Crewe

Little is left of the original buildings of the 19th century "new town" built by the Grand Junction Railway Company in Crewe. Of the buildings in the town to note, the tower of Christ Church is still a prominent landmark. The Church was built in 1860 with the tower being added in 1874. Most of the Church interior has been demolished and transformed into a walled garden.  The Municipal Building was designed by H T Hare and built in 1902. The building has an attractive front elevation with Ionic columns and carved reclining figures above the ground floor windows.  The weather vane on the cupola was modeled on Stephenson’s Rocket.  The Market Hall, next to the Municipal Buildings, is in the Italianate style and was built in 1854 with the clock tower being added 15 years later.  The modern Civic Centre was built in 1966 and comprises the Library, the Magistrates' Courts and the Police Station.  The Lyceum Theatre is a fine Edwardian building which has recently undergone major refurbishment with the auditorium being restored to its original splendour.

On the outskirts of the town is Crewe Hall, a magnificent Jacobean mansion built for Sir Randolph Crewe in 1615. Extensions to the Hall were added in the 18th century and following a fire in 1866 which almost destroyed the building, it was repaired and reoccupied in 1870.  The Hall is now a luxury hotel, conference centre and restaurant.

A Borough Council bid for lottery monies for the restoration of Crewe's Queens Park has been approved by the Heritage Lottery Fund.  The Fund has awarded, in principle, a total of £1,888,500 for a two-stage, five to six year project to repair and restore the fabric of the Grade II listed amenity to improve the quality of life for Borough residents.  The park will continue to remain open to the public during the restoration. The park, a gift to the people of Crewe and Nantwich by the London and North-Western Railway (LNWR), was officially opened to the public in 1888.  The park covers an area of 45 acres and is listed Grade II on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.  As it has retained its original layout and many of its original features, Queens Park is considered a prime example of a Victorian urban park.  It is the traditional home of the Crewe Carnival, which is attended annually by around 50,000 people.  In November 2002, the park was awarded Green Flag Status (nationally recognised award scheme for quality of green spaces.

Crewe’s railway heritage can be explored at the "Railway Age" Heritage Centre which provides a fascinating insight into Crewe’s place in railway history. Steam locomotives can also be examined at close quarters.

Recent developments in Crewe include the Grand Junction Retail Park which supplements the range of shopping available in the town centre.  A major redevelopment scheme at Eaton Street embracing employment, retail, leisure and housing will enhance the town centre.  There are plans to redevelop Crewe Bus Station to provide a further retail area which will completely transform the town centre. The Wychwood Park development brings a new Golf Course, hotel and luxury housing to the town.

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