Leekes is a Welsh based retailer, with seven stores based in South Wales, South West England and The Midlands. The company was established by James Henry Leeke in the Rhondda in 1897. He started trading as a traditional builder's merchant selling ironmongery and hardware from the front room of the family home in a small terraced house in Clydach Vale. Since then Leekes has expanded with a Home Improvements Centre based in Tonypandy opening in the mid-1960s, and department stores opening in Talbot Green (1977), Cross Hands (1984), Melksham (1992) and Bilston (2010) The company also owns the Vale Hotel Golf and Spa Resort, and Hensol Castle.