Madeley Heath

As you enter Madeley Heath from the east from Newcastle-under-Lyme on the A525, you pass under a railway bridge on the outskirts of Keele. This is the spur line from Stoke-on-Trent in the Potteries. Originally constructed by The North Staffordshire Railway under the auspices of Robert Stevenson it used to run through Newcastle-under-Lyme into Silverdale and onto and over the former London and North Western Railway West Coast Main Line. In the Beeching period the stations along this line were closed and the track removed, leaving a small section to serve the colliery at Silverdale two miles away. However, with the closure of the colliery in 1998, the line has now fallen out of use. Prior to the bridge, on the right is Station Drive, a dirt track, which used to lead to Keele Station. See Picture The station masters house can still be found at the top of this dirt track, although now it is a private dwelling. In 1985 there were still both platforms at Keele but no station buildings.

Two hundred metres further along there are two large pillars on either side of the road. These are the former rail bridge supports for the mineral branch line serving the coal pits at Leycett and Finney Green. Indeed, if you take a close look in the fields at Leycett from the Leycett Lane, you can still make out the raised embankments from the Audley branch line, through Redhill, Butters Green and Bignall End.

To the north of Madeley Heath is Finney Green. In May of 1970 this small community became the focus of the whole country, when the 'Hollywood Rock Festival' was held there. The band Mungo Jerry performed at the festival amongst many others.

Madeley Heath also continues from the junction next to the war memorial along the A531 and on towards the second M6 flyover. It is between these two points that Swan Bank can be found, with the Old Swan public house as the main focal point next to the main road.

(Photo - © Kevin J. Clarke)