View source for Crewe

{{Short description|Town in Cheshire, England}}{{about|the town in North West England}}
{{distinguish|Crew}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox UK place
|official_name = Crewe
|type = Town
|static_image_name = {{multiple image
|border = infobox
|total_width = 280
|image_style = border:1;
|perrow = 1/2/2
|image1 = Crewe Municipal Buildings - geograph.org.uk - 1546693.jpg
|image2 = Crewe (24310910094).jpg
|image3 = Voyager to Preston - geograph.org.uk - 3281944.jpg
|image4 = Crewe Arms Hotel - geograph.org.uk - 1409408.jpg
|image5 = Crewe Market Hall (1).JPG
}}
 | static_image_caption = Clockwise, from top: [[Crewe Municipal Buildings]], [[Crewe railway station]], Market Hall, [[Crewe Arms Hotel]] and Crewe Town Clock (demolished).
 | static_image_width     = 280
|coordinates = {{Coord|53.099|-2.44|display=inline,title}}
|population_ref           = 55,318 (Parish, 2021)<ref>{{cite web |title=Crewe parish |url=https://citypopulation.de/en/uk/northwestengland/admin/cheshire_east/E04012281__crewe/ |website=City Population |access-date=1 February 2025}}</ref><br>{{nowrap|74,120 (Built up area, 2021)<ref name=ONSbuilt>{{cite web |title=Towns and cities, characteristics of built-up areas, England and Wales: Census 2021 |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/articles/townsandcitiescharacteristicsofbuiltupareasenglandandwales/census2021 |website=Census 2021 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref>}}
|os_grid_reference = SJ705557
|london_distance = {{convert|147|mi|km}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Coordinate Distance Calculator |url=http://boulter.com/gps/distance/?from=53.099+-2.44&to=51.507+-0.127&units=m |work=boulter.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308225319/http://boulter.com/gps/distance/?from=53.099+-2.44&to=51.507+-0.127&units=m |archive-date=8 March 2016 |access-date=8 March 2016}}</ref>
|london_direction = SE
|civil_parish = Crewe
|unitary_england = [[Cheshire East]]
|lieutenancy_england = [[Cheshire]]
|region = North West England
|country = England
|post_town = CREWE
|postcode_district = CW1, CW2
|postcode_area = CW
|dial_code = 01270
|constituency_westminster = [[Crewe and Nantwich (UK Parliament constituency)|Crewe and Nantwich]]
|website = [https://www.crewetowncouncil.gov.uk Crewe Town Council]
}}

'''Crewe''' ({{IPAc-en|k|r|uː|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-Crewe.wav}}) is a [[railway town]] and [[civil parish]] in the unitary authority of [[Cheshire East]] in [[Cheshire]], England. At the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]], the parish had a population of 55,318 and the built-up area had a population of 74,120.

Crewe is perhaps best known as a large [[Crewe railway station|railway junction]] and home to [[Crewe Works]]; for many years, it was a major railway engineering facility for manufacturing and overhauling locomotives, but is now much reduced in size. From 1946 until 2002, it was also the home of [[Rolls-Royce Motors|Rolls-Royce]] motor car production. The [[Pyms Lane factory]] on the west of the town now exclusively produces [[Bentley]] motor cars. Crewe is {{convert|158|mi|abbr=}} north-west of [[London]], {{convert|28|mi|abbr=}} south of [[Manchester]] city centre and {{convert|31|mi|abbr=}} south-east of [[Liverpool]] city centre.

==History==
{{further|History of Cheshire}}

=== Medieval ===
The name derives from an [[Old Welsh]] word ''criu'', meaning '[[weir]]' or 'crossing'.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tXucAQAAQBAJ&q=crewe+welsh+weir&pg=PA138|title=A Dictionary of British Place-Names|last=Mills|first=David|date=20 October 2011|publisher=OUP Oxford|isbn=9780199609086|access-date=19 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120005607/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=tXucAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA138&lpg=PA138&dq=crewe+welsh+weir&source=bl&ots=D1pm97BrvO&sig=UGBNOx93gbidhi2CsLwYLs8BqQg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwim4L-zr7XQAhWpL8AKHY3sBTE4FBDoAQgaMAA#v=onepage&q=crewe%20welsh%20weir&f=false|archive-date=20 November 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The earliest record is in the [[Domesday Book]], where it is written as ''Creu''. The original settlement of Crewe lies to the east of the modern town and was historically a [[Township (England)|township]] in the parish of [[Barthomley]].<ref name=CreweTn>{{cite web |title=Crewe Township / Civil Parish |url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10156002 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=4 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Harvtxt|Youngs|1991|pp=15–16}}; {{Harvtxt|Dunn|1987|p=26}}; {{Harvtxt|Ollerhead|2008|p=10}}</ref> The original settlement formally changed its name to [[Crewe Green]] in 1984 to distinguish it from the newer town to its west.<ref name=CreweGreen1984>{{cite web |title=Cheshire |url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20221201173827/https://www.lgbce.org.uk/resources/database-of-local-government-orders/north-west/cheshire |website=Local Government Boundary Commission for England |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>

=== Modern ===
The town of Crewe owes its existence to [[Crewe railway station]], which opened in 1837 on the [[Grand Junction Railway]]. When the route for the railway was being planned, alternative routes and locations for the main station in this area were considered; [[Winsford]], 7 miles (11&nbsp;km) to the north, had rejected an earlier proposal, as had local landowners in neighbouring [[Nantwich]], 4 miles (6&nbsp;km) away. The company then settled on the route through Crewe and the station was built in fields near [[Crewe Hall]]. The station was in the township of Crewe, but the land north-west of the station was in the neighbouring township of Monks Coppenhall, which formed part of the parish of [[St Michael's Church, Coppenhall|Coppenhall]].

The company built its main [[Crewe railway works|locomotive works]] to the north of Crewe railway station; a [[railway town|railway colony]] soon started developing in the area north-west of the station. In 1840, [[Joseph Locke]], chief engineer of the Grand Junction Railway, produced plans for a new town there. The railway company built much of the early town itself in the 1840s and 1850s.<ref name=guardian>{{citation|url=https://www.theguardian.com/Columnists/Column/0,,1658974,00.html|newspaper=The Guardian|title=The beauty of Crewe|date=6 December 2005|access-date=10 August 2007|location=London|first=Jonathan|last=Glancey}}</ref> Although the nascent town was in the township of Monks Coppenhall rather than the Crewe township, it was known as ''Crewe'' from the start.<ref name="2003hist">{{cite web|title =Cheshire Historic Towns Survey: Crewe – Archaeological Assessment|url =http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/visiting/heritage/archaeology/archaeology_planning_advisory/historic_towns_survey/historic_towns_survey_reports/idoc.ashx?docid=e3527012-1bd3-4b98-bb7e-c213b3bf0c8d&version=-1|year =2003|publisher =[[Cheshire County Council]] & [[English Heritage]]|access-date =25 August 2010|url-status =dead|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20111003092227/http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/visiting/heritage/archaeology/archaeology_planning_advisory/historic_towns_survey/historic_towns_survey_reports/idoc.ashx?docid=e3527012-1bd3-4b98-bb7e-c213b3bf0c8d&version=-1|archive-date =3 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Harvtxt|Ollerhead|2008|pp=7, 10, 16}}; {{Harvtxt|Chambers|2007|pp=76, 94}}</ref> The modern town of Crewe was thus named after the railway station, rather than the other way round.

[[File:Crewe War Memorial 2007.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Crewe War Memorial]]

The population expanded rapidly to reach 40,000 by 1871.<ref name=guardian /> The town has a large park, [[Queen's Park, Crewe|Queen's Park]], laid out by engineer [[Francis Webb (engineer)|Francis Webb]]; the land for which was donated by the [[London and North Western Railway]], the successor to the GJR. It has been suggested that their motivation was to prevent the rival [[Great Western Railway]] building a station on the site, but the available evidence indicates otherwise.<ref>[http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/leisure_and_culture/parks_and_open_spaces/parks_and_gardens-1/crewe_area/queens_park,_crewe.aspx] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621045702/http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/leisure_and_culture/parks_and_open_spaces/parks_and_gardens-1/crewe_area/queens_park,_crewe.aspx|date=21 June 2015}} states: "This can now be totally dispelled as records show the LNWR Co. originally thought their line to [[Chester]] would run alongside the river. However, it was discovered the ground was not firm enough and a more northerly route was decided upon. Had the original thought gone ahead it would have taken the land that was eventually used for Queens Park. It is obvious that a rumour became mixed with a proposal to open a station on the present Chester line called Queens Park Halt. To further clarify the situation, an entry on 18 December 1886 in the Minute Book of the board of directors of the LNWR refers to the area being given for a public park."</ref>

Webb took a great interest in local politics and was "the most influential individual in the town".<ref name=Redfern121>Redfern, p.121</ref> "Described just before his retirement as 'the King of Crewe', Webb came to exercise control over the working lives of over 18,000 men - one third of the total LNWR workforce. Over half these lived in Crewe, around 8,000 being employed at the locomotive works. Several recreational and sporting organisations were a direct result of Webb's influence and others received benefit from his support."<ref name=Redfern121/> These included the LNWR Cricket Club (established in 1850) and the Crewe Alexandra Athletic Club (established in 1867).<ref>Redfern, p.119</ref> However, Webb's influence allegedly also extended to intimidation of [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] supporters. In September 1885, the editor of the ''[[Crewe Chronicle]]'' published charges against Webb, saying "That through the action, direct and indirect, of Tory railway officialism, the political life of Crewe is cramped and hindered beyond recognition".<ref name="Chaloner">{{cite book |last1=Chaloner |first1=William Henry |title=The Social and Economic Development of Crewe 1780-1923 |date=1950 |publisher=Manchester University Press |location=Manchester |pages=308–309}}</ref> In November 1889, the borough council debated a motion which accused LNWR managers of working with Crewe Tories "to crush Liberalism altogether out of the town": "... by intimidation and persecution of your Liberal workmen, and by making the chances of promotion depend upon subserviency to the Tory political demands of the Management, they have created a state of political serfdom in the works."<ref name="Chaloner"/> In December 1889, Liberal statesman [[William Ewart Gladstone]] wrote a letter to the ''Chronicle'' condemning the company's behaviour in the town.<ref name="Chaloner"/>

The railway provided an endowment towards the building and upkeep of Christ Church. Until 1897 its vicar, non-conformist ministers and schoolteachers received concessionary passes, the school having been established in 1842. The company provided a doctor's surgery with a scheme of health insurance. A gasworks was built and the works water supply was adapted to provide drinking water and a [[public bath]]s. The railway also opened a cheese market in 1854 and a clothing factory for John Compton who provided the company uniforms, while [[McCorquodale]] of [[Liverpool]] set up a printing works.

During [[World War II]], the strategic presence of the railways and Rolls-Royce engineering works (turned over to producing aircraft engines) made Crewe a target for enemy air raids and it was in the flight path to [[Liverpool Blitz|Liverpool]].<ref name=dwc1>{{cite book|title=Discovering Wartime Cheshire 1939-1945|year=1985|publisher=Cheshire County Council Countryside and Recreation|pages=47–48|isbn=0-906759-20-X}}</ref> The borough lost 35 civilians to these.<ref>[https://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/4003954/crewe,-municipal-borough/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208004811/https://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/4003954/crewe,-municipal-borough/|date=8 February 2018}} CWGC civilian casualty record, Crewe Municipal Borough.</ref> The worst raid was on 29 August 1940 when some 50 houses were destroyed, close to the station.<ref name=dwc2>{{cite book|title=Discovering Wartime Cheshire 1939-1945|page=49}}</ref>

[[Crewe crater]] on [[Mars]] is named after the town of Crewe. Crewe was described by author [[Alan Garner]] in his novel ''[[Red Shift (novel)|Red Shift]]'' as "the ultimate reality."

Crewe was mentioned in 1984 as the setting of the 19th episode ''The Flying Kipper'', in the [[Thomas & Friends (series 1)|first series of ''Thomas & Friends'']].

The town unsuccessfully bid for [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] as part of the [[Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours]] in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1/11/2021 - Cheshire East Council supports town council's 'city status' bid |url=https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_information/media_hub/media_releases/cheshire-east-council-supports-town-councils-%27city-status%27-bid.aspx |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=www.cheshireeast.gov.uk}}</ref><ref name="Joyner-20May2022">{{cite news |last1=Joyner |first1=Lisa |title=Queen's Platinum Jubilee city status: 8 new cities created as part of celebrations |url=https://www.countryliving.com/uk/news/a38968502/city-status/ |access-date=29 May 2023 |work=Country Living |date=20 May 2022}}</ref>

==Governance==
There are two tiers of local government covering Crewe, at [[civil parish]] (town) and [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]] level: [[Crewe Town Council]] and [[Cheshire East Council]]. The town council is based at 1 Chantry Court on Forge Street.<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact us |url=https://www.crewetowncouncil.gov.uk/contact-us/ |website=Crewe Town Council |access-date=1 February 2025}}</ref> Cheshire East Council also has its main offices in the town, at Delamere House on Delamere Street, with the Municipal Buildings on Earle Street being used for some council meetings.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cheshire East Council Offices |url=https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/your_council/cheshire_east_offices/cheshire_east_offices.aspx |website=Cheshire East Council |access-date=1 February 2025}}</ref> Some outer parts of the built-up area (as defined by the [[Office for National Statistics]]) lie outside the parish, notably in the neighbouring parishes of [[Leighton, Cheshire|Leighton]], [[Woolstanwood]], [[Wistaston]], and [[Rope, Cheshire|Rope]].<ref name=electionmaps>{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=29 January 2025}}</ref><ref name=ONSbuilt/>

For national elections, the town forms part of the [[Crewe and Nantwich (UK Parliament constituency)|Crewe and Nantwich constituency]].<ref name=electionmaps/>

===Administrative history===
The original settlement of Crewe was historically a township in the parish of Barthomley.<ref name=CreweTn/> The area where the modern town developed was in the neighbouring township of Monks Coppenhall, in the parish of Coppenhall. Both Barthomley and Coppenhall parishes formed part of the [[Hundreds of Cheshire|Nantwich hundred]] of Cheshire.<ref>{{cite web |title=Monks Coppenhall Township / Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10103447#tab02 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=1 February 2025}}</ref>

In 1859, the township of Monks Coppenhall was made a [[Local Government Act 1858|local government district]], administered by an elected local board.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=22321|page=3923|date=1 November 1859}}</ref> The district's name was changed from Monks Coppenhall to Crewe in 1869.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Chaloner |first1=William Henry |title=The social and economic development of Crewe, 1780–1923 |date=1950 |publisher=Manchester University Press |location=Manchester |oclc= 3743762 |page=105 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I4vQAAAAIAAJ |access-date=4 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Local Government Supplemental Act 1870 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/33-34/114/contents/enacted |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=4 January 2024}}</ref> Townships were redefined as [[civil parish]]es in 1866,<ref>{{Harvtxt|Youngs|1991|page=xv}}</ref> and whilst the local government district was renamed in 1869, the civil parish was not. As such, there was a Crewe district which contained the parish of Monks Coppenhall, but did not contain the parish of Crewe.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Youngs|1991|p=16}}; {{Harvtxt|Chambers|2007|pp=76, 94}}</ref> An old, local riddle describes the somewhat unusual states of affairs: "The place which is Crewe is not Crewe, and the place which is not Crewe is Crewe."<ref name=changeatcrewe>{{Harvtxt|Curran|Gilsenan|Owen|Owen|1984|p=2}}</ref>

[[File:Municipal Buildings, Crewe.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Crewe Municipal Buildings]], completed 1905]]

In 1877, the Crewe local government district was incorporated to become a [[municipal borough]].<ref name=CreweMB>{{cite web |title=Crewe Municipal Borough |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10003349#tab02 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=1 February 2025}}</ref> The borough council later built the [[Crewe Municipal Buildings|Municipal Buildings]] on Earle Street to serve as its headquarters, opening in 1905.<ref>{{NHLE|desc=The Municipal Buildings|num=1136190|grade=II}}</ref>

The railway station remained part of the neighbouring parish of Crewe, rather than the borough of Crewe, until 1936. The borough boundary was significantly enlarged in 1936 to absorb the parish of Church Coppenhall and parts of several other neighbouring parishes, including the area of Crewe parish around the railway station.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Ollerhead|2008|p=10}}</ref><ref name=CreweMB/> The reduced Crewe parish to the east of the town formally changed its name to ''Crewe Green'' in 1984.<ref name=CreweGreen1984/>

The borough of Crewe was abolished in 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]].<ref name=CreweMB/> The area became part of the larger borough of [[Crewe and Nantwich]], also covering the nearby town of Nantwich and surrounding rural areas. The government originally proposed calling the new borough Crewe, but the shadow authority elected in 1973 to oversee the transition changed the name to ''Crewe and Nantwich'' before the new arrangements came into effect.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=551|accessdate=5 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=New council asks for change of title |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ |access-date=5 September 2022 |work=Crewe Chronicle |date=6 December 1973 |page=8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=It's Crewe and Nantwich Council |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ |access-date=5 September 2022 |work=Crewe Chronicle |date=24 January 1974 |page=1 |quote=The Secretary of State for the Environment has consented to the name of Crewe District Council being changed to Crewe and Nantwich District Council...}}</ref>

In 2009, Cheshire East Council was created, taking over the functions of Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council and [[Cheshire County Council]], which were both abolished.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Cheshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008|year=2008|number=634|access-date=8 May 2024}}</ref> The area of the former borough of Crewe had been [[unparished area|unparished]] since the 1974 reforms, but following the 2009 reforms it was decided to create a parish covering the area. A new parish of Crewe was therefore created in 2013, with its parish council taking the name Crewe Town Council.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cheshire East Borough Council (Reorganisation of Community Governance) (Crewe) Order 2013 |url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20221202003345mp_/https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/lgbce/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/12057/cheshire-east-bc-crewe-parish-order-2013.pdf |website=Local Government Boundary Commission for England |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=1 February 2025}}</ref>

==Climate==
Like most of the United Kingdom, Crewe has an [[oceanic climate]], with warm summers and cool winters and relatively little temperature change throughout the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.climate-data.org/europe/united-kingdom/england/crewe-46521/|title=Crewe Climate}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Bentley Motors, Crewe - geograph.org.uk - 247611.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Bentley]]'s [[Pyms Lane factory]]]]

The railways still play a part in local industry at [[Crewe Works]], which carries out train maintenance and inspection. It has been owned by [[Alstom]] since 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A transformational step for Alstom: completion of the acquisition of Bombardier Transportation |url=https://www.alstom.com/press-releases-news/2021/1/transformational-step-alstom-completion-acquisition-bombardier |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=Alstom |language=en}}</ref> At its height, the site employed over 20,000 people but, by 2005, fewer than 1,000 remained, with a further 270 redundancies announced in November of that year. Currently Alstom employs 6,000 people across the UK and Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alstom in the UK and Ireland |url=https://www.alstom.com/uk-and-ireland |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027044806/https://www.alstom.com/alstom-uk-and-ireland |archive-date=27 October 2023 |access-date=29 December 2023 |website=Alstom}}</ref> Much of the site once occupied by the works has been sold and is now occupied by a supermarket, leisure park and a large new health centre.

There is still an [[Crewe Electric TMD|electric locomotive maintenance depot]] to the north of the railway station, operated by [[DB Cargo UK]]. The [[Crewe Diesel TMD|diesel locomotive maintenance depot]], having closed in 2003, reopened in 2015 as a maintenance facility for [[Locomotive Services Limited]], having undergone major structural repairs.<ref>Crewe Diesel depot is biggest loss as EWS prepares for closure ''[[Rail (magazine)|Rail]]'' issue 475 26 November 2003 page 6</ref><ref>Hosking to lease Crewe depot ''[[Railways Illustrated]]'' issue 135 May 2014 page 10</ref>

The [[Bentley]] [[Bentley Crewe|car factory is on Pyms Lane]] to the west of town. As of early 2010, there are about 3,500 working at the site.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.caranddriver.com/going-back-in-time-at-the-bentley-factory/|title=Going Back in Time at the Bentley Factory|date=10 May 2010|author=Mark Gillies|publisher=Car and Driver blog|access-date=25 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809135049/http://blog.caranddriver.com/going-back-in-time-at-the-bentley-factory/|archive-date=9 August 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The factory used to produce [[Rolls-Royce Motors|Rolls-Royce]] cars, until the licence for the brand transferred from Bentley's owners [[Volkswagen]] to rival [[BMW]] in 2003.

There is a [[BAE Systems Land & Armaments]] [[ROF Radway Green|factory]] in the village of [[Radway Green]] near [[Alsager]], producing [[small arms]] ammunition for the British armed forces.

The headquarters of [[Focus DIY]], which went into administration in 2011, was in the town. Off-licence chain [[Bargain Booze]] is also Crewe-based; it was bought-out in 2018 by Sir [[Anwar Pervez]]' conglomerate [[Bestway]] for £7m,<ref name="Fisher-06Apr2018">{{cite news |last1=Fisher |first1=Martyn |title=Bestway buys Bargain Booze |url=http://www.betterwholesaling.com/bestway-bargain-booze/ |access-date=6 April 2018 |work=Better Wholesaling |date=6 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406232042/http://www.betterwholesaling.com/bestway-bargain-booze/ |archive-date=6 April 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> putting drinks retailing alongside its Manchester-based [[Well Pharmacy]].

Several business parks around the town host light industry and offices. Crewe Business Park is a 67-acre site with offices, research and IT manufacturing. Major corporations with a presence in the park include [[Air Products]], [[Barclays]] and [[Fujitsu]]. The 12-acre Crewe Gates Industrial Estate is adjacent to Crewe Business Park, with smaller industry including the [[ice cream van]] manufacturer [[Whitby Morrison]]. The Weston Gate area has light industry and distribution. Marshfield Bank Employment Park is to the west of the town and includes offices, manufacturing and distribution. There are industrial and light industrial units at Radway Green.

The town has two small shopping centres: the Victoria Centre and the Market Centre. There are outdoor markets throughout the week. Grand Junction Retail Park is just outside the centre of town. Nantwich Road provides a wide range of secondary local shops, with a variety of small retailers and estate agents.

The Market Centre is the largest shopping centre in Crewe. It is situated in the heart of the town centre with a few national retailers, including [[B&M]], [[Poundstretcher]] and [[Peacocks (clothing)|Peacocks]]. There are three large car parks nearby and [[Crewe bus station]] is a five-minute walk from the shopping centre. It has a weekly footfall of approximately 100,000 visitors.

===Developments===
A planned redevelopment of Crewe's town centre, including the current bus station and main shopping area, was abandoned because of "difficult economic conditions" during 2008.<ref>{{citation|title=Developer confident of town upgrades in the face of downturn|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Developer-confident-town-upgrades-face-downturn/article-577729-detail/article.html|publisher=Staffordshire Sentinel News and Media|date=31 December 2008|access-date=3 February 2009}}</ref>

There were also plans to revamp the railway station which involved moving it to [[Basford, Cheshire|Basford]]. This was pending a public consultation by [[Network Rail]] scheduled for autumn 2008, but no such public consultation was done. The plan was abandoned and maintenance work was carried out on the current station instead.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Cuts-derail-plan-163-2m-station-facelift/article-2307470-detail/article.html|title=The Sentinel|access-date=13 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621010344/http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Cuts-derail-plan-163-2m-station-facelift/article-2307470-detail/article.html|archive-date=21 June 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

Cheshire East Council developed a new regeneration master plan for Crewe,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/business/economic_development_services/crewe_vision.aspx|title=Cheshire East Council Crewe Vision documents|access-date=12 October 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100913092404/http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/business/economic_development_services/crewe_vision.aspx|archive-date=13 September 2010}}</ref> which included the opening of a new Lifestyle Centre, with a new swimming pool, gym and library.

After a £3 million refurbishment, the Crewe Market Hall reopened its doors on 19 May 2021, the start of many new developments in Crewe.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

Crewe had been planned as the site of a transport hub for the Phase 2a [[High Speed 2]] (HS2) railway line, which received royal assent in 2021 with planned completion in 2027. The plan included a new HS2 railway station, surrounded by a commercial hub providing 37,000 jobs and 7,000 homes by 2043. However on 4 October 2023, Prime Minister [[Rishi Sunak]] announced the cancellation of this phase of the HS2 development at the [[Conservative Party Conference (UK)|Conservative Party Conference]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34958154|title=HS2 Birmingham to Crewe link planned to open six years early|work=BBC News|date=30 November 2015|access-date=16 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121010338/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34958154|archive-date=21 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=guardian-20231004>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/04/we-feel-forgotten-anger-in-crewe-at-scaling-back-of-hs2 |title='We feel forgotten': anger in Crewe at scaling back of HS2 |last=Pidd |first=Helen |newspaper=The Guardian |date=4 October 2023 |access-date=4 October 2023}}</ref>

==Transport==
[[File:Crewe station platform12.jpg|250px|thumb|Platform 12 at Crewe railway station, before the roof over it was replaced]]

===Railway===
[[Crewe railway station]] is located less than a mile from the town centre, although it was not incorporated into the then Borough of Crewe until 1937. It is one of the largest stations in the [[North West England|North West]] and is a major interchange station on the [[West Coast Main Line]]. It has 12 platforms in use.

The station is served by several [[train operating companies]]: 
* [[Avanti West Coast]] operates inter-city trains to [[Euston railway station|London Euston]] (average journey time of around 1 hour 35 minutes), [[Glasgow Central railway station|Glasgow]], [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Edinburgh]], [[Manchester Piccadilly station|Manchester]], [[Liverpool Lime Street railway station|Liverpool]] and [[Holyhead railway station|Holyhead]] for the ferry connections to [[Dublin Port]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our latest timetables and ticket info |work=Avanti West Coast |date=May 2023 |access-date=26 July 2023 |url= https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/travel-information/plan-your-journey/timetables |quote=}}</ref>
* [[Transport for Wales Rail]] provide services to [[Cardiff Central railway station|Cardiff]], [[Chester railway station|Chester]] and [[Wrexham General railway station|Wrexham]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timetables |work=Transport for Wales |date=May 2023 |access-date=26 July 2023 |url= https://tfw.wales/service-status/timetables |quote=}}</ref>
* [[London Northwestern Railway]] operates routes to [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham]], [[Stoke-on-Trent railway station|Stoke-on-Trent]], London and Liverpool<ref>{{Cite web |title=Train timetables and schedules |work=London Northwestern Railway |date=May 2023 |access-date=26 July 2023 |url= https://www.londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk/travel-information/journey-planning/train-timetables-and-schedules |quote=}}</ref>
* [[East Midlands Railway]] runs trains to [[Newark Castle railway station|Newark]], [[Derby railway station|Derby]] and [[Nottingham railway station|Nottingham]]<ref> {{Cite web |work=East Midlands Railway |title=Timetables |date=May 2023 |access-date=26 July 2023 |url= https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/timetables |quote=}}</ref>
* [[Northern Trains|Northern]] operates stopping services on two routes to Manchester Piccadilly, via [[Stockport railway station|Stockport]] and via [[Manchester Airport railway station|Manchester Airport]] on the [[Styal Line]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timetables and engineering information for travel with Northern |work=Northern Railway |date=May 2023 |access-date=26 July 2023 |url= https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/travel/timetables |quote=}}</ref>

===Roads===
Crewe is on the [[A500 road|A500]], [[A530 road|A530]] and [[A534 road|A534]] roads; it is located less than {{convert|5|mi|0}} from the [[M6 motorway]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/53.0897986,-2.433159/53.0685327,-2.3350259/@53.0771832,-2.3987671,14z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-2.3635334!2d53.0718906!3s0x487a5e8c65ea82d5:0x8316b99ec1d06719!1m0!3e0|title=Google Maps}}</ref>

===Buses===
Bus services in Crewe are operated predominantly by [[D&G Bus]]; their routes link the town with Congleton (route 42), Leighton Hospital (12), Macclesfield (38), Nantwich (84X) and Northwich (31/37).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stops in Crewe |work=Bus Times |date=2023 |access-date=26 July 2023 |url= https://bustimes.org/localities/crewe}}</ref>

[[Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire]] runs route 84 to Chester and [[First Potteries]] operates a single service (route 103) running to Stoke-on-Trent, via Kidsgrove.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstgroup.com/potteries/plan-journey/timetables|title=Timetables {{!}} Potteries|website=First Bus|language=en-GB|access-date=9 March 2020}}</ref>

===Airport===
The closest airport to Crewe is [[Manchester Airport]], which is {{convert|30|mi}} away; [[Liverpool John Lennon Airport]] is {{convert|40|mi}} away.

==Culture==
[[Crewe Heritage Centre]] is located in the old [[London, Midland and Scottish Railway|LMS]] railway yard for Crewe railway station. The museum has three signal boxes and an extensive miniature railway with steam, diesel and electric traction. The most prominent exhibit of the museum is the [[British Rail Class 370]] [[Advanced Passenger Train]].

[[File:Lyceum Theatre, Crewe, Cheshire UK.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Lyceum Theatre]]

The [[Listed building|Grade II-listed]] Edwardian [[Lyceum Theatre (Crewe)|Lyceum Theatre]] is in the centre of Crewe. It was built in 1911 and shows drama, ballet, opera, music, comedy and pantomime.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lyceumtheatre.net/|title=HQ Theatres|work=lyceumtheatre.net|access-date=13 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100905160122/http://www.lyceumtheatre.net/|archive-date=5 September 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> The theatre was originally located on Heath Street from 1882. The Axis Arts Centre is on the [[Manchester Metropolitan University]] (MMU) campus in Crewe. It relocated from the university's Alsager Campus when it closed. The centre has a programme of touring new performance and visual art work.<ref>[http://www.axisartscentre.org.uk/cms/page.php?page=about Axis Arts Centre website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322213332/http://www.axisartscentre.org.uk/cms/page.php?page=about|date=22 March 2010}}</ref> The Axis centre closed at the end of the spring 2019 season with the withdrawal of MMU from the Crewe campus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.axisartscentre.org.uk/ |title=Spring Season 2019 – Welcome and goodbye! |author=Neil Mackenzie |publisher=Axis Arts Centre |date=Spring 2019 |access-date=9 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509180544/http://www.axisartscentre.org.uk/ |archive-date=9 May 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Box on Pedley Street is the town's main local music venue.

Both the Lyceum Theatre and the Axis Arts Centre feature galleries. The private Livingroom art gallery is on Prince Albert Street. The town's main library is on Prince Albert Square, opposite the Municipal Buildings.

Crewe has six [[Church of England|Anglican]] churches, three [[Methodist]], one [[Roman Catholic]] (which has a weekly Mass in [[Polish language|Polish]]) and two [[Baptist]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-visitor.com/crewe/placesofworship.html|title=Crewe Places of Worship, for Places of Worship in Crewe, Cheshire, UK|work=city-visitor.com|access-date=8 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722181215/http://www.city-visitor.com/crewe/placesofworship.html|archive-date=22 July 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

There is a museum dedicated to [[Primitive Methodism]] in the nearby village of [[Englesea-Brook]].<ref>[http://www.engleseabrook-museum.org.uk/ Englsea Brook Chapel and Museum website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430035006/http://www.engleseabrook-museum.org.uk/|date=30 April 2010}}</ref>

The [[Jacobean architecture|Jacobean]] mansion [[Crewe Hall]] is located to the east of the town near [[Crewe Green]]. It is a [[Listed building|grade I]] listed building, built in 1615–1636 for [[Ranulph Crewe|Sir Randolph Crewe]]. Today, it is used as a hotel, restaurant and health club.

There is a multiplex [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon]] cinema on Phoenix Leisure Park on the edge of the town centre, as well as a Mecca bingo hall and a tenpin bowling alley.

[[Queens Park, Crewe|Queens Park]] is the town's main park; £6.5{{nbsp}}million was spent on its restoration in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Queen's Park, Crewe|url=http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/leisure,_culture_and_tourism/parks_and_open_spaces/parks_and_gardens/crewe_area_parks/queens_park,_crewe.aspx|work=cheshireeast.gov.uk|access-date=13 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208182537/http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/leisure,_culture_and_tourism/parks_and_open_spaces/parks_and_gardens/crewe_area_parks/queens_park,_crewe.aspx|archive-date=8 February 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> It features walkways, a children's play area, crown green bowling, putting, a boating lake, grassed areas, memorials and a café.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/leisure,_culture_and_tourism/parks_and_open_spaces/parks_and_gardens/crewe_area_parks_and_gardens/queens_park_crewe/queens_park_crewe.aspx|title=Queens Park, Crewe|website=www.cheshireeast.gov.uk|access-date=9 March 2020|archive-date=11 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611055522/http://cheshireeast.gov.uk/leisure,_culture_and_tourism/parks_and_open_spaces/parks_and_gardens/crewe_area_parks_and_gardens/queens_park_crewe/queens_park_crewe.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> Jubilee Gardens are in Hightown and there is also a park on Westminster Street.

In 2019, Crewe hosted Pride in the Park (previously held at [[Tatton Park]] in 2018) in Queens Park. The 2020 event, which had been due to take place on 12 September, was cancelled on 20 May, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 May 2020|title=Council cancels this year's Pride event|url=https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_information/media_hub/media_releases/council-cancels-this-year%27s-pride-event.aspx|access-date=24 October 2020|website=Cheshire East Council|archive-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026231228/https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_information/media_hub/media_releases/council-cancels-this-year%27s-pride-event.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===In literature===
A limerick referencing Crewe appears in [[Roald Dahl|Roald Dahl's]] novel, ''[[Matilda (novel)|Matilda]]'' (1988), when Matilda reads aloud from a collection of humorous verse:

{{Poem quote
|text=An epicure, dining at Crewe
Found quite a large mouse in his stew.
Cried the waiter, "Don't shout,
And wave it about,
Or the rest will be wanting one, too!"}}

The limerick predates ''Matilda'' and appears without attribution in several earlier publications, including ''The Swiss Monthly'' (April 1924),<ref name="SwissMonthly">{{cite journal
 |title=Sparks from Other Fires
 |journal=The Swiss Monthly
 |volume=1
 |issue=7
 |date=April 1924
 |page=156
 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Swiss_Monthly/MKVOAQAAIAAJ
 |url-access=limited}}
</ref> ''The Outlook'' (February 1925),<ref name="Outlook1925">{{cite journal
 |title=By the Way
 |journal=The Outlook
 |volume=139
 |issue=7
 |date=18 February 1925
 |page=278
 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Outlook/L0paAAAAYAAJ
 |url-access=limited}}
</ref> and ''The Comic Muse: An Anthology of Humorous Verse'', compiled by J. C. Squire (1925).<ref name="ComicMuse">{{cite book
 |last=Squire
 |first=J. C.
 |title=The Comic Muse: An Anthology of Humorous Verse
 |year=1925
 |publisher=W. Collins Sons
 |location=London
 |page=245
 |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.$b253327&view=1up&seq=249}}</ref>

===Media===
Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC North West]] and [[ITV Granada]].

The daily ''[[The Sentinel (Staffordshire)|Sentinel]]'' and the weekly ''[[Crewe Chronicle]]'' newspapers, both [[Reach plc]]-owned, cover the town. Reach's ''CheshireLive'' is the digital news channel of the ''Crewe Chronicle'' and other Reach titles covering news across Cheshire,<ref>{{cite web |title=About us |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/about-us/ |website=CheshireLive |access-date=4 February 2025}}</ref> and has a section dedicated to Crewe news.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Crewe - Cheshire Live |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/all-about/crewe |access-date=27 April 2022 |website=www.cheshire-live.co.uk}}</ref>

The local radio station is The Cat Community Radio,<ref>{{cite web |title=The Cat Community Radio |url=https://livewellservices.cheshireeast.gov.uk/Services/2809/The-Cat-Community-Ra |website=Cheshire East Council |access-date=4 February 2025}}</ref> broadcasting on 107.9FM from the Cheshire College South and West building covering the town along with Nantwich and other local settlements. Other radio stations that cover the area include [[BBC Radio Stoke]], [[Hits Radio Staffordshire & Cheshire|Hits Radio Staffordshire and Cheshire]] and [[Greatest Hits Radio Midlands|Greatest Hits Radio Staffordshire & Cheshire]] (formerly Signal 1 and Signal 2 respectively) and [[Silk Radio]] from Macclesfield.

==Education==
{{further|List of schools in Cheshire East}}

Cheshire has adopted the [[comprehensive school]] model of secondary education, so all of the schools under its control cater for pupils of all levels of ability.<ref>{{citation|title=Secondary Education|url=http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/EducationAndLearning/schools/admissions/Secondary.htm|publisher=Cheshire County Council|access-date=3 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014081220/http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/EducationAndLearning/schools/admissions/Secondary.htm|archive-date=14 October 2008}}</ref> Until the late 1970s Crewe had two [[grammar school]]s, Crewe Grammar School for Boys, now [[Ruskin High School, Crewe|Ruskin High School]] and Crewe Grammar School for Girls, now [[the Oaks Academy]] (formerly Kings Grove School). The town's two other secondary schools are [[Sir William Stanier School]], a [[specialist school|specialist]] technology and arts academy, and [[St Thomas More Catholic School, Crewe|St. Thomas More Catholic High School]], specialising in mathematics and computing and modern foreign languages.

Although there are eight schools for those aged 11–16 in Crewe and its surrounding area, [[Cheshire College – South & West|Cheshire College South & West]] is one of only two local providers of education for pupils aged 16 and over, and the only one in Crewe. The college also provides educational programmes for adults, leading to qualifications such as [[Higher National Diploma]]s (HNDs) or foundation degrees. In the 2006–07 academic year, 2,532 students aged 16–18 were enrolled, along with 3,721 adults.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_reports/download/(id)/95779/(as)/130619_318909.pdf|title=South Cheshire College|publisher=Ofsted|access-date=3 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090127050332/http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_reports/download/(id)/95779/(as)/130619_318909.pdf|archive-date=27 January 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Manchester Metropolitan University]]'s (MMU) Cheshire Faculty is based in Crewe, in a part of town which has been rebranded as the ''University Quadrant''. The campus offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in five areas: business and management, contemporary arts, exercise and sport science, interdisciplinary studies, education and teacher training.<ref>{{citation|title=Profile: Manchester Metropolitan University|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/good_university_guide/article2166614.ece|date=19 June 2008|periodical=Times Online|publisher=Times Newspapers|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508020803/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/good_university_guide/article2166614.ece|archive-date=8 May 2009|access-date=25 September 2018|location=London}}</ref> The campus underwent a £70 million investment in its facilities and buildings in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=MMU Cheshire|url=http://study.whycheshire.com/universities/mmu-cheshire|website=Study in Cheshire|access-date=25 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403061643/http://study.whycheshire.com/universities/mmu-cheshire|archive-date=3 April 2014|url-status=usurped}}</ref> The campus was used as a pre-games training camp for the London 2012 Olympic Games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cheshire.mmu.ac.uk/2012camp/|title=2012 Pre-Games Training Camp|work=mmu.ac.uk|access-date=24 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713191855/http://www.cheshire.mmu.ac.uk/2012camp/|archive-date=13 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Since 2016, there has been a [[University Technical College]] for 14-19 year olds interested in automotive or railway engineering.<ref name="Rail Eng">{{cite news |last1=Darlington CEng FIET |first1=Paul |title=New UTC for Crewe – Rail Engineer |url=https://www.railengineer.co.uk/new-utc-for-crewe/ |access-date=7 May 2021 |date=26 February 2016}}</ref>

==Sport==
[[File:Gresty Road, Crewe.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Gresty Road|Mornflake Stadium/Gresty Road]]]]

Crewe's local [[association football|football]] club is [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]], founded in 1877 and initially managed by railway workers. During the late 20th century, the club enjoyed something of a renaissance under the management of [[Dario Gradi]], playing in the second tier of the professional pyramid for eight seasons in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Crewe Alexandra currently plays in [[EFL League Two|League Two]] (the fourth tier), having been relegated from [[EFL League One|League One]] in April 2022. In 2013, the club won its first major silverware after beating [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]] 2–0 in the [[EFL Trophy]] final at Wembley.

From the early 1980s, Crewe Alexandra built a reputation for developing young players through its youth ranks: England internationals [[Geoff Thomas (footballer born 1964)|Geoff Thomas]], [[Danny Murphy (footballer born 1977)|Danny Murphy]], [[David Platt (footballer)|David Platt]], [[Rob Jones (footballer born 1979)|Rob Jones]] and [[Dean Ashton]], plus Northern Ireland's [[Neil Lennon]] and [[Steve Jones (footballer, born 1976)|Steve Jones]], and Wales's [[Robbie Savage]] and [[David Vaughan (footballer)|David Vaughan]] all passed through the club. Among their earlier most notable home-grown players was [[Frank Blunstone]], born in the town in 1934, who was transferred from ''The Alex'' to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] in 1953 and went on to win five England caps. Internationals [[Bruce Grobbelaar]] and [[Stan Bowles]] were also on the books at one time in their careers.

Crewe's local rugby clubs are both based in or near [[Nantwich]]. The [[Crewe & Nantwich Steamers]] (formerly Crewe Wolves), who played in the [[Rugby League Conference]], were based at Barony Park, Nantwich, while Crewe and Nantwich RUFC play their home games at the Vagrants Sports Ground in [[Willaston, Cheshire East|Willaston]].

[[Motorcycle speedway|Speedway racing]] was staged in Crewe in the pioneer days of the late 1920s to early 1930s; the stadium in Earle Street also operated from 1969 until 1975 when the [[Crewe Kings]] raced in [[British League Division Two]], then the National League. At the time the track was the longest and fastest in the UK.<ref>Bamford, R & Jarvis J. (2001). ''Homes of British Speedway''. {{ISBN|0-7524-2210-3}}</ref> Crewe Kings riders included [[Phil Crump]] (father of [[Jason Crump]]), [[Les Collins]] (brother of [[Peter Collins (speedway rider)|Peter Collins]]), [[Dave Morton]] (brother of [[Chris Morton]]), Geoff Curtis, John Jackson, Jack Millen and Dave Parry. Grand Junction Retail Park occupies the site of the now demolished stadium.<ref name="Sandhu-14Oct2015">{{cite news |last1=Sandhu |first1=Nathan |title=Retail hotspot was once home of the Crewe Alexandra Cricket Club |url=https://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/news/crewe-south-cheshire-news/retail-hotspot-once-home-crewe-10249259 |access-date=16 February 2021 |work=Crewe Chronicle |date=14 October 2015}}</ref>

The [[Crewe Railroaders]] are the town's [[American football]] team, currently competing in the [[British American Football Association|BAFA]] Central League Division 2 and the subject of the film ''Gridiron UK'', which premiered at the Lyceum Theatre on 29 September 2016.

Crewe also has its own [[roller derby]] team, Railtown Loco Rollers, founded in September 2013. They skate at Sir William Stanier Leisure Centre and compete with skaters and teams from all over the North West.

Crewe's main leisure facility is the Crewe Lifestyle Centre, which now houses Crewe's main public swimming pool after the Flag Lane premises closed in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://everybody.org.uk/centres/crewe-lifestyle-centre/|title=Crewe Lifestyle Centre - Everybody Sport & Recreation|date=31 May 2016 |access-date=15 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625065307/http://everybody.org.uk/centres/crewe-lifestyle-centre/|archive-date=25 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Other notable leisure facilities include Sir William Stanier Leisure Centre and Victoria Community Centre.

Since 17 February 2018,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parkrun.org.uk/crewe/results/eventhistory/|title = Results &#124; Crewe parkrun}}</ref><ref name="Morse-21Feb2018">{{cite news |last1=Morse |first1=Peter |title=Running: Parkrun has come to Crewe - and it's annoyingly brilliant |url=https://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/sport/other-sport/running-parkrun-come-crewe-its-14319028 |access-date=23 May 2023 |work=Crewe Chronicle |date=21 February 2018}}</ref> Crewe's [[Queens Park, Crewe|Queens Park]] has hosted a [[parkrun]] each Saturday morning at 9am.

== Notable people ==
[[File:Dunwoody.jpg|thumb|upright=0.65|140px|[[Gwyneth Dunwoody]], 2008]]
[[File:William Hope photographer.png|thumb|upright=0.65|140px|[[William Hope (paranormal investigator)|William Hope]], 1863]]
[[File:Cardiff Mardi Gras 2010 MMB 27 Adam Rickitt.jpg|thumb|upright=0.65|140px|[[Adam Rickitt]], 2010]]
[[File:Sir Philip Craven, MBE.jpg|thumb|upright=0.65|140px|[[Philip Craven]], 2012]]

=== Politicians ===
*[[Thomas Nevitt]] (1864 in Crewe – 1932), member of the [[Queensland Legislative Council]]
*[[William Wheeldon]] (1898 in Crewe – 1960), British co-operator<ref>[https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-william-wheeldon/index.html HANSARD 1803–2005 → People (W) Mr William Wheeldon 1898-1960] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305022045/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-william-wheeldon/|date=5 March 2016}} retrieved December 2017</ref> and local politician from Birmingham and MP
*[[Gwyneth Dunwoody]] (1930 – 2008), British Labour Party politician,<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/apr/19/gwynethdunwoody.labour The Guardian, Edward Pearce, Sat 19 Apr 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212144713/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/apr/19/gwynethdunwoody.labour|date=12 December 2013}} retrieved December 2017</ref> MP for [[Exeter (UK Parliament constituency)|Exeter]] from 1966 to 1970, then for [[Crewe (UK Parliament constituency)|Crewe]], then [[Crewe and Nantwich (UK Parliament constituency)|Crewe and Nantwich]] from 1974 to 2008
*[[Janet Dean]] (born 1949 in Crewe), British Labour Party MP for Burton from 1997 to 2010
*[[Tom Levitt]] (born 1954 in Crewe), Labour Party politician who was the MP for [[High Peak (UK Parliament constituency)|High Peak]] 
*[[Kali Mountford]] (born 1954 in Crewe), known as ''Kali'', Labour Party politician and MP for [[Colne Valley (UK Parliament constituency)|Colne Valley]] 
*[[Edward Timpson]] (born 1973), British Conservative MP for [[Crewe and Nantwich]] ([[2008 Crewe and Nantwich by-election|2008]]–2017) and [[Eddisbury (UK Parliament constituency)|Eddisbury]] (2019–2024)
*[[Paul Maynard]] (born 1975 in Crewe), British Conservative MP for [[Blackpool North and Cleveleys]] and Rail Minister
*[[Lauren Moss]] (born 1987 in Crewe), Australian politician

=== Public service and commerce ===
*[[Francis Webb (engineer)|Francis Webb]] (1836 – 1906) English railway engineer who, as LNWR's chief mechanical engineer, also exercised great influence in political and public life in Crewe, once being described as the 'King of Crewe'
*[[William Hope (paranormal investigator)|William Hope]] (1863 – 1933), based in Crewe, pioneer of [[spirit photography]],<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2010/oct/29/haunted-photographs-william-hope-halloween The Guardian, Fri 29 Oct 2010] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222053227/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2010/oct/29/haunted-photographs-william-hope-halloween|date=22 December 2017}} retrieved December 2017</ref> member of the Crewe Circle
*[[Ada Nield Chew]], (1870 – 1945), [[suffragist]], wrote a series of letters to the ''Crewe Chronicle'', signed ''"A Crewe Factory Girl"''<ref>{{cite ODNB|last=Doughan|first=David|contribution=Chew, Ada Nield (1870–1945)|title=Dictionary of National Biography|year=2004|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/39080 |url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/39080|access-date=15 November 2008}}</ref>
*[[Wilfrid Oulton]], CB, CBE, DSO, DFC (1911–1997), [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] [[Air Vice-Marshal]]; dealt with British nuclear tests in the Pacific Ocean 
*[[Blaster Bates]] a.k.a. Derek Macintosh Bates (1923 in Crewe – 2006), an English explosives and demolition expert and raconteur
*[[Harold Hankins]] (1930 in Crewe – 2009), electrical engineer<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/aug/05/universityofmanchester-engineering The Guardian, John Garside, Wed 5 Aug 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222053245/https://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/aug/05/universityofmanchester-engineering|date=22 December 2017}} retrieved December 2017</ref> and the first [[Vice-Chancellor]] of [[UMIST]]
*Professor [[Christine Dean]] (born in Crewe 1939), London psychiatrist, attended Crewe County Grammar School
*[[Christopher Hughes (quiz contestant)|Chris Hughes]] (1947–2025), one of Britain's top quizzers, featuring in ''[[Eggheads (TV series)|Eggheads]]''. Lived in Crewe
*[[Mark Price, Baron Price]] (born 1961 in Crewe), businessman, was MD of [[Waitrose]] and Deputy Chairman of [[John Lewis Partnership]]

=== Arts ===
*[[William Cooper (novelist)|William Cooper]] (real name Harry Summerfield Hoff) (1910 – 2002), novelist,<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/sep/07/guardianobituaries.booksobituaries The Guardian, Norman Shrapnel, Sat 7 Sep 2002] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222053042/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/sep/07/guardianobituaries.booksobituaries|date=22 December 2017}} retrieved December 2017</ref> lived at 99 Brooklyn Street
*[[John Mark Ainsley]] (born 1963 in Crewe), English lyric tenor of baroque music and the works of [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]]
*[[Carl Ashmore]] (born 1968), children's author
*[[Any Trouble]], a British rock band, originating from Crewe in 1975, best known for their early 1980s recordings
*[[Carey Willetts]] (born 1976 in Crewe), British musician, songwriter, and producer
*[[Lee Oakes]] (born 1976), British actor, from [[Haslington]] near Crewe
*[[Mackenzie Taylor]] (1978–2010), British comic, writer and director. Born in Crewe
*[[Adam Rickitt]] (born 1978), English actor, singer and model and charity fundraiser

=== Sport ===
*[[John Warburton (footballer)|John Warburton]] (1903–?), football player, mostly for [[Wrexham A.F.C.|Wrexham]] and [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]].<ref name="ref1">{{cite web|title= Bangor City Players 1876-1939 Who Progressed Into The English Football League |url=http://www.the-citizens-choice.co.uk/LeagueGradscity1888.html | work=The Citizens Choice |access-date=15 February 2020}}</ref>
*[[Frank Blunstone]] (born 1934 in Crewe), footballer who played for Crewe Alexandra, Chelsea and England.<ref name=eng>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131005124241/http://www.englandfc.com/Profiles/php/PlayerProfileByName.php?id=123 Profile at englandfc.com]</ref>
*[[Philip Craven|Sir Philip Craven]] (born 1950), president of the [[International Paralympic Committee]] (IPC) 2001–2017, lives in Shavington.<ref>[http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_information/media_hub/media_releases/crewe-lifestyle-centre-officially-opens.aspx Crewe Lifestyle Centre officially opens] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531174354/http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_information/media_hub/media_releases/crewe-lifestyle-centre-officially-opens.aspx|date=31 May 2016}} Cheshire East Council. 27 May 2016</ref>
*[[Neil Brooks]] (born in Crewe 1962), Australian Olympic swimming gold medallist 
*[[John Morris (cricketer, born 1964)|John Edward Morris]] (born 1964), former English cricketer, played most for [[Derbyshire County Cricket Club|Derbyshire]]
*[[David Gilford]] (born 1965), [[European Tour]] and [[Ryder Cup]] golfer (1991, 1995) is from Crewe
*[[Mark Rivers]] (born 1975 in Crewe), footballer who played as a forward for Crewe Alexandra and [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]
*[[Kevin Street]] (born 1977 in Crewe), footballer who played for Crewe Alexandra and [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]]
*[[Neil Critchley]] (born 1978 in Crewe), a former [[Crewe Alexandra]] footballer and most recently head coach at [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Heart of Midlothian]].
*[[Mark Cueto]] (born 1979), former rugby union international and player for the [[Sale Sharks]]
*[[Craig Jones (motorcycle racer)|Craig Jones]] (1985 in Crewe – 2008), English motorcycle racer who grew up in Northwich
*[[Shanaze Reade]] (born 1988), world [[BMX]] and [[track cycling]] champion
*[[Muthu Alagappan]] (born c. 1990 in Crewe), medical student known in the US for his basketball analytics
*[[Bryony Page]] (born 1990 in Crewe), an Olympic gold medal-winning [[Trampolining|trampolinist]], raised in the village of [[Wrenbury]], 8.5 miles from the town

==Town twinning==
Crewe is [[sister city|twinned]] with:
* [[Bischofsheim (Mainspitze)|Bischofsheim]], near [[Mainz]], Germany
* [[Dzierżoniów]], Poland (since 2005)<ref>{{cite web|title=Miasta partnerskie|url=https://www.dzierzoniow.pl/pl/page/miasta-partnerskie|website=dzierzoniow.pl|publisher=Dzierżoniów|language=pl|access-date=2022-07-29|archive-date=2012-12-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121229060404/http://www.dzierzoniow.pl/pl/page/miasta-partnerskie|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Cheshire}}
* [[Listed buildings in Crewe]]

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{citation|last=Chambers|first=S|title=Crewe: A history|year=2007|location=Chichester, Sussex|publisher=Phillimore|isbn=978-1-86077-472-0}}
* {{citation|title=Change at Crewe|year=1984|last1=Curran|last2=Gilsenan|last3=Owen|last4=Owen|first1=H|first2=M|first3=B|first4=J|location=Chester|publisher=Cheshire Libraries and Museums}}
* {{citation|last=Dunn|first=F. I.|title=The ancient parishes, townships and chapelries of Cheshire|year=1987|location=Chester|publisher=Cheshire Record Office and Cheshire Diocesan Record Office|isbn=0-906758-14-9}}
* {{citation|last=Ollerhead|first=P|title=Crewe: History and guide|year=2008|location=Stroud, Gloucestershire|publisher=Tempus Publishing|isbn=978-0-7524-4654-7}}
* Redfern, Allan (1983) "Crewe: Leisure in a railway town" in Walton, John K., and Walvin, James, ''Leisure in Britain, 1780-1939'', Manchester University Press, Manchester, pp.117-136. ISBN 0-7190-0912-X
* {{citation|last=Youngs|first=F. A.|title=Guide to the local administrative units of England. (Volume 1: Northern England)|year=1991|location=London|publisher=Royal Historical Society|isbn=0-86193-127-0}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Crewe}}
{{Wikivoyage|Crewe (England)|Crewe}}
* [http://www.crewetowncouncil.gov.uk/ Crewe Town Council]
* {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Crewe|volume=7|short=x}}

{{Cheshire, Cheshire East}}
{{Cheshire}}
{{Duchy of Lancaster}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Crewe| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Cheshire]]
[[Category:Railway towns in England]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Cheshire]]