Clock Tower, Crewe facts for kids
The Clock Tower is a cool old tower. You can find it near the north entrance of Queen's Park in Crewe, England. This park was a gift to the people of Crewe. It came from the London and North Western Railway Company. The railway company's employees actually paid for the clock tower! It was first shown to everyone on the same day the park officially opened, way back in 1888. The tower is made of strong sandstone and brick. It even has special round pictures, called medallions. These show Queen Victoria and important railway officials. Today, it's a special building called a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important part of history.
A Gift to Crewe: The Clock Tower's Story
Queen's Park was given to the people of Crewe. It was a place for them to relax and play. The London and North Western Railway Company gave the park. This company was the biggest employer in Crewe. F. W. Webb, the railway's chief engineer, helped design the park. He worked with Edward Kemp.
The clock tower itself was paid for by the railway company's employees. John Brooke designed it. The park officially opened on June 9, 1888. The Duke of Cambridge was there for the opening. On the same day, James Middleton showed the clock tower to everyone. He had been an engine driver for the company for 50 years! A local clockmaker named Mr. Blackhurst gave and installed the clock. The tower used to have two drinking fountains. It also had a barometer, which tells you about the weather. These are not there anymore.
What the Clock Tower Looks Like
The clock tower is about 10 metres (33 ft) high. That's like a three-story building! It stands on a square base made of sandstone. This base is called a plinth. On the sides of the plinth are flat, rectangular panels. The panel on the south side has a special message and the date.
On top of each side of the plinth is a triangular shape. This shape is called a pediment. Each pediment has a round picture, or medallion. The one on the north side shows Queen Victoria. The other sides show important people from the railway company.
From the plinth, the tower goes up. First, it's made of sandstone. Then, it changes to brick with cool patterns. At the very top, there's a part that sticks out. This part holds the clock. The clock has four faces, one on each side. Each clock face has a wooden frame. Above each clock face is another triangular pediment. On the very top of the tower, there's fancy metal work made of wrought iron. This metal work holds a weathervane. A weathervane shows you which way the wind is blowing.
The special message on the tower says:
- 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
This message explains that the railway workers paid for the tower. It was their way of saying thank you to the railway company's leaders. The leaders had given the park to Crewe. It also mentions James Middleton, who unveiled the tower. He had worked for the company for 50 years!
The clock tower became a Grade II listed building on June 14, 1984. Grade II is the most common type of listing. It means the building is important to the country's history and has special interest.
