Madeley, Staffordshire
Madeley is a village and ward in the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, North Staffordshire, England. It is split into three parts: Madeley, Middle Madeley, and Little Madeley. Madeley Heath is also considered by many to be part of Madeley. In the 2001 census, the population was recorded as 4,386, decreasing to 4,222 at the 2011 Census. Geography Madeley is located west of Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre and is close to the Shropshire and Cheshire borders. To the north are the villages of Betley and Wrinehill. South is the hamlet of Baldwin's Gate. To the east is Keele, the site of Keele University as well as Silverdale, whilst to the west lies Onneley and Woore. History Madeley is derived from the Saxon, Madanlieg, meaning 'a clearing in the woods belonging to Mada' (Mada is a female Saxon name). Madeley is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as being of wood, with 4 plough teams. The first Madeley Old Manor was built by Robert de Stafford, with the local church being founded in 1200. Heighley Castle was built in 1226 by Henry de Audley and ordered to be demolished by a Parliamentary committee sitting at Stafford in 1644 to prevent its use by Royalists. Little remains today but some of the ruins are still visible during winter through the vegetation surrounding the area. Madeley Old Hall is a timber-framed Elizabethan house and now a country house hotel. It is a Grade II* listed building. Industry A significant feature and well-known landmark of the village is Madeley Mill standing on the dam for the pool. During its history the mill was used for grinding grain but prior to its closure, production was turned over to cheese making. It fell into disrepair before being developed and converted into apartments in the early 1990s saving it from proposed demolition by the local council. There was a butchers shop opposite the pool that was run by Arthur Bailey. He actually rented the shop initially from around 1957, moving to the village when he purchased the adjoining Pool House in 1962. Slaughtering his own animals in the now converted slaughterhouse. His wife Marjorie (nee Pearce) was one of the team who established the Christie hospital in Manchester. Two children George and Elizabeth. North Staffordshire was a centre for coal mining and the nearby mine at Leycett was known as Madeley under the National Coal Board. Sinking began in the 1880s and the colliery had five shafts with exotic names: Bang Up, Fair Lady, Clarkes, Harrisons and Woodburn. The pit closed on 21 September 1957. There is nothing left of the site nowadays, it being subject to open cast mining that removed the remaining coal and the slag heaps.It is used for agriculture. Madeley has a shopping parade. It was built by the Wooliscroft family who lived down Furnace Lane. The BT exchange blew up in the early 1960s. Education Meadows Primary School, Sir John Offley Primary School and Madeley High School all serve the surrounding area. As part