Known locally as ‘Creepy Crawley,’ this West Sussex town blends a modern vibe with historic charm. Designated as a New Town in 1947, it became a centre of brutalist architecture as it started to grow during the 1950s and 60s. Surrounded by pretty market towns and the country’s second largest airport, Gatwick, Crawley became renowned as the engine room for the West Sussex economy. And with the advent of Manor Royal, it rapidly became a prime location for businesses. Growth has not stopped since!
An old heart that is inclusive and welcoming
Many of the beautiful buildings in Crawley date back to the 14th century (and don’t get me started on the ghost tales) and yet, sometimes the outsider’s focus of Crawley can be on the more brutal architecture and the ‘Creepy Crawley’ perception, which falls short of the true full and wonderful picture. Because there is so much more to Crawley than meets the eye. At its core, Crawley is kind and inclusive, welcoming of people the world over, inviting them to become part of this big-hearted town. The plentiful opportunities to start and indeed build businesses and to combine working in a family-friendly way, really does make Crawley a magnetic place to put your stake in the ground for home, business, or both.
A spanner as a kind-hearted symbol
When residents of Crawley fall on hard times, the kind heart really does come to the fore. The abundant generosity of spirit was really on display during the Covid lockdowns. For instance, when a parent urgently asked for help repairing their child’s bike and requested to borrow a spanner, numerous people responded with offers to assist. By the time the offers had landed in plentiful supply, a person had popped over and fixed the bike. A small gesture I know, but it really bought home to me how much goodwill there is in the town, ably demonstrated through the willingness of many to lend support and help when needed. This lovely little story really is the tip of the iceberg.
Charity and Crawley
In Crawley you will find many charitable organisations, from Creative Crawley to Ten Little Toes Baby Bank. The latter is a charity close to my heart given I am a trustee. I witness the kindness of these hard working people, reaching out to encompass every town in West Sussex. Ten Little Toes was set up in a spare room by the amazing Jo Jo Petty. Jo Jo’s mission was to support families in a similar situation to hers when she had a young baby to feed, with no funds for formula. The need for Ten Little Toes has grown dramatically in recent years and now, on the leanest of running costs, they count on the support of an incredible team of volunteers and supporters. Do keep your eyes peeled for the supporters running half and full marathons over the next year, with a remit to raise funds for the charity. As you can imagine, running is just one piece of the fund raising puzzle! From bake sales to business events the support of the local community has put Ten Little Toes firmly on the map of Crawley. Today, many more families rely on the team for support. They have bold goals and so will be engaging further with the business community in a bid to raise awareness and funds.
Crawley as a town of culture
If you live or work in the Crawley area, I’m sure you’ll be familiar with Creative Crawley; a charity dedicated to improving the image of the town through cultural activity. Working with partners they have enlivened the area with for example, huge puppets and large street murals, with local artists working with County Mall to deliver a cultural space for all different types of work; from small productions to art exhibitions. These creative teams have been as inspiring as they are hardworking. They’ve put Crawley on the map as a town of culture and long may that continue. Exploring further is worthwhile if you have the chance to participate.
The kind heart of Crawley
The kindness in Crawley is a seam that runs through so many different activities, with businesses for example, regularly attending Open House (a shelter for homeless individuals) to cook a meal for residents and day attendees. Many businesses are also involved in the Big Sleep Out and there’s always a charity bike ride that someone from the professional services community is taking part in. Even the football club has a charitable foundation (yet another charity close to my heart as I am a trustee!).
Green not grey!
Some people still see Crawley as a grey place, full of brutal architecture. I on the other hand see Crawley as a vibrant community, full of people doing good and helping each other. Not only that, but Crawley is positively packed with wonderful places where you can stop and enjoy a little down time. Check out Manor Royal’s Pocket Parks, one of the largest business parks in the UK. Those working or residing in the Manor Royal area are never more than 5 minutes’ walk from a lovely green space. Then we have Tilgate Park, the Memorial Gardens, Southgate Park, and Goffs Park, plus many more green spaces in Crawley. Not too shabby for a grey and brutal town!
The language of love…
So, when you’re looking at Crawley, I urge you to reflect on the fact that we’re not ‘just’ an airport town (although it is great to have a landmark like Gatwick because it helps people to find us).
Given we are now in February, the month of love, I wanted to share my love of Crawley with you. Do take a closer look with at this wonderful, vibrant, and caring town. And check out those Manor Royal Pocket Parks because they’re seriously fabulous! Head over to the Manor Royal website where you can discover the wonderful work of the teams behind these projects.
About Wendy Bell
Wendy is a Town Centre Manager with a knack for bringing places and people together. She champions thriving high streets, strong local businesses and vibrant communities. She’s also Chair of a business association and a charity and, a trustee of another charity, ample evidence she likes to stay busy making good things happen. Known for her energy, creativity and calm-under-pressure approach, Wendy is all about collaboration, positive change and getting stuff done (usually with a smile). Want to know more? Get in touch via wendy@cgcnetwork.co.uk
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