Leek is a town in the county of Staffordshire, England, on the River Churnet. It is an ancient borough and was granted its royal charter in 1214. It is the administrative centre for the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council. King John granted Ranulph de Blundeville, Earl of Chester, the right to hold a weekly Wednesday market and an annual seven-day fair in Leek in 1207. Leek was served by a railway station which was opened by the North Staffordshire Railway on July 13, 1849, but has since been closed. The town has had a regular cattle market for hundreds of years, reflecting its role as a centre of local farming. During the industrial revolution it became a major producer of textiles. Though this industry has declined somewhat, it has continued through the large number of clothing manufacturers in the town, and the prominence of dyeing and allied trades. The mills from the town's textile era still remain. Many are currently being turned into houses. The town's markets still remain active to this day. Britannia Building Society has its headquarters based in the town and is a major local employer. Another major employer in the area is Alton Towers. More on Leek