being as successful as hoped and not utilised enough, it was later opened for tourists, but still failed to make a profit and was later closed and then turned into the popular track that it is today, which offers a safe way to travel by bike or foot into the Stunning Manifold Valley...

Two 'watering holes' in the village exist, the George and the Crown.. As well as Salty's famous Riverside Cafe and Fish & Chip Shop... Serving this part of the moorlands with excellent homemade food using local produce, and is popular with locals and visitors alike..

Waterhouses situated on the A523 Leek to Ashbourne Road, near to Alton Towers and on the edge of the dramatic scenery of the Peak Park, is a popular place for visitors to the area. It offers a doorway to the beauty of the Peak District National Park, uninterupted by traffic. via many footpaths or the afore mentioned Manifold Way Cycle path and is also a common rest bite stop for visitors to Alton Towers.

[edit] References

Keys R and Porter L (1972) The Manifold Valley and its Light Railway, Moorland publishers

[edit] Sources

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