Crawley is a large town and borough in West Sussex, England. It is 28 miles (45 km) south of London, 18 miles (29 km) north of Brighton and Hove, and 32 miles (51 km) north-east of the county town of Chichester. Crawley covers an area of 17.36 square miles (44.96 km2) and had a population of 106,597 at the time of the 2011 Census.
The area has been inhabited since the Stone Age, and was a centre of ironworking in Roman times. Crawley developed slowly as a market town from the 13th century, serving the surrounding villages in the Weald. Its location on the main road from London to Brighton brought passing trade, which encouraged the development of coaching inns. A rail link to London opened in 1841.
Gatwick Airport, nowadays one of Britain's busiest international airports, opened on the edge of the town in the 1940s, encouraging commercial and industrial growth. After the Second World War, the British Government planned to move large numbers of people and jobs out of London and into new towns around South East England. The New Towns Act 1946 designated Crawley as the site of one of these. A master plan was developed for the establishment of new residential, commercial, industrial and civic areas, and rapid development greatly increased the size and population of the town over a few decades.
The town contains 14 residential neighbourhoods radiating out from the core of the old market town, and separated by main roads and railway lines. The nearby communities of Ifield, Pound Hill and Three Bridges were absorbed into the new town at various stages in its development. In 2009, expansion was being planned in the west and north-west of the town, in cooperation with Horsham District Council, which has now become a new neighbourhood named Kilnwood Vale, but it is not in Crawley. Economically, the town has developed into the main centre of industry and employment between London and the south coast. Its large industrial area supports manufacturing and service companies, many of them connected with the airport. The commercial and retail sectors continue to expand.
The railway line cuts across Ifield pond. The mill is the white building in the middle of the dam at the end of the pond. Gatwick is in the distance. Crawley 39
Crawley
The railway line cuts across Ifield pond. The mill is the white building in the middle of the dam at the end of the pond. Gatwick is in the distance. Crawley 39
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Ifield Pond and Mill. Crawley 40
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Ifield Pond and Mill. Crawley 40
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Ifield Pond and Mill. Crawley 41
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Ifield Pond and Mill. Crawley 41
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Ifield Mill Pond and Bewbush Water Gardens. Crawley 42
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Ifield Mill Pond and Bewbush Water Gardens. Crawley 42
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Ifield Mill Pond and Bewbush Water Gardens. Crawley 43
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Ifield Mill Pond and Bewbush Water Gardens. Crawley 43
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Ifield Mill Pond and Bewbush Water Gardens. Crawley 44
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Ifield Mill Pond and Bewbush Water Gardens. Crawley 44
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Worth Park. Crawley 45
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Worth Park. Crawley 45
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Worth Park. Crawley 46
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Worth Park. Crawley 46
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Worth Park. Crawley 47
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Worth Park. Crawley 47
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Ridley's Court is the former stables at Milton Mount Court. Crawley 48
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Ridley's Court is the former stables at Milton Mount Court. Crawley 48
Crawley
Ridley's Court is the former stables at Milton Mount Court. Crawley 49
Crawley
Ridley's Court is the former stables at Milton Mount Court. Crawley 49
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Memorial Gardens Crawley from the top of the County Mall shopping centre. Crawley 50
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Memorial Gardens Crawley from the top of the County Mall shopping centre. Crawley 50
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Memorial Gardens. Crawley 51
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Memorial Gardens. Crawley 51
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Bandstand. Memorial Gardens. Crawley 52
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Bandstand. Memorial Gardens. Crawley 52
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West Green Park. Crawley 53
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West Green Park. Crawley 53
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Southgate Park. Crawley 54
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Southgate Park. Crawley 54
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Goffs Park, Southgate. Crawley 55
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Goffs Park, Southgate. Crawley 55
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Goffs Park. Crawley 56
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Goffs Park. Crawley 56
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Goff's Manor. Crawley 57
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Goff's Manor. Crawley 57
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Broadfield Park. Crawley 58
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Broadfield Park. Crawley 58
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Broadfield Park. Crawley 59
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Broadfield Park. Crawley 59
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Crawley Hospital. Crawley 60
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Crawley Hospital. Crawley 60
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Crawley College. Crawley 61
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Crawley College. Crawley 61
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Crawley College. Crawley 62
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Crawley College. Crawley 62
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Ifield Community College (ICC). Crawley 63
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Ifield Community College (ICC). Crawley 63
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Hazelwick School. Crawley 64
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Hazelwick School. Crawley 64
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Oriel High School. Crawley 65
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Oriel High School. Crawley 65
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St Wilfrid's Catholic School. Crawley 66
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St Wilfrid's Catholic School. Crawley 66
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Thomas Bennett Community College. Crawley 67
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Thomas Bennett Community College. Crawley 67
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Broadfield Stadium (The People’s Pension Stadium). Crawley 68
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Broadfield Stadium (The People’s Pension Stadium). Crawley 68
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Broadfield Stadium (The People’s Pension Stadium). Crawley 69
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Broadfield Stadium (The People’s Pension Stadium). Crawley 69
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Broadfield Stadium. Crawley 70
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Broadfield Stadium. Crawley 70
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Broadfield Stadium. Crawley 71
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Broadfield Stadium. Crawley 71
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Crawley Athletic Club. Crawley 72
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Crawley Athletic Club. Crawley 72
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K2 Leisure Centre. Crawley 73
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K2 Leisure Centre. Crawley 73
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K2 Leisure Centre. Crawley 74
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K2 Leisure Centre. Crawley 74
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Crawley Station. Crawley 75
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Crawley Station. Crawley 75
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Crawley station, with five storeys of offices above the ticket office and concourse area. Crawley 76
Crawley
Crawley station, with five storeys of offices above the ticket office and concourse area. Crawley 76
Crawley
View of the front of Crawley station and Overline House. Crawley 77
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View of the front of Crawley station and Overline House. Crawley 77
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Three Bridges Station. Crawley 78
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Three Bridges Station. Crawley 78
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Three Bridges Station. Crawley 79
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Three Bridges Station. Crawley 79
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Aerial view northwest of three bridges. Crawley 80
Crawley
Aerial view northwest of three bridges. Crawley 80
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Gatwick Airport also known as London Gatwick (IATA: LGW, ICAO: EGKK). Crawley 81
Crawley
Gatwick Airport also known as London Gatwick (IATA: LGW, ICAO: EGKK). Crawley 81
Crawley
Gatwick Airport also known as London Gatwick (IATA: LGW, ICAO: EGKK). Crawley 82
Crawley
Gatwick Airport also known as London Gatwick (IATA: LGW, ICAO: EGKK). Crawley 82
