[82], The Corporation stipulated that several manufacturing industries should be developed, rather than allowing one sector or firm to dominate. A coach station was opened by Southdown in 1931 on the A23 at County Oak, near Lowfield Heath: it was a regular stopping point for express coaches between London and towns on the Sussex coast. The Crawley Observer began life in 1881 as Simmins Weekly Advertiser, became the Sussex & Surrey Courier and then the Crawley and District Observer, and took its current name in 1983. When this was completed in 1770, travel between the newly fashionable seaside resort and London became safer and quicker, and Crawley (located approximately halfway between the two) prospered as a coaching halt. buildings, as part of an updated Local Heritage List: The changes will affect the way The two neighbourhoods were both larger than the original nine: together, their proposed population was 23,000. More recently, Charlwood fell to −11.2C (11.8F)[73] and Gatwick −11.1C (12.0F)[74] on 20 December 2010. [37], At first, little development took place in the town centre, and residents relied on the shops and services in the existing high street. [12] The first written record of Crawley dates from 1202, when a licence was issued by King John for a weekly market on Wednesdays. Plans for a new hospital on land at The Hawth were abandoned, however, and the existing hospital in West Green was redeveloped instead. is Crawley's main football team. Office floorspace in the town increased from 55,000 square feet (5,100 m2) in 1965 to a conservative estimate of 453,000 square feet (42,100 m2) in 1984. In the 1960s and 1970s, large branches of Tesco, Sainsbury's and Marks & Spencer were opened (the Tesco superstore was the largest in Britain at the time). [82] The remaining land between this area and the railway line was sold for private development by 1982;[82] in 1992 a 450,000 square feet (41,800 m2)[143] shopping centre named County Mall and anchored by an Owen Owen department store was opened there. By this time, an initial plan for the development of the area had been drawn up by Anthony Minoprio. [217] In September 2008 Johnston Press launched a new weekly broadsheet newspaper called the Crawley Times based on the companies paper produced in Horsham, the West Sussex County Times. Desmond Anderson, based in Tilgate converted to Academy status in February 2017 and is now part of the University of Brighton Academies Trust. Crawley developed slowly as a market town from the 13th century, serving the surrounding villages in the Weald. CR/1998/0039/OUT", "Surrey Constabulary – Part 3: Policing Change 1951–1975. [201], Crawley Museum[202] is based in the town centre. [38] Crawley Development Corporation's intention was for neighbourhood shops to cater only to basic needs, and for the town centre to be used for most shopping requirements. [182], Crawley Town F.C. [199], Each neighbourhood has self-contained recreational areas, and there are other larger parks throughout the town. The authority's boundaries were extended in 1983 to accommodate the Bewbush and Broadfield neighbourhoods. The area has been inhabited since the Stone Age,[1] and was a centre of ironworking in Roman times. [113] In 1949, 1,529 people worked in manufacturing: the main industries were light and precision engineering and aircraft repair. [46], Initially, the district (and then borough) council worked with the Commission for New Towns on many aspects of development; but in 1978 many of the commission's assets, such as housing and parks, were surrendered to the council. [203] The borough council has also awarded locally listed building status to 58 buildings. Statutory emergency fire and rescue services, the parish church of St Margaret in Ifield, "Select Committee on Transport, Local Government and the Regions: Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence. Three-quarters of the population had piped water supplies, all businesses and homes had electricity, and piped gas and street lighting had been in place for 50 years. Appeal for witnesses after attempted rape of teenage girl in Crawley, Delays possible as road works to last till June at Calvert Link, off the Kilnwood Vale Roundabout, Crawley school continues ‘drive for improvement’ following Ofsted monitoring, Looking for a space to run your small business or community group? [169], The urban area of Crawley is served by a total of three rail stations including Ifield railway station. [6] Goffs Park—now a recreational area in the south of the town—was the site of two late Iron Age furnaces. After going down to … [33], Expectations of the eventual population of the town were revised upwards several times. [44], The Urban District Council received its coat of arms from the College of Heralds in 1957. Thames Water is responsible for all waste water and sewerage provision. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. [54][55], Data from the Home Office's national identity database at Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was backed up to servers in Crawley for disaster recovery and business continuity purposes. Residents in most parts of Crawley receive their drinking water from Southern Water; areas in the north of the town around Gatwick Airport are provided by Sutton & East Surrey Water; and South East Water supplies Maidenbower. A second terminal, the North Terminal, was built in 1988. [82][113], Industrial development had to take place relatively soon after the new town was established because part of the Corporation's remit was to move people and jobs out of an overcrowded and war-damaged London. “This is your chance to share your opinion on changes you would like to see to our heritage assets. Crawley's early development as a market town was helped by its location on the London–Brighton turnpike. [35], Each of the 14 residential neighbourhoods is identified by a colour, which is shown on street name signs in a standard format throughout the town: below the street name, the neighbourhood name is shown in white text on a coloured background.[83]. [81] Many houses have their own gardens and are set back from roads. There are areas which are not defined as neighbourhoods but which are closely associated with Crawley: At the census in 2011 the population of Crawley was recorded as 106,597. [101] Crawley MP Henry Smith stated that Crawley "is home to perhaps the largest Chagossian population in the world". Following the death of Labour Councillor Geraint Thomas in November 2019 and in the middle of an anti-semitism investigation, the resignation from the Labour Party of Councillors Karen Sudan and Rory Fiveash in June and July 2020, Crawley Borough Council is officially a hung council with no party in overall control. There is also a primary / secondary School called The Gatwick School, which is a Free School that opened in 2014. Boris Johnson has appointed Lord Frost as a full member of his Cabinet, tasking the chief Brexit negotiator with a key role overseeing the future relationship with the European Union. [25] The Longley company—one of South East England's largest building firms in the late 19th century, responsible for buildings including Christ's Hospital school and the King Edward VII Sanatorium in Midhurst—moved to a site next to Crawley station in 1881. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. They oversaw the opening of a fire station in 1958, the telephone exchange, police station and town centre health clinic in 1961 and an ambulance station in 1963. Opened as Lyons Crossing Halt on 1 June 1907 to serve the village of Ifield, it was soon renamed Ifield Halt, dropping the "Halt" suffix in 1930. [77], There are 14 residential neighbourhoods,[80] each with a variety of housing types: terraced, semi-detached and detached houses, low-rise flats and bungalows. Police have released an E-fit image of a man sought in connection with the attempted rape of a 17-year-old girl in Crawley. [82] Early new town residents relied on these shopping facilities until the Corporation implemented the master plan's designs for a new shopping area on the mostly undeveloped land east of the High Street and north of the railway line. [40] Forge Wood is to have a maximum of 1900 homes. [107], Crawley originally traded as a market town. [82] By 1964, businesses which had moved to the town since 1950 employed 16,000 people; the master plan had anticipated between 8,000 and 8,500. [181] Tenants were by then permitted to buy their houses, and 440 householders had chosen to do so by April 1960. and Ifield Galaxy F.C.. Crawley Rugby Club is based in Ifield,[185] and a golf course was constructed in 1982 at Tilgate Park. The New Towns Act 1946 designated Crawley as the site of one of these. [82][115], Despite the lack of direct incentives, many firms applied to move to the Manor Royal estate: it was considered such an attractive place to relocate to that the Development Corporation was able to choose between applicants to achieve the ideal mix of firms, and little advertising or promotion had to be undertaken. [15][16] The George, a timber-framed house dating from the 15th century, expanded to become a large coaching inn, taking over adjacent buildings. [2], The area may have been settled during the Mesolithic period: locally manufactured flints of the Horsham Culture type have been found to the southwest of the town. The rise was agreed at a meeting of the full council on Friday (February 12) and takes the Band D bill to £1,510.56 – just over £4 per day. He spoke with an eastern European accent and was wearing dark clothing. It features a central cross on a shield, representing the town's location at the meeting point of North–South and East–West roads. Nevertheless, consultations were launched in 2002 by the Department for Transport, at which proposals for additional facilities and runways were considered. [18][19], Crawley's oldest church is St John the Baptist's, between the High Street and the Broadway. [4] By this time, nearby settlements were more established: the Saxon church at Worth, for example, dates from between 950 and 1050 AD. addition, the council is recommending making changes to its locally listed The commercial and retail sectors continue to expand. [29] In 1891, a racecourse was opened on farmland at Gatwick. [222] Local BBC radio was provided by BBC Radio Sussex from 1983; this became part of BBC Southern Counties Radio following a merger with BBC Radio Surrey in 1994. Perhaps the pinnacle of the club's history was in February 2011 when they played against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the fifth round of the F.A. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The hub of each neighbourhood is a shopping parade, community centre and church, and each has a school and recreational open spaces as well. After a temporary halt to the proposals when a possible expansion at Gatwick Airport was announced,[39] construction started in 2015. [126] The UK headquarters of Nestlé is in the Manor Royal area of Crawley. [34] Bennett estimated that planning, designing and building the town, and increasing its population from the existing 9,500 to 40,000, would take 15 years. For example, in the same period, the population of the neighbouring district of Horsham grew by just 99%. to hear your views on proposals for changes to conservation areas and locally [204], The high street becomes an annual focus of motoring heritage in November as one of the official stops on the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.[205]. Generally, Crawley's inland and southerly position within the UK means temperatures in summer are amongst the highest in the British Isles, Charlwood recording 36.3C (97.3F)[67] and Gatwick recording 36.4C (97.5F)[68] on 19 July 2006, just 0.2C and 0.1C lower, respectively, than the UK monthly record for that day set at Wisley, 20 miles to the west. Police cordon set-up in Ifield, Crawley after man found deceased by ambulance service. The Development Corporation intended to develop it as a centre for manufacturing and light engineering, with an industrial zone. Formed in 1896, it moved in 1949 to a ground at Town Mead adjacent to the West Green playing fields. The end of the motorway at Pease Pottage is Junction 11. The town contains 14 residential neighbourhoods radiating out from the core of the old market town, and separated by main roads and railway lines. [209] The Atelier 21 Future School for up to 120 pupils aged 4 to 14 years, based in Broadfield House, opened on 24 August 2020. The Identity Documents Bill 2010, proposed in May 2010 and passed in September 2010, authorised the destruction of all data stored for the identity card scheme brought about by the Identity Cards Act 2006. [32] The 5,920 acres (2,396 ha) of land set aside for the new town were split across the county borders between East Sussex, West Sussex and Surrey. The Memorial Gardens, on the eastern side of Queen's Square, feature art displays, children's play areas and lawns, and a plaque commemorating those who died in two Second World War bombing incidents in 1943 and 1944. The shopping area was also expanded southeastwards from Queen's Square: although the original plans of 1975 were not implemented fully, several large shop units were built and a new pedestrianised link—The Martlets—was provided between Queen's Square and Haslett Avenue, the main road to Three Bridges. The Manor Royal estate, with its space, proximity to Gatwick Airport and good transport links, attracted airport-related services such as logistics, catering, distribution and warehousing; and the corporation and private companies built offices throughout the town. [7] Ironworking and mineral extraction continued throughout Roman times, particularly in the Broadfield area where many furnaces were built. The nearby communities of Ifield, Pound Hill and Three Bridges were absorbed into the new town at various stages in its development. After the Second World War, the British Government planned to move large numbers of people and jobs out of London and into new towns around South East England. [115] One year after Manor Royal was opened, eighteen firms were trading there, including four with more than 100 employees and one with more than 1,000. The shield bears nine martlets representing both the county of Sussex and the new town's original nine neighbourhoods. EX46 Credibility Check data Availability: Not released Published by: Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs Last updated: 12 December 2013. This was a private concern until the Second World War when it was claimed by the Royal Air Force. She turned around before the end of the tunnel and walked back along the path to Overdene Drive. Most wards are coterminous with the borough's neighbourhoods, but three neighbourhoods are divided: Broadfield, Northgate, and Pound Hill into "Pound Hill North and Forge Wood" and "Pound Hill South and Worth". [70] The maximum temperature was 25.1C (77.2F) or higher on 15.9 days of the year[71] on average (1971-00) and the warmest day will typically rise to 29.4C (84.9F). So don’t miss out!”, The six-week long consultation begins on Friday 5 February. Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Allana Hughes said: “We are appealing for anyone who recognises this man, or anyone who witnessed the sexual assault or any suspicious behaviour at this location around the time of the incident, to make contact with us. Crawley's town centre is in the southernmost part of Northgate. The A2220 follows the former route of the A264 through the town, linking the A23 directly to the A264 at Copthorne, from where it then runs to East Grinstead. Due to Crawley's expansion this station is now surrounded by the town's western areas. It currently has 4 years, R, 1, 7 and 8. [1] Tools and burial mounds from the Neolithic period, and burial mounds and a sword from the Bronze Age, have also been discovered. listed buildings. [42] The Local Government Act 1972 led to the district being reformed as a borough in April 1974,[43] gaining a mayor for the first time. [43] Despite a petition to save it,[45] Crawley Town Hall, which was built in the 1960s, was demolished in 2020. [194] In March 2008 the centre was named as a training site for the 2012 Olympics in London. [145] The town's main bus station was redesigned, roads including the main A2220 Haslett Avenue were rerouted, and some buildings at the south end of The Martlets were demolished to accommodate the mall. Sunshine totals in Crawley are higher than many inland areas due to its southerly location: Gatwick averaged 1,574 hours per year over 1961–90. In 1978 there were 105 such firms, employing nearly 20,000 people. [177], Gatwick Airport was licensed as a private airfield in August 1930. It is reputedly haunted.[141]. Her Majesty The Queen reopened it on 9 June 1958. It is said to have 13th-century origins,[20] but there has been much rebuilding (especially in the 19th century) and the oldest part remaining is the south wall of the nave, which is believed to be 14th century. Detailed plans were made for Broadfield in the late 1960s; by the early 1970s building work had begun. [9] This name evolved over time, and the present spelling appeared by the early 14th century. [62] The highest point in the borough is 486 feet (148 m) above sea level. An ASDA superstore, opened in September 2003, forms the centrepiece. The council is elected in thirds.[48]. Supporters, of an eagle and a winged lion, relate to the significance of the airport to the locality. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. [186] Crawley Hockey Club plays their home matches at Hazelwick School, Three Bridges. Three Bridges had become the hub of transport in the area by this stage: one-quarter of its population was employed in railway jobs by 1861 (mainly at the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway's railway works near the station). [3] Economically, the town has developed into the main centre of industry and employment between London and the south coast. Nevertheless, plans dated 1961 anticipated growth to 70,000 by 1980, and by 1969 consideration was given to an eventual expansion of up to 120,000. [193] Opened to the public on 14 November 2005,[190] and officially by Lord Coe on 24 January 2006, the centre includes the only Olympic-sized swimming pool in South East England. [72], The overall minimum for Gatwick Airport for the period from 1960 is −16.7C (1.9F), set in January 1963. [38] Queen's Square, a pedestrianised plaza surrounded by large shops and linked to the High Street by The Broadwalk, was officially opened in 1958 by Queen Elizabeth II. Rainfall is lower than the English average, but higher than many other areas of the South East. [110] During the boom of the 1980s the town boasted the lowest level of unemployment in the UK. She was previously the SNP spokesperson for Women and Equalities and a member of the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee. Many inhabitants of Crawley work locally at Gatwick Airport as either air or ground crew. [191] Athlete Zola Budd had been asked to take part in a 1,500-metre race as part of the opening celebrations, but her invitation was withdrawn at short notice because of concerns raised by council members about possible "political connotations and anti-apartheid demonstrators". [13], Crawley has three Grade I listed buildings (the parish church of St Margaret in Ifield, the parish church of St Nicholas, Worth, and the Friends Meeting House in Langley Lane, Ifield), 12 Grade II* listed buildings and 85 Grade II listed buildings. [99][100], Many Chagossians expelled from the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean settled in Crawley in the 1960s and 1970s, and it was reported in 2016 that the town's Chagossian community numbered approximately 3,000 people. A station was provided next to Crawley High Street from that date. Neighbourhood community centres and the Tilgate Forest Recreational Centre were used for some cultural activities,[191] but it was not until 1988 that the town had a dedicated theatre and arts venue, at the Hawth Theatre. [38], In 1999, plans were announced to develop the 14th neighbourhood on land at Tinsley Green to the northeast of the town; this was given the go ahead in 2011 and is officially the town's 14th neighbourhood, named Forge Wood after the ancient woodland that is enclosed within the development. [10], Although Crawley itself is not mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086,[11] the nearby settlements of Ifield and Worth are recorded. The borough is the police headquarters for the West Sussex division,[149] and is itself divided into three areas for the purposes of neighbourhood policing: Crawley East, Crawley West, and Crawley Town Centre. The ticket office and Up (London-bound) platform waiting areas form the ground floor of the office building. A regeneration strategy for the town centre, "Centre Vision 2000", was produced in 1993. It was agreed that there would be no further expansion at Gatwick unless it became impossible to meet growth targets at London Heathrow Airport within existing pollution limits. Data from EX46 returns on establishing alcohol and tobacco traders activities and revenue liabilities. [168] A new station was constructed slightly to the east, in conjunction with the Overline House commercial development, and replaced the original station which closed on 28 July 1968. The first stage to open was The Broadwalk in 1954, following by the opening of the Queen's Square development by Her Majesty The Queen in 1958. [173] When the National Bus Company was broken up, local services were provided by the new South West division of London Country Bus Services, which later became part of the Arriva group. Inclusion of around 60 additional buildings. [144] Its stores includes major retailers such as The Entertainer, Boots, WHSmith and Superdry as well as over 80 smaller outlets. [33] The neighbourhoods would consist mainly of three-bedroom family homes, with a number of smaller and larger properties.