Until the 19th century and industrial revolution, the area around Brown Lees was nothing more than fields spanning the wider Biddulph Valley. With the opening of coal mines and collieries in the area around the Biddulph Valley. Brown Lees was then established as a coal mining village with its own church, pub, shops and houses for workers and their families.[2]
With the opening of the Biddulph Valley line in 1854, the village and its industry were connected to the wider North Staffordshire Railway's network and colliery lines.[3] However, following the closures of the coal mines and collieries in the region. The village like many other suffered post-industrial decline. Additionally, the Biddulph Valley line had long closed the stations along it leaving the village without a railway station.[4]
Today, Brown Lees is a residential area of Biddulph.
Amenities
The Gardeners Arms pub on Brown Lees Road, Brown Lees
Brown Lees main village centre is focused on Brown Lees Road. It now has a pub, post office with a convenience store and residential streets.
From 1894 until 2012, the village has its own methodist church located on Newpool Terrace. The church was closed in 2012 and put up for sale in 2015.[5] However, it was in a poor state of disrepair during the sale.[6] It has since been converted into a private residence along with the former sunday school.
The nearest railway station is Kidsgrove. The village was served by Black Bull station on the Biddulph Valley line between Stoke-on-Trent, Biddulph and Congleton. The station was opened in 1864 but closed in July 1927 to regular passenger services. It continued to be used by both goods traffic and workman trains to the collieries until full closure of the station and line in January 1964. Today, the site is part of the Biddulph Valley Way.[8]
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