Leek, Staffordshire

Leek
Leek
	Left to right: The Market Place, Brough Park bandstand, Derby Street with the Nicholson War Memorial in the centre, All Saints' Church and St Edward the Confessor's Church;
	Leek Location within Staffordshire
Population	19,385 (2021 Census)
OS grid reference	SJ984565
Civil parish	Leek;
District	Staffordshire Moorlands;
Shire county	Staffordshire;
Region	West Midlands;
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Suburbs of the town	List Ball Haye Green; Barnfields; Bridge End; Haregate; Wallbridge Park; Westwood; Woodcroft;
Post town	LEEK
Postcode district	ST13
Dialling code	01538
Police	Staffordshire
Fire	Staffordshire
Ambulance	West Midlands
UK Parliament	Staffordshire Moorlands;

Leek is a market town and civil parish in the Staffordshire Moorlands district of the county of Staffordshire, England. The town lies on the River Churnet, 10 miles (16 km) north east of Stoke-on-Trent. In 2021 it had a population of 19,385.

Leek is an ancient borough and was granted its royal charter in 1214. It is the administrative centre for the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council. King John granted Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester, the right to hold a weekly Wednesday market and an annual seven-day fair in Leek in 1207.

Leek's coat of arms is a saltire shield. On the top is the Stafford knot, either side is the Leek double sunset and below a gold garb. The crest is a mural crown with three mulberry leaves on a mount of heather on top of which a moorcock is resting his claw on a small-weave shuttle. The motto Arte favente nil desperandum translates to: Our skill assisting us, we have no cause for despair.