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Crewe
first
developed in the 1830s when the Grand Junction Railway opened
a station in a rural district of Cheshire and choose the site
for its locomotive works.
The
settlement grew rapidly beside the bustling railway station
and Joseph Lock, the GJR's chief engineer, helped lay out
the new town.
The company
provided the town with many amenities, including Christ Church,
Victoria Park, a gas works, public baths and cheese market.
However, the dominance of the railway industry meant that
Crewe suffered badly during recessions.
Although
the locomotive works has lost its importance, Crewe Station
is still one of the largest in the north-west and a major
interchange on the West Coast Main Line.
The "Railway
Age" Heritage Centre illustrates Crewe's industrial past.
From
1946 - 2002 the town was famous as the home of Rolls Royce. Production
of these luxury cars ceased in 2002 but the Pym's Lane factory
in Crewe continues to make Bentleys.
Today
Crewe, together with the town of Alsager in Congleton, is
home to the Cheshire campus of Manchester Metroplitan University.
One attraction
of the town is its magnificent Edwardian theatre. Dating
from 1911, the Lyceum Theatre has recently undergone refurbishment.
On the
outskirts of Crewe stands Crewe Hall, built in 1615 for Sir
Ralph Crewe. This magnificent Jacobean mansion is now a luxury
hotel and restaurant.
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Crewe
Railway Age Vernon Way,, Crewe CW1 2DB
