Clock Tower - Queens Park, Crewe, Cheshire East, UK - Grand Opening on Waymarking.com

The clock tower is situated in Queens Park near to the main entrance on Victoria Avenue.

Queens Park is an historic Victorian Grade II* listed public park.
The park was given to the people of Crewe by the London and North Western Railway Company. It designed by Edward Kemp and laid out by railway engineer Francis Webb and Richard Moon who was the Mayor of Crewe in 1888. It was dedicated in 1887 and opened to the public on 9th June 1888 by the Duke of Cambridge.

The Grade II* listed description of the park given by Historic England can be seen at the following link: (visit link)

The Grade II listed tower is about 10 metres (33 ft) high and built in sandstone and brick. It contains medallions with the heads of Queen Victoria and officials of the company.
Queen Victoria (facing north), the Duke of Cambridge (facing south), Sir Richard Moon (facing east, towards the Curator's Lodge) and Francis William Webb (facing west towards the Lodge).
The tower originally contained two drinking fountains with brass cups, and a barometer, however these are no longer present.
The clock itself was given and installed by a Mr Blackhurst, a local clockmaker.

The clock tower was paid for by the employees of the London and North Western Railway Company. It was designed by John Brooke and was unveiled by James Middleton, on 9th June 1888, the same day the park was officially opened.

James Middleton had worked for the London and North Western Railway Company as an engine driver for 50 years.

'James Middleton was given this honour for fifty years service to the Company, quite an impressive achievement. Even more impressive when its realized that Middleton was the driver of the first train that stopped at Crewe.' (visit link)

A cast iron plaque explaining how the clock tower was donated by the employees of the Company and unveiled by James Middleton is mounted on the rear of the clock tower.

The inscription on the plaque reads as follows;

'THIS FOUNTAIN WAS ERECTED
BY THE VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTIONS
OF THE SERVANTS OF ALL
DEPARTMENTS OF THE L&NWRCO AS
A TOKEN OF THEIR APPRECIATION
OF THE GENEROSITY OF THEIR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
(SIR R. MOON BART. CHAIRMAN)
IN PRESENTING THIS PARK TO
THE TOWN OF CREWE
AND WAS UNVEILED JUNE 9TH 1888
BY JAMES MIDDLETON WHO
COMPLETED HIS FIFTIETH YEAR AS
ENGINE DRIVER FOR THE COMPANY
IN THE JUBILEE YEAR OF HER
MAJESTY'S REIGN 1887'

The Grade II* listed description of the clock tower given by Historic England reads as follows:

"Details
SJ 65 NE FORMER BOROUGH OF CREWE VICTORIA AVENUE
1/59 Clock Tower in Queen's Park
GV II

Clock tower, 1888 (on inscription). Of red sandstone, brick and timber. Square stone base with projecting angles, moulded plinth, and recessed rectangular panels on four faces; the south facing panel has an inscription and date. These are surmounted by equilateral triangular panels, with ball flower finials, which contain the heads of Queen Victoria (North) and members of the Board of the London and North Western Railway Company. The tower rises first in sandstone, with chamfered quoins and carved inset arms above each head, then in brickwork with vertical sinkings to faces and quoins, and stone bands at three-course intervals. A projecting stone reeded cap supports the four-faced clock, which has the dials framed in timber, and equilateral pediments above each clock face. The tower is topped by an elaborate wrought iron support to a weather vane. Clock tower donated by employees of the railway company.
Listing NGR: SJ6878655793" SOURCE: (visit link)

(visit link)

What was opened/inaugurated?: Clock Tower Who was that opened/inaugurated it?: James Middleton Date of the opening/inauguration?: 9th June 1888 Website about the location: Not listed Website about the person: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
-Please provide a photo you have taken of the site.

-Tell us something about your visit!

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.