Kidsgrove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kidsgrove |
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 Kidsgrove Town Hall |
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 Kidsgrove
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| Population | 23,756 (2011 census) |
| OS grid reference | SJ835545 |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| 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 |
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Kidsgrove is a town in Staffordshire, England. It's right on the border with Cheshire. Kidsgrove is part of a bigger area called the Potteries Urban Area. This area also includes Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme. About 26,276 people lived here in 2019.
Contents
History of Kidsgrove
Kidsgrove started to grow a lot in the 1700s. This was because of coal mining in the area. Today, all the coal mines have closed down. A big old house called Clough Hall Mansion used to be in the town, but it's not there anymore.
Canals and Tunnels
Kidsgrove is famous for its canals. A very clever engineer named James Brindley dug the first Harecastle Tunnel here. This tunnel is part of the Trent and Mersey Canal. Later, another famous engineer, Thomas Telford, dug a second tunnel next to it. The Macclesfield Canal also starts (or ends) near Kidsgrove.
There's a spooky story about the Harecastle Tunnel! People say a headless ghost haunts it. This ghost is said to be a young woman who was murdered inside the tunnel. She is known as the "Kidsgrove Boggart".
Becoming an Urban District
In 1904, Kidsgrove became an urban district. This meant it had its own local government. It included the areas of Kidsgrove and Newchapel. Later, in 1932, the area of Talke joined Kidsgrove.
Kidsgrove's Railway Stations
Kidsgrove has a railway station that opened a long time ago, in 1848. It was first called Harecastle, then Kidsgrove Central. Today, it's just called Kidsgrove railway station and it's still open. There were once two other stations in Kidsgrove, but they are now closed. These were Kidsgrove Liverpool Road and Market Street Halt.
Town Facilities
Kidsgrove has many useful places for its residents. You can find a library, a post office, a health centre, a bank, and a supermarket. Market Street is a busy area with smaller shops and places to eat. One of the local schools is The King's Church of England School.
Getting Around Kidsgrove
You can travel around Kidsgrove in many ways. Local buses, like the 7/7A, 3, and 4A, have their stops here. The Kidsgrove railway station connects the town to other places like Crewe, Manchester, and Stoke-on-Trent.
The Trent and Mersey Canal also runs right through the town. For drivers, Kidsgrove is on a part of the A50 road. It's also very close to the A34 and the A500.
Sports in Kidsgrove
Kidsgrove has its own football team called Kidsgrove Athletic F.C.. They play in the Northern Premier League Division One South East league. The town also has a rugby club and a cricket club.
Kidsgrove Media
Because Kidsgrove is near the border of Cheshire and Staffordshire, you can get news and TV shows from both areas. TV channels like BBC North West and ITV Granada broadcast from Salford.
For radio, you can listen to BBC Radio Stoke, Hits Radio Staffordshire & Cheshire, Greatest Hits Radio Staffordshire & Cheshire, 6 Towns Radio, and HitMix Radio. HitMix Radio is a local station for the community. The local newspaper for Kidsgrove is called The Sentinel.
Kidsgrove Scouts
Kidsgrove is home to the 1st Kidsgrove Scout Group. This group started in 1910! They are part of the Potteries North district. The Kidsgrove Scouts have even traveled to the USA many times to take part in the DCA World Championships.
Local Government in Kidsgrove
Kidsgrove is located in the northwest part of Staffordshire, right on the border with Cheshire. It is part of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Parliamentary Representation
The areas of Kidsgrove & Ravenscliffe, Butt Lane & Talke, and Newchapel & Mow Cop are in the Stoke-on-Trent North area for Parliament. This area is represented by Jonathan Gullis, who is a Member of Parliament (M.P.). An M.P. is a person elected to represent their local area in the UK Parliament. Some parts of Mow Cop are currently in a different area, but they might move into Stoke-on-Trent North soon.
Kidsgrove Town Council
Kidsgrove has its own Town Council. This council has twenty members who are chosen from four different areas: Talke and Butt Lane, Kidsgrove Central & Ravenscliffe, Hardings Wood, and Newchapel & Mow Cop.
The Kidsgrove Town Council was created in 1974. It is based at the Kidsgrove Town Hall. Every year, the Town Council chooses a Mayor. The Mayor's job is mostly to represent Kidsgrove at events and act as an ambassador for the town.
Rotary Kidsgrove
The Rotary Club of Kidsgrove (RCK) started on January 15, 1969. Since then, it has been very active in the community for over 50 years. They raise money, volunteer, and help with local projects. The club is part of a bigger group called Rotary International in Britain and Ireland.
The club used to meet in the Masonic Hall. Now, they meet at a place called The Red Bull in Church Lawton.
Every November, the Rotary Club of Kidsgrove holds a bonfire night and fireworks display at Clough Hall Park. In December, you might see their Santa float on the streets of Kidsgrove. They collect money for good causes in the local area.
In 2012, the Rotary Club of Kidsgrove won an award! They won the Club Online Presence Award from Rotary International in Britain and Ireland. This award recognized how well they used their website and social media.
Famous People from Kidsgrove
Kidsgrove has been home to many notable people.
- R. J. Mitchell (1895–1937) was born in Butt Lane, Kidsgrove. He was the amazing designer of the Spitfire plane. This plane was very important during the Battle of Britain.
- Brewster Mason (1922–1987) was an actor who worked with the RSC. He also appeared in movies and on TV.
- Duncan Robinson (1943–2022) was a British art historian and academic.
- John Waite (born 1951) has been a radio presenter in Britain since 1973, often on Radio 4.
Sports Stars
Several sports players also come from Kidsgrove:
- Frank Bentley (1886–1958) was an English footballer born in Butt Lane.
- Percy Brooke (1893–1971) was an English footballer who mainly played for Aberdare Athletic.
- Sam Johnson (1901–1975) was an English footballer who played for York City F.C. and Stoke City F.C..
- Stan Smith (1931–2010) was an English footballer who played for Port Vale F.C..
- Ken Higgs (1937–2016) was an England Test cricketer.
- Mark Bright (born 1962) is a footballer and sports expert. He went to Maryhill High School in Kidsgrove.
See also
In Spanish: Kidsgrove para niños
