This site has put together the most complete record and pictures every gathered in one spot of the Queens Park Crewe with old pictures to the modern day Click on any picture on the site for a full screen picture

The old pictures of the Queens Park Crewe are printed with kind permission of Gordon Davies who  I have known for over 30 years. They are taken from his books Memories of Crewe which can be obtained from any good book shop. He has a series of books showing Crewe life through the years.

The Queens park Lake

An exceptional feature of the Park is the extensively landscaped man-made lake. The lake was created by the use of a dam on the west side of the River Waldron (Valley Brook) way back in 1883, flooding  about five acres of land. As well as the creation of a dam, an area around the River Waldron to a depth of about five feet was dug out. Then by the method of "puddling" the clay, the bottom was made water-tight.

The picture of the Lake in 1947 note the Tipkinder slag

heap which is now the Skate park top left

The Home Guard in the Queens Park 1940

The Jubilee Pavilion
The Cafeteria standing behind the Memorial is aptly named the Jubilee Cafeteria to commemorate the Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, being officially opened on 12th June 1977. This modern structure along with the bandstand was built to replace the Victorian Pavilion which unfortunately had burnt down.


Cottage Hospital fete 1906 crowds watching tightrope

walking across the lake

Queens park 1988 you can see the band stand and

pavilion to the left and the clock tower top right

1910 the pavilion and the war memorial which was unveiled in 1903 the pavilion was burnt down by arsonist in 1970

The park in its infancy 1906

The pavilion 1904 from across the lake

Boer war statue

The main walk way 1914

The main entrance to the Queens Park

The Park Lodge Gates

There are four gates - east, west, south and the main gate. The main gates are supported by four red sandstone gateposts. Each post has emblems surmounted upon them. The gates themselves are very impressive, made in ornamental ironwork. The two side gates have the date of the dedication (1887) moulded into the ironwork, whilst the main gate is surmounted by a royal crown. In the apex of the roof on both lodges facing Victoria Avenue are two unique witticisms on the two people who the park owes its very existence to. On the east  lodge is a painting of a bat, moon and tree in yellow and green. A pun oa Sir Richard Moon, Chairman of the LNWR Company. Whilst the west lodge has a spider's web, a tree and a spider, a pun on Francis William Webb.

The park in the 1900 used for swimming as the baths weren't built until 1937

The old bridge across the lake at the turn of the century Original wooden bridge over the lake. was erected. Four bridges, originally wooden, and surrounding paths make a popular walking circuit around the lake. After the culverin of Valley Brook, which ie cuivemng or valley BrooK, was improved the quality of the water, swimming was permitted. By the West island the water area was deepened to ten feet and a diving board and changing huts were provided which were eventually removed

The old bridge across the lake June 1988

More pictures of the lake with the island in the centre

Woodland walk near the aviary

Coronation walk

The walk runs from the lake back to the foot of the main entrance. Designed in 1935 by Herbert Probert,

 it is a superb landscaped valley complete with an artificial stream, it holds many surprises. Thought at the time of construction it might possibly be named the Francis Webb Memorial Garden it was eventually called Coronation Walk in 1937.

I am reliably informed there is in excess of 100 species, ranging from Oak, Ash, Beech, Conifers, Yews, Irish Yews, as well as Laburnum and some beautiful scented Hawthorns. Most trees that readily come to mind one could find within the Park, far too many I hasten to add for me to mention. Of course there are many unique trees, like the twisted Willow, the Canadian Balsam and my favourite, the Cedar of Lebanon, nicknamed the "monkey tree" by generations of Crewe children.

Main Entrance to the park On entrance into the Park down Central Drive from the gates stands the impressive Jubilee Clock. Donated by the employees of the Railway Company and built in 1888.

The tower has four large clock faces surmounted by an elaborate support for the weather vane. The tower is a Grade 2 listed building and is of stone and brick construction

Lake with the bandstand top left

Lake the bottom end near golf coarse

Lake and boat house

Pavilion and statue 1963 Continuing along Central Drive, built for horse drawn carriages, the South African Memorial stands impressively in front of the Pavilion. Flanked by a sloping bedding display the statue is 31ft high and made of Labrador and Aberdeen Grey granite. Topped by the  life-like figure of Tommy Atkins. The north facing side is the only place where the former Arms of the Borough with the moto "Never Behind" can still be seen.
The Copper bronze plaques on the four sides of the monument give the names of the railway volunteers who served in the Boer War (1899 - 1902). Crewe can quite rightly feel proud that through the railway volunteers they were able to send more men to the Boer War than any other  town in England or Wales of comparable size.

Walk near the aviary

Park pavilion from across the lake