Virtual Museum

Crewe Old Works

The land that is now home to the Crewe Heritage Centre was once the entrance to the original Crewe Works site. Construction by the Grand Junction Railway Company on what would later became known as the ‘Old Works’ began in 1840, with the first locomotive ‘Tamerlane’ rolling off the production line on 20 October 1843. 

As the London & North Western Railway network grew and demand for new locomotives increased, expansion was simply not possible on this site. So in the 1860s it was decided to build additional workshops further along the Chester line. In its later life the Old Works was used for the repair of boilers for steam locomotives, but with the introduction of Diesel and Electric locomotives in the 1960s it was no longer required and fell into a dilapidated state.  

During 1970s and '80s there was much discussion on what to do with the Old Works, eventually it was decided to demolish the building with the view of developing the land. The site was cleared and Vernon Way was constructed across it. In 1985 part of the land was utilised for storage and access during the ‘All Change at Crewe’ modernisation project, which simplified the track layout around Crewe Railway Station.

Following the completion of the project the land again sat empty until December 1986, when Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council approved plans to construct a museum on the site, forming part of the Crewe Heritage Festival that would be held to mark the 150 years since the Railways came to Crewe.

Originally the Heritage Centre would only be open for the eight week festival, however it was so popular that the council decided to make it a permanent attraction.