Even before the new town was planned, Crawley was a retail centre for the surrounding area: there were 177 shops in the town in 1948,[113] 99 of which were on the High Street. 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. [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. The town contains 14 residential neighbourhoods radiating out from the core of the old market town, and separated by main roads and railway lines. This proposed new neighbourhoods at Broadfield and Bewbush, both of which extended outside the administrative area of the then Urban District Council. In 2009, expansion was being planned in the west and north-west of the town, in cooperation with Horsham District Council, which has now become a new neighbourhood named Kilnwood Vale, but it is not in Crawley. Rainfall is lower than the English average, but higher than many other areas of the South East. Plans for a new hospital on land at The Hawth were abandoned, however, and the existing hospital in West Green was redeveloped instead. [33] This proposed filling in the gaps between the villages of Crawley, Ifield and Three Bridges. The authority's boundaries were extended in 1983 to accommodate the Bewbush and Broadfield neighbourhoods. The growth in population of the new town—around 1,000% between 1951 and 2001[29]—has outstripped that of most similar-sized settlements. [82] The five-storey Overline House above the railway station, completed in 1968, is used by Crawley's NHS primary care trust and various other companies. [182], Crawley Town F.C. [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. Desmond Anderson, based in Tilgate converted to Academy status in February 2017 and is now part of the University of Brighton Academies Trust. [31] By the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 Crawley had grown into a small but prosperous town, serving a wide rural area and those passing through on the A23 London–Brighton road. [212] The college also provides higher education courses in partnership with the universities at Chichester and Sussex. [190] However, the facilities became insufficient for the growing town, even though an annexe was opened in Bewbush in 1984. The two opposing views of the budget on Crawley. Built to replace a steeplechase course at Waddon near Croydon in Surrey, it was used for both steeplechase and flat racing, and held the Grand National during the years of the First World War. This envisaged an increase in the population of the town to 50,000, residential properties in nine neighbourhoods radiating from the town centre, and a separate industrial area to the north. Mr Mullins pointed out that the closures would save the council around £210,000, while keeping all four open would mean more than £500,000 would have to be spent on refurbishments. Changes to the boundaries of the Brighton Road, High Street, and St Peter’s conservation areas. Two were replaced by Thomas Lester of London in 1742; but in 1880 a new set of eight bells were cast and installed by the Croydon-based firm Gillett, Bland & Company. Architect Thomas Bennett was appointed chairman of Crawley Development Corporation. The end of the motorway at Pease Pottage is Junction 11. [175], In September 2003 a guided bus service, Fastway, began operating between Bewbush and Gatwick Airport. A station was opened at Three Bridges (originally known as East Crawley)[24] in the summer of 1841. Metrobus acquired these routes from Arriva in March 2001, and is now Crawley's main operator. Its advantages included flat land with no existing development; proximity to the London–Brighton railway line, the A23 and the planned M23; space for railway sidings (which were eventually built on a much smaller scale than envisaged); and an adjacent 44-acre (18 ha) site reserved for future expansion, on the other side of the railway line (again, not used for this purpose in the end). Henry Smith won the seat at the 2010 general election and was re-elected at the 2015, 2017 and 2019 general elections. A 267-acre (108 ha)[114] site in the northeastern part of the development area was chosen. [167], A line to Horsham, now part of the Arun Valley Line, was opened on 14 February 1848. [36] Later, a fourth campus, in Southgate, was added to the plans. Removal of two buildings currently on the list: 37 High Street, Northgate and 41-43 High Street, Northgate. [173] When the National Bus Company was formed in 1969, its London Country Bus Services subsidiary took responsibility for many routes, including Green Line Coaches cross-London services which operated to distant destinations such as Watford, Luton and Amersham. 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 area was joined to the railway network in the mid-19th century; and since the creation of the new town, there have been major road upgrades (including a motorway link), a guided bus transit system and the establishment of an airport which has become one of Britain's largest and busiest. Crawley Hospital in West Green is operated by West Sussex Primary Care Trust. In 2004, a proposal was made for an additional campus of the University of Sussex to be created in Crawley, but as of 2008 no conclusion has been reached. [148], Policing in Crawley is provided by Sussex Police; the British Transport Police are responsible for the rail network. [38], By 1980, the council identified land at Maidenbower, south of the Pound Hill neighbourhood, as being suitable for another new neighbourhood, and work began in 1986. Crawley Borough Council wants Its street name signs do not follow the standard format of the neighbourhood signs, but display only the street name. Exeter City captain Jake Taylor said that the Grecians need to keep eleven men on the pitch after a third red card in three games. [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. Council is proposing the following changes: In to hear your views on proposals for changes to conservation areas and locally The shield bears nine martlets representing both the county of Sussex and the new town's original nine neighbourhoods. [203] The borough council has also awarded locally listed building status to 58 buildings. [150] A separate division covers Gatwick Airport. [213], Crawley has three local newspapers, of which two have a long history in the area. Crawley lies within the Sussex Weald, an area of highly variable terrain, so that many microclimates of frost hollows, sun traps and windswept hilltops will be encountered over a short distance. [51][52] In the 2005 general election, the winning margin was the slimmest of any UK constituency: Moffatt won by just 37 votes. It features a central cross on a shield, representing the town's location at the meeting point of North–South and East–West roads. [13][197] A large Cineworld cinema has since opened in the Crawley Leisure Park, which itself also includes ten-pin bowling, various restaurants and bars and a fitness centre. The hub of each neighbourhood is a shopping parade, community centre and church, and each has a school and recreational open spaces as well. [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. [75] Air frost is recorded on 58.2 nights at Gatwick[76] (1971-00). This connects London's orbital motorway, the M25, to the A23 at Pease Pottage, at the southern edge of Crawley's built-up area. [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. [176] A second route, from Broadfield to the Langshott area of Horley, north of Gatwick Airport, was added on 27 August 2005. The M23 has junctions in the Crawley area at the A2011/A264 (Junction 10) and Maidenbower (area of Crawley) (Junction 10A). The first railway line in the area was the Brighton Main Line, which opened as far as Haywards Heath on 12 July 1841 and reached Brighton on 21 September 1841. The church has a 15th-century tower (rebuilt in 1804) which originally contained four bells cast in 1724. [102], The borough has a population density of around 22 persons per hectare[103] (9 persons per acre), making it the second most densely populated district in West Sussex, after Worthing. Crawley covers an area of 17.36 square miles (44.96 km2) and had a population of 106,597 at the time of the 2011 Census. There were proposals to close the airport in the late 1940s, but in 1950 the government announced that it was to be developed as London's second airport. [161] Gas was piped from Croydon, 20 miles (32 km) away, and a gasworks at Redhill, while the town's water supply came from the Weir Wood reservoir south of East Grinstead and another at Pease Pottage. There are no residential tower blocks, apart from the 8-storey Milton Mount Flats at the North end of Pound Hill. [98], Approximately 64.5% of the population is aged below 45, compared to 55% of the population of West Sussex. The population reached 4,433 in 1901, compared to 1,357 a century earlier. The ticket office and Up (London-bound) platform waiting areas form the ground floor of the office building. )[196] Crawley's earliest cinema, the Imperial Picture House on Brighton Road, lasted from 1909 until the 1940s; the Embassy Cinema on the High Street (opened in 1938) replaced it. 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. [180] It was closed between 1956 and 1958 for rebuilding. considered as part of the planning process. 1mm of rain or more falls on 116.7 days of the year. [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. CR/1998/0039/OUT", "Surrey Constabulary – Part 3: Policing Change 1951–1975. [34] Secondary education was to be provided at campuses at Ifield Green, Three Bridges and Tilgate. [110] During the boom of the 1980s the town boasted the lowest level of unemployment in the UK. [18][19], Crawley's oldest church is St John the Baptist's, between the High Street and the Broadway. [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). [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. “This is your chance to share your opinion on changes you would like to see to our heritage assets. [35], Work began almost immediately to prepare for the expansion of the town. 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. [171][172], Crawley was one of several towns where the boundaries of Southdown Motor Services and London Transport bus services met. [4][5] Crawley is on the western edge of the High Weald, which produced iron for more than 2,000 years from the Iron Age onwards. [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. The commercial and retail sectors continue to expand. [25] An airfield was opened in 1930 on land near the racecourse. It is reputedly haunted.[141]. [159] Gas is supplied by Southern Gas Networks who own and manage the South East Local Distribution Zone. 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. [13] Goffs Park in Southgate covers 50 acres (20 ha), and has lakes, boating ponds, a model railway and many other features. These cookies do not store any personal information. [111] Continuous growth and investment have made Crawley one of the most important business and employment centres in the South East England region. [9] This name evolved over time, and the present spelling appeared by the early 14th century. A court challenge to the designation order meant that plans were not officially confirmed until December 1947. Inclusion of around 60 additional buildings. Stone Age and Bronze Age remains discovered in the area are on display, as well as more recent artefacts including parts of Vine Cottage, an old timber-framed building on the High Street which was once home to former Punch editor Mark Lemon and which was demolished when the ASDA development was built. 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. Crawley's early development as a market town was helped by its location on the London–Brighton turnpike. The area has been inhabited since the Stone Age,[1] and was a centre of ironworking in Roman times. In 1950 the town was visited by the then heir to the throne, Princess Elizabeth, when she officially opened the Manor Royal industrial area. [56], At 51°6′33″N 0°11′14″W / 51.10917°N 0.18722°W / 51.10917; -0.18722 (51.1092, −0.1872), Crawley is in the northeastern corner of West Sussex in South East England, 28 miles (45 km) south of London and 18 miles (29 km) north of Brighton and Hove. The nearby communities of Ifield, Pound Hill and Three Bridges were absorbed into the new town at various stages in its development. We're the local authority for Oxfordshire, committed to delivering top quality services and value for money on behalf of the county's 600,000+ residents. [82], The Corporation stipulated that several manufacturing industries should be developed, rather than allowing one sector or firm to dominate. 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". [214] The newspaper is now owned by Johnston Press. This was a private concern until the Second World War when it was claimed by the Royal Air Force. 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. [195], Crawley Development Corporation made little provision for the arts in the plans for the new town, and a proposed arts venue in the town centre was never built. [6] Goffs Park—now a recreational area in the south of the town—was the site of two late Iron Age furnaces. [210], Further education is provided by Central Sussex College. [47], The borough remains part of the local two-tier arrangements, with services shared with West Sussex County Council. [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]. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. As she did so, she crossed paths with a man who grabbed her and attempted to rape her. [21][22][23], The Brighton Main Line was the first railway line to serve the Crawley area. [59][60], Crawley lies in the Weald between the North and South Downs. For conservation areas, Crawley Borough Council is proposing the following changes: Two new conservation areas – one at Queens Square and The Broadway and one at Gossops Green Neighbourhood Centre – in recognition of the significance […] [107], Crawley originally traded as a market town. The 1949 master plan had allowed for 50,000 people, but this was amended to 55,000 in 1956 after the Development Corporation had successfully resisted pressure from the Minister for Town and Country Planning to accommodate 60,000. Demand for land near the town centre led to the club moving in 1997 to the new Broadfield Stadium, now owned by the borough council. Its location on the main road from London to Brighton brought passing trade, which encouraged the development of coaching inns. Supplementary memorandum by Crawley Borough Council (NT 15(a))", "Life in Late Iron Age Sussex: Trade & Industry", "Life in Roman Sussex: Crafts & Industry: Weald Iron Industry", "Crawley Borough Council: St Nicholas Church", "A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 7 – The Rape of Lewes. For conservation areas, Crawley Borough Many of the jobs in these industries were highly skilled. [2], In April 2020, the Centre for Cities thinktank identified Crawley as the place in Britain at the highest risk of widespread job losses due to the coronavirus' effect on the economy; classing 56% of jobs in the town as either vulnerable or very vulnerable of being furloughed or lost. [30], In the early 20th century, many of the large country estates in the area, with their mansions and associated grounds and outbuildings, were split up into smaller plots of land, attracting haphazard housing development and small farms. 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. [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. [144] Its stores includes major retailers such as The Entertainer, Boots, WHSmith and Superdry as well as over 80 smaller outlets. 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. in which proposals for development relating to some areas or buildings are 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. During calm, clear periods of weather this allows for some interesting temperature variations, although most of the time, when mobile westerly airstreams persist, the weather is typically Oceanic like the rest of the British Isles. To view the proposals and supporting evidence, and to give us your views, visit crawley.gov.uk/consultation, Nine million drivers don’t know when their next MOT is due amid extension scheme confusion, ‘Please come forward with information no matter how small’ Police appeal as E-Fit of attempted rape suspect released, Do you recognise this man? [200] Tilgate Park and Nature Centre has walled gardens, lakes, large areas of woodland with footpaths and bridleways, a golfing area and a collection of animals and birds. 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. After a temporary halt to the proposals when a possible expansion at Gatwick Airport was announced,[39] construction started in 2015. There are several lakes at Tilgate Park and a mill pond at Ifield which was stopped to feed the Ifield Water Mill. [4] By this time, nearby settlements were more established: the Saxon church at Worth, for example, dates from between 950 and 1050 AD. The site was extended to include an athletics arena by 1967, and an additional large sports hall was opened by the town mayor, Councillor Ben Clay and Prime Minister Harold Wilson in 1974. Work also took place in the area now known as Ifield West on the western fringes of the town. [218], The town is served by the London regional versions of BBC and ITV television from the Crystal Palace or Reigate transmitters—although some terrestrial aerials in the town may pick up BBC South and ITV Meridian signals from the Midhurst transmitter.[219]. The corporation had built 10,254 houses, and private builders provided around 1,500 more. [183] As of the 2019/2020 season, Crawley Town play in League Two, the fourth tier of league football in England. Both weather stations are about 3 miles north of Crawley town centre and at similar altitudes. [109], Since the Second World War, unemployment in Crawley has been low: the rate was 1.47% of the working-age population in 2003. A letter from Coventry Conservatives to the council’s chief executive and leader is calling for plans to be scrapped. [3] Economically, the town has developed into the main centre of industry and employment between London and the south coast. [127] In addition the registered offices of TUI UK and Thomson Airways are located in Crawley. This website uses technology such as cookies to improve your experience. Formed in 1896, it moved in 1949 to a ground at Town Mead adjacent to the West Green playing fields. [163], The Civil Aviation Authority Regulation Safety Group is in the Aviation House in Gatwick Airport in Crawley.[164]. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Gatwick Airport, nowadays one of Britain's busiest international airports, opened on the edge of the town in the 1940s, encouraging commercial and industrial growth. [81] Many houses have their own gardens and are set back from roads. EW/C/303: Report on the Accident to Boeing 727-112C YA-FAR 1.5 miles east of London (Gatwick) Airport on 5th January 1969, "Key Figures for 2001 Census: Census Area Statistics", "Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics", "Chagos Islanders will not be allowed home, UK government says", "Helping the 'exiled and ignored' Chagossians", "Population Density (UV02)—Crawley Local Authority", "Approximated Social Grade (UV50)—Broadfield North Ward", "Approximated Social Grade (UV50)—Maidenbower Ward", "Qualifications (UV24)—Crawley Local Authority", "Crawley likely to be worst affected by UK coronavirus job losses", "Thales opens new Crawley site in lifeline for town business", "Video: Toast of the Nation: how Dualit became makers of the ultimate design classic", "Company celebrates 90 years of providing insulin to diabetics", "British Airways Holidays: Booking terms and conditions", Management structure of Thomson and First Choice shops merged, "Propertymall.com: Crawley, County Mall Shopping Centre", "Town Centre Strategy—Consultation Document", "Town Centre North, Crawley: Retail Assessment", "Policing Your Neighbourhood: Local Policing", "Sussex Police Online – District Crawley", "Policing Your Neighbourhood—Local Police Stations", "West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service: Contacts", "South East Coast Ambulance Service—About Us", "Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust Crawley Hospital Quality Report", "Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust Quality Report", "National Grid: Distribution Network Operator (DNO) Companies", "A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 3 – Bramber Rape (North-Eastern Part) including Crawley New Town. [33] The neighbourhoods would consist mainly of three-bedroom family homes, with a number of smaller and larger properties. [158], UK Power Networks is the Distribution Network Operator responsible for electricity. Police cordon set-up in Ifield, Crawley after man found deceased by ambulance service. A rail link to London opened in 1841. [62] The highest point in the borough is 486 feet (148 m) above sea level. [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". [174] It provides local services between the neighbourhoods and town centre, and longer-distance routes to Horsham, Redhill, Tunbridge Wells, Worthing and Brighton. Coventry City Council provided the venue with a short-term loan last year in order for it to remain open, but this money has ran out and the council are now offering a cash-flow loan. Crawley developed slowly as a market town from the 13th century, serving the surrounding villages in the Weald. buildings, as part of an updated Local Heritage List: The changes will affect the way The council is elected in thirds.[48]. [151] Statutory emergency fire and rescue services are provided by the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service which operates a fire station in the town centre. [82] Danish company Novo Nordisk, which manufactures much of the world's insulin supply, has its UK headquarters at the Broadfield Business Park,[125] and BDO Global has an office in Crawley. [33], Expectations of the eventual population of the town were revised upwards several times. The victim was able to break free and shout for help, causing the man to flee the scene in the direction of the tunnel. A line was built eastwards from Three Bridges to East Grinstead in 1855. [140], Crawley has numerous hotels, including The George Hotel, dated to 1615. It was bypassed by a new dual carriageway in 1938[166] (which forms the A23's current route through the town), and then later to the east side of the town by the M23 motorway, which was opened in 1975. [43] Despite a petition to save it,[45] Crawley Town Hall, which was built in the 1960s, was demolished in 2020.