Lees, Greater Manchester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lees |
|
|---|---|
 Lees village centre |
|
 Lees
|
|
| Population | 4,500 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SD955045 |
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | OLDHAM |
| Postcode district | OL4 |
| Dialling code | 0161 |
| Police | Greater Manchester |
| Fire | Greater Manchester |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament |
|
Lees is a village in Greater Manchester, England. It is located among the Pennines hills. The village is about 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles) east of Oldham. It is also about 8.2 kilometers (5.1 miles) northeast of Manchester.
In the 1300s, Lees was a group of small settlements. It was connected to the nearby area of Ashton-under-Lyne for church matters. Farming was the main way people made a living. Locals also wove cloth at home to earn extra money.
By the early 1800s, Lees became known for its special mineral springs. People hoped to turn it into a spa town, like a health resort. However, the growth of textile factories changed these plans. Lees grew quickly into a busy factory town.
Lees became a mill town in the late 1800s. This happened because nearby Oldham was booming with cotton spinning. At its busiest, Lees had eleven cotton mills.
Contents
History of Lees Village
The village of Lees has been around since the 1300s. It is believed to be named after John de Leghes. He was a trusted helper for the local lord of the manor.
Lees played a part in an important event in history. On August 16, 1819, people from Lees joined a large protest in Manchester. This event is now known as the Peterloo massacre. People were asking for changes in how they were represented in government.
Before Peterloo, weavers in Lees marched through the village. They carried a large black flag. It had strong messages like "Taxation Without Representation is Unjust and Tyrannical." This showed their desire for fairness. The growing unrest worried some people in the village.
In the late 1700s, a natural spring was found in Lees. This spring had iron in its water, making it a "chalybeate" spring. By the early 1800s, these "fashionable" mineral springs made Lees famous. People even bottled and sold water from Lees Spa all over the country.
In August 1821, about 60,000 people visited Lees Spa. There were plans to make Lees a big spa town, like a "Lancashire's very own Harrogate." But the Industrial Revolution changed everything. Cotton spinning became very profitable.
Eleven cotton mills were built in Lees. By the late 1800s, these mills completely changed the village. Lees grew a lot, with more homes and shops. Today, it is a village where people live and travel to work in Oldham and West Yorkshire. It also has many businesses. The main street is known for its many pubs.
Places of Worship
The main church in Lees is St Thomas the Apostle. It is located on West Street in Leesfield. This church was started in 1846. It is part of the Church of England.
St Thomas the Apostle church has a Sunday School for children. It also hosts groups like the Mothers Union, Rainbows, Brownies, and Scouts. The church has a group of people who ring its bells. It can hold up to 600 people. Four beautiful stained glass windows were made by a Belgian artist named Jean-Baptiste Capronnier.
The Roman Catholic church in Lees is St Edward's. It is on Spring Lane. This church parish was started on April 1, 1872.
Lees also has a Christian Brethren Congregation. There is also a Zion Methodist Chapel.
How Lees is Governed
Lees was once part of the larger area of Ashton-under-Lyne. In 1859, a local board was set up to manage the Lees area. This board was first called Lees-with-Crossbank. Later, it was simply called Lees.
Between 1894 and 1974, Lees had its own local government. It was called the Lees Urban District. This area was part of Lancashire. Lees was a bit unusual because it was completely surrounded by the town of Oldham and West Riding of Yorkshire. This meant it was like a small piece of Lancashire separated from the rest.
In 1974, the Lees Urban District joined with six other areas. They formed the new Metropolitan Borough of Oldham. This is part of Greater Manchester.
Today, a group called the Saddleworth & Lees area committee meets regularly. They talk about how the villages are doing and plan for the future.
Geography of Lees
 |
Greenacres | Waterhead | Austerlands | |
| Clarksfield |  |
Springhead | ||
 Lees  |
||||
 |
||||
| Alt | Holts Village | Grotton |
Lees has a small group of shops and businesses. They are located on both sides of the A669 Lees High Street. Around them are terraced houses, cottages, and some small housing estates. A small area of green land separates Lees from the main part of Oldham. This green land is in the valley of Leesbrook, near the River Medlock.
A part of Lees is known as County End. The village of Springhead is right next to Lees. The border between them is also an old county line between Lancashire and West Riding of Yorkshire. Crossbank is another area within Lees.
Transport in Lees
You can reach Lees by road using the A669. This road connects Lees to Saddleworth and Oldham. Buses run along this road towards Oldham and Manchester. These are services 84, 180, and 184 by First Greater Manchester.
You can also take buses from Lees to other places. These include Huddersfield, Hyde, Middleton, Mossley, Saddleworth, and Stalybridge.
Lees used to have a train station. Lees railway station closed in 1955. The entire train line closed in 1964. There was also a small engine shed east of the station.
Notable People from Lees
Many interesting people have connections to Lees. Springhead-born Annie Kenney was a famous suffragette. She was one of the first women to be put in prison for fighting for women's right to vote. Annie worked at Leesbrook Mill in Lees.
Annie's younger sister, Jessie Kenney, was born in Lees. She also campaigned for women's right to vote. By age 21, Jessie was the youngest organizer for the Women's Social and Political Union.
Laurence Chaderton was born in Lees. He was one of the original translators of the Authorized King James Version of the Bible.
The artist Helen Bradley was born in Lees in 1900.
Images for kids
-
The Grapes Pub, built in 1741.
-
Poppy on a lamppost on Lees High Street
-
Lamppost with a poppy on the High Street
-
Christmas tree in Lees square
-
Christmas tree in Lees square
-
Lees high street facing towards the legends pub
-
The Red Lion Lees at Christmas
