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 Buildings 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.
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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).
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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 has enhanced
the town centre. There are plans to completely redevelop
a significant proportion of Crewe town centre over the next few
years and
details
of the proposals can be seen here. The Wychwood Park
development brings a new Golf Course, hotel and luxury housing to
the town.