TOWNSPOTLIGHT
SPOTLIGHT ON
CRAWLEY
INHABITED SINCE THE STONE AGE, Crawley has always been an important hub of trade and industry in Sussex. Its location, close to both London and the coast, means it is the ideal place for that‘ best of both worlds’ feeling, and the amenities the town provides makes it an interesting place to be whether that’ s for arts and culture, a meal out, or a spot of shopping.
HISTORY IN BRIEF
When archaeologists began to explore the area around Crawley, they discovered that there were tools buried beneath the ground that dated back to the Neolithic period – between 10,200BC and about 2,000BC. However, it is from 2,000BC onwards that Crawley really made a name for itself by becoming something of a specialist area for ironworks, something that’ s evidenced by the remains of two Iron Age furnaces that were discovered underneath Goffs Park.
In 1202, King John issued a licence for Crawley to hold weekly markets, which brought more trade to the area. The market was held every Wednesday, and in turn helped the area to grow. By the 17th century, Crawley was the stopover point on the journey from London to the Sussex coast, so coaching inns became the business to be in at that time. Some of the buildings that were built back then still exist today, including The George Hotel.
On January 9th 1947, Crawley was designated as a‘ new town’.
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