Calton, Staffordshire

The Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway (L&MVLR) was a narrow gauge railway in Staffordshire, England that operated between 1904 and 1934. The line mainly carried milk from dairies in the region, acting as a feeder to the 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge system. It also provided passenger services to the small villages and beauty spots along its route. The line was built to a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge and to the light rail standards provided by the Light Railways Act 1896 to reduce construction costs. The route of the line is now a foot- and cycle- path.

Sparrowlee was the name of a railway station on the Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway, a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge line which ran for 8 miles between Hulme End and Waterhouses, in Staffordshire, and was initially operated by the North Staffordshire Railway before being taken over by the LMS. The station was opened on 29 June 1904 and was the first halt when travelling north along the valley of the River Hamps between Waterhouses and Beeston Tor, the next station, and the start of the route along the River Manifold. The station, which was simply a small halt with a grand sign, only in fact served Lee House Farm, for there was no such settlement of this name, and no other community to serve. A waiting room was consequently not provided, but a siding was provided for the farm's use, and this included a 60-foot standard gauge section, for the use of standard gauge wagons which were carried on special low transporter wagons. The line closed in 1934, and the route of the railway past the station is now designated the Manifold Way, a walk- and cycle-path.

Brown End Quarry is a nature reserve of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, near the village of Waterhouses in Staffordshire, England. It is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and a regionally important geological site.

Throwley Old Hall is a ruined stately home near the village of Calton and adjacent to the River Manifold, in north-east Staffordshire, England. It is a Grade II* listed building and a scheduled monument. The estate is privately owned.The house is aligned north-east/south-west; it has two storeys, with a square tower, of three storeys, attached to the north-east corner.S. C. Hall, writing in the mid-19th century, described the house when it was intact: "It is built of the limestone of the neighbourhood, quoined with larger gritstones; and its walls bear a very time-worn appearance. On the Eastern side, its gables, large bayed window of many lights, divided by stone mullions, terminating in depressed arches, and its strong square tower, carry us back to the Sixteenth Century the period of its erection." By 1921 the building's condition was similar to its present state.

Waterhouses railway station was a railway station that served the village of Waterhouses, Staffordshire. It was opened jointly by the North Staffordshire Railway (NSR) and the Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway (L&MVLR) in 1905 and closed in 1943.

Waterhouses is a village in the south of the Staffordshire Peak District in England. It is around 8 miles from Leek and Ashbourne, being nearly the halfway point between the two towns on the A523 road, which roughly follows the southern boundary of the Peak District National Park. Waterhouses is also a civil parish, created in 1934 when the parishes of Calton, Cauldon, Waterfall and part of Ilam were merged; previously the village of Waterhouses was on the boundary of Waterfall and Cauldon parishes. The hamlet of Winkhill is also in the parish. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 1,134.

Thorswood is a nature reserve of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, situated in the Weaver Hills near the village of Stanton, in Staffordshire, England. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Back o'th' Brook is a village in Staffordshire, England. The population for the 2011 census can be found under Waterhouses

Beeston Tor railway station was a minor station which served the Beeston Tor in Grindon, Staffordshire. The site is now part of the Manifold Way.

Swinscoe is a small hamlet within the Staffordshire Moorlands in Staffordshire, England. Administratively, the hamlet is part of the civil parish of Blore with Swinscoe.

Blore (grid reference SK137493) is a small village and parish in the Staffordshire Moorlands District of England. It is on an acclivity above Dovedale, three and a half miles north west of Ashbourne, including the hamlet of Swinscoe, one mile (1.6 km) to the south and a part of the parochial chapelry of Calton. The ecclesiastical parish is Blore Ray with Okeover and the civil parish is Blore-with-Swinscoe, both with slightly different boundaries. Blore parish, exclusive of the portion of Calton, contains about 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) and 273 souls. Swinscoe contains about 1,000 acres (4.0 km2). The village of Blore comprises Blore Hall (now owned by the Holiday Property Bond), St Bartholomew's parish church, the Old Rectory, a few other houses and several farms. The hall was first mentioned in 1331, though only one building remains substantially unaltered since 1661. The Holiday Property Bond is a life assurance bond investment in securities and assets. Its 35,000 Bondholders have exclusive access to Blore Hall. Blore Hall was the home of the Bassett family, (from whom the Queen is descended) ; William Bassett, the last of the male line, died in 1601 and his magnificent alabaster tomb, erected by his wife about 1630, can be seen in the church. Blore Church was built around 1100 and is a Grade 1 listed building. Apart from the Bassett tomb, it has remained virtually unchanged for almost 400 years. It was extensively restored between 1994 and 1997.

Beeston Tor (grid reference SK105540) is a limestone cliff in Staffordshire. It overlooks the confluence of the River Hamps with the River Manifold, and is a popular venue for rock climbing (seasonal restrictions for rock climbing apply). There was a small station here, of the same name, opened by the narrow gauge (2' 6") Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway on 27 June 1904, whilst being entirely operated by the North Staffordshire Railway. The station had no siding – unlike most of the stations on the line – but there was a refreshment room. The line closed in 1934, and the route of the railway past the station is now designated the Manifold Way, an 8-mile walk- and cycle-path which runs from Waterhouses to Hulme End.