On Thursday 28th July 1955, the Borough Engineer and Surveyor of Crewe, Leonard Reeves, placed an order for a clock and bells for a new clock tower to be built in the town centre.
Order number 1980 for a weight-driven timepiece complete with hands, dials, an electric motor with four quarter bells and one hour bell was placed with Whitechapel Foundry in London for an astonishing total cost of an £2,616 0s 0d.
What followed during the next few years is an absolutely fascinating story of engineering, struggles between traditionalism and modernization, unintended consequences, royal visits, inevitable frustrations, reputations that hung in the balance and blue glass!
On Tuesday 28th July 2015 celebrate Big Bill‘s 60th birthday when he goes Blue for Crewe for the next month. Join Crewe Town Council and local historian Mike Christelow between 7pm and 8pm to celebrate an amazing iconic milestone in our local history.
