Crewe The Way We Were

This new DVD takes a fascinating look back at 250 years of life in Crewe.
The story begins in the 18th century, when the rural parish of Coppenhall was noted only for its cheese. It then follows Coppenhall’s transformation into a major hub of the Victorian rail network, and shows how the town of Crewe grew from a small colony of railway workers into a thriving borough.

It relates the tragic tale of the Villiers-Russell twins in World War 1, the huge contribution Crewe paid in World War 2, and the terrible price it paid. It also recalls how the threat of Hitler’s Germany brought Rolls Royce to the town and reveals a surprising irony in the takeover of the Pym’s Lane factory by Volkswagen.

The DVD remembers some of the highs and lows of the past century; the appalling conditions that once existed in the town’s poor districts; the opening of Queens Park; the widespread changes that began in the 1950s; the final service at Christ Church; the decline of Crewe’s oldest industry; and the exciting news that the boom times may be set to return.

We also discover why the town’s water supply was often disrupted by fish in the pipes; why Victoria Street was known as ‘Gaffer’s Row’; why Crewe workmen had to leave town for a pint; why new homes included a pigsty in the back yard; how Church Coppenhall nearly became a spa town; and how Crewe’s worst tragedy of WW2 could have been avoided.

This highly entertaining journey through time is produced exclusively for the Crewe Guardian and is narrated by award winning actor, Howard Ellison.

The running time is approximately 50 minutes.
To see an excerpt from the DVD go to ‘Film Archives’

SPECIAL OFFER
Included with ‘Crewe The Way We Were’ is a free bonus film ‘The Way We Were in the 1950s’, which takes a nostalgic look back at life in 1950s Britain.