Virtual Museum

Joseph Locke

9 August 1805 - 18 September 1860

Joseph Locke was born in Sheffield in 1805, son of a colliery manager, William Locke, a friend of George Stephenson. In 1823, his father apprenticed him to Stephenson and he worked with the Stephensons on a number of railway products. Locke showed a great attention to detail combined with a precise financial management of his contractors, which meant that he acquired a reputation for getting his schemes in on time and on budget. 

As a result, he was much sought after to take charge of early railway developments, including the Grand Junction, which he took over from Robert Stephenson, the 82 mile (130 Kilometre) route linking Birmingham with the Liverpool-Manchester line at Warrington, and included the station at Crewe. He was also responsible for laying out the new town and the railway works when the Company moved from Liverpool Edgehill. The Grand Junction Board ordered the purchase of land at the junction of Crewe, and on 1st July 1840, Locke was asked to ‘prepare plans, drawings and estimates for an establishment at Crewe; which shall include the shops required for the building and repairs of carriages and wagons as well as engines.’ (Minutes of the Board)

In December 1843, the ‘Chester Courant’ described the town built on Locke’s design: ‘About two years ago only the site could boast of but a few detached farmhouses. The company have imparted to it a very different aspect. Their own land … is about 30 acres (12 Hectares), and the whole is laid out in streets, and nearly covered with comfortable cottages in varied and distinctive styles uniform in the several streets … There are also schools, an assembly room, committee room for magistrates, etc.’

Locke went on to build the London & Southampton Railway, the Sheffield, Ashton & Manchester Railway and was eventually responsible for most of the West Coast Anglo-Scottish route. He also built many overseas railways, including the Paris-Le Havre line.

From 1847 to 1860 Locke was the Whig (1847-57) and then Liberal (1857-59) MP for Honiton, Devon and was made President of the Institute of Civil Engineers from 1858 to 1859. He died in September 1860.

We Owe It All To Yorkshire’s Joseph Locke

Gareth Williams

Pride can be a sense of deep pleasure of a place

a town or parish that you call your own base

and when the Grand Junction Railway in 1829

adjusted the direction of their new railway line

the words “via Crewe” would become existential  

the town became wanted, even preferential

and forged its own fortune to fill its potential  

We owe it all to Yorkshire’s Joseph Locke

From Pymms lane to the Alex and Big Bill the towns clock

For our Backsies & the Razza has Locke’s DNA   

And we should be thankful that he got his way

With 3 workshops required for the building and repairs

Crewe works was created, and trains build in pairs

Twenty thousand men started a journey of their own

Enjoying every minute, apprentices home grown

From welding to tin shops, (about 22)

Cards would be out with banter and a brew

With blood, sweat and tears with OUR trains, built in Crewe   

We can’t forget our draftsmen, the honourable Francis Webb

who engineered his engines using HB pencil led

the orphanage still stands empty in memory of his name

In need a new use, strategic cause or worthy aim

The fondness of these stoic men, we must now reclaim  

Literally building Crewe in a smog filled bygone era 

Surly makes our job today, focused and much clearer   

Cos we owe it all to Yorkshire’s Joseph Locke

From Queens Parks, the Lyceum and the town clock

Our bike chains that were full of his bletch   

To our towns Macon twinning at a stretch  

Before HS2’s confirmation about our new hub station 

that will bring us inspiration for a future generation  

we heard Gresty the lions roar for something we can adore 

As we now build back better, following Boris’s advice 

Crewe can yet return to an industrial paradise   

Back to future and on track to our former glory 

Would be the perfect ending to our town’s railway story.  

When the platforms were first opened back in 1837 

And people only dreamt about traveling down to Devon 

Just remember Joseph Locke and his technicoloured vision 

And you too might agree that Crewe was his best decision.

To find out more Information about local poet Gareth Williams please visit lifepoemsaboutyou.co.uk