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