Crewe - The Railway Colony, 22 October

David Cooke's talk described the establishment and development of the 'new' town of Crewe in rural Cheshire by the Grand Junction Railway Company in the early and mid 19th C. David, who was born in the Colony, gave a fascinating overview of the Company's control and paternalism, their town planning, their architecture and services all much advanced for the times, and the class system where workers knew their place and home.  David also outlined the sad demise of the Colony as the Railways ceased to be a major employer and as much of this early Victorian settlement was demolished to make way for late 20th C developments.