In the early nineteenth century a few scattered farms and cottages were all that could be seen on the site of what is now Crewe. However, the arrival of Grand Junction Railway heralded a new era, and Crewe was born. The settlement's rapid expansion meant that it soon became an important and vibrant town. In this lavishly illustrated guide, local historian Peter Ollerhead explores the town's development right up until the present day. With sections on local industries, education, religion and recreation, all aspect of everyday life are discussed.Drawing on a wide variety of sources, and including a collection of recommended walks around the town, this detailed guide to Crewe is as fascinating as the location it describes and will appeal to residents and tourists alike.

The collection of images in this book portray the presence of Rolls-Royce in Crewe from the heady days just prior to the Second World War. It was decided then that a factory to manufacture desperately needed Merlin aero engines to power Spitfires and Hurricanes in the defence of these islands would be erected in the town. Images of both production and destruction chart the progress of the struggle with fascism until peace was won, allowing normal life to begin again. It was then that RR made the decision to turn the Pym's Lane factory away from armaments and concentrate all car production in the town, so the rest of the images show the many differing marques of the cars that bore the iconic RR logo along with the winged 'B' of the various Bentley models that were manufactured in south Cheshire. Many of the photographs that illustrate the production methods and machines in this volume have not been available to the general public, making it an interesting and informative read. The book closes with a long chapter concerned with the people and activities associated with the proud history of Bentley and Rolls-Royce in Crewe until the sad day when the marques divided leaving Bentley as the sole yet worthy owner of the Pym's Lane factory.

In 1998, there was the latest in a long and complex history of takeovers that had bedevilled Rolls-Royce and Bentley since the companies were founded. This resulted in Volkswagen taking ownership of the factory in Crewe, together with the Bentley range and name, while BMW moved Rolls-Royce production to a new site in Sussex. On 30 August 2002, the last Crewe-built Rolls-Royce rolled off the production line, bringing the era of Crewe-built Rolls-Royces to an end. Peter Ollerhead, an ex-Rolls-Royce employee, has spent years researching the history of the company in Crewe, from 1938 to 1998, focusing on the endeavours and the experiences of its employees: this is a book about people. The detailed text, illustrated with over 80 photographs, explains how the initial establishment of a Merlin aero engine factory was thwarted by the problems of building on a greenfield site, where the early days of skill shortages, a chronic need for housing and a strike were followed by a bombing raid in 1940, in which seventeen employees were killed. The arrival of car production just after the Second World War is fully covered, as are the other enterprises that helped to keep the company afloat, from War Department power units to hip joints for the NHS. Despite a troubled history - with two major fires, bankruptcy and large-scale redundancies - Rolls-Royce was Crewe's largest employer for many years, produced the world's best luxury cars, and influenced and shaped the town as no other company has done. This book is a fitting tribute to the generations of workers who made it all possible.