Kidsgrove
| Kidsgrove | |
| Staffordshire | |
|---|---|
 Victoria Hall | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SJ835545 |
| Location: | 53°5’15"N, 2°14’52"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 24,112 (2001) |
| Post town: | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Postcode: | ST7 |
| Dialling code: | 01782 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Newcastle-under-Lyme |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Stoke-on-Trent North |
Kidsgrove is a town in Staffordshire, near the border with Cheshire. It is part of the urban growth around The Potteries in the north of the county which unites Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme and any village unlucky enough to get in their way. Kidsgrove had a population of 24,112 at the 2001 census.
The town has a library, post office, health centre, bank and supermarket. Market Street has smaller shops, restaurants and lots of take-aways.
History
From the 18th century, Kidsgrove grew around coal mining, although the pits have now closed. Clough Hall Mansion in the town, now demolished, was a local theme park.
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. Local legend assert that a headless ghost haunts the Harecastle Tunnel, of a young woman who was murdered inside the tunnel. She is referred to as the Kidsgrove Boggart.
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 Potteries Loop Line; Kidsgrove Liverpool Road, opened 15 November 1875 and Market Street Halt, opened 1 July 1909.
Transport
The Railway connects to Crewe, Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent railway stations. Through Kidsgrove runs the A50 road, and it is very close to the A34 and the A500.
Big Society
Sport
- Football: Kidsgrove Athletic FC
- Cricket
- Rugby
Others
- First Kidsgrove Scout Group. The Kidsgrove Scouts also has a Junior Band known as Kidsgrove Scouts Juniors.
- The Rotary Club of Kidsgrove, founded on 15 January 1969 and presented with their charter on 2 July the same year, the Rotary Club of Kidsgrove (RCK) have 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.
During November the Rotary Club 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 who also help out on the routes. For the second time the club will also be running the Gritstone Walk in aid of an array of good causes chosen by those taking part on the day through sponsorship.
Outside 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