Town joins forces to celebrate Crewe's rich heritage

23 Jan 2020 12:42
Published by: Kian French

Exciting plans have been unveiled to make Crewe a more vibrant and attractive place to visit by celebrating, promoting and protecting the town's proud heritage.

Crewe Town Council and its Heritage Working Group have launched a draft consultation strategy to identify the town's key assets and how they can be used to support the development of a town brand.

A key objective of the project is to capture the memories of residents and enhance their sense-of-place and civic pride.

They will be asked to state their views and contribute their stories as part of a consultation currently in place.

Proposals put forward in the blueprint include:

  • Restoring historic Christ Church in Prince Albert Street by creating an organisation to raise funds and develop a sustainable use as a unique work space with a Gothic Grade II listed tower.
  • Pursuing Conservation Area Status for significant areas including the 'railway cottages' of Dorfold, Betley and Tollitt Streets
  • A heritage plaque scheme to celebrate and recognise people, places and buildings of significance to Crewe, including British suffragist and women's right campaigner Ada Nield Chew who began a career of national political significance with her anonymous letters as a 'Crewe Factory Girl' in 1894.
  • Creating an app-based 'Town Trail to link areas and places of significance, as well as looking into the use of Virtual Reality to recreate the places which have been lost to new developments.

Crewe Mayor Benn Minshall said: "When people think of heritage they often think of old buildings. But heritage is much more.

"It is about the broader history of the place, its people, their cultures, traditions, skills and beliefs. The modern town of Crewe, as we understand it today, only came into existence in 1837 when, on July 4, the first train called at the Grand Junction Railway Station.

In the next few decades, Crewe grew meteorically until it was a household name throughout the country and beyond. With that growth came people from near and far, just as they do today. The prospect of HS2 provides new opportunities and challenges and whatever happens. Crewe continues to evolve and change with the times. It always has done.

"Heritage can bridge the evolution. It defines and connects our communities, supports well-being, helps drive growth and nurtures our sense-of-place."

Chair of the Town Council's Operations and Improvements Committee, Cllr Jamie Messent said: "I am extremely grateful to the volunteers in our Heritage Working Group for their hard work in completing this draft strategy. We all recognise that we still need valuable input and we look forward to working with our community and our key partners in helping to make it a reality."

Crewe Town Council has allocated a budget of £10,000 in 2019/20 for heritage-related activities, with further funding in 2020/21/. Funds will support the appearance of heritage plaques, information boards and the start of work on an app-based town trail.

The strategy is available for scrutiny online at www.crewetowncouncil.gov.uk and from Crewe Town Council on request.

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