A hand-written version of the following account is now in the Crawley Museum collection, courtesy of a donation by Nadine Hygate. It was written by William James Denman (1877-1945), a renowned Crawley figure: head postman, local councillor, JP, tireless committeeman, supporter of local sports and social organisations, and prolific journalist…
![The photograph above shows Crawley children in front of the bonfire, possibly in 1903, in the High Street, looking south with the George Hotel and Annex in the background, and Shaw’s Motor Engineers at 60 High Street to the right. The bonfire was the work of the Bonfire Society, and was built every year until November 1910. In 1911, the High Street was re-surfaced, and the bonfire moved to a field behind the Hotel.
The baby in the pram has been identified as Gladys Denman, mother of Crawley author Nadine Hygate, with her sister Winifred. It is very likely that somewhere in the group are Daisy Warren, with her sister Florrie. If the 1903 date is correct, Daisy would be nine years old and Florrie 12 years old. Bonfire & children, High St, with Shaw's (2)](https://crawleymuseums.org/wp-content/uploads/freshizer/909215f1419266ae03734de881d0f882_Bonfire-children-High-St-with-Shaws-2-1440-c-90.jpg)
“Now boys with squibs and crackers play, And bonfires blaze turns night to day.” ‘Poor Robin’s Almanac’ dated 1677 For many people today, Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night means a chance to get together to watch fireworks, and perhaps attend a bonfire party somewhere in the community. The…
![The result of the election is announced at the Railway Hotel](https://crawleymuseums.org/wp-content/uploads/freshizer/210426fa1b4a5edd3fbc2bc21af12e50_The-result-of-the-election-is-announced-at-the-Railway-Hotel-1440-c-90.jpg)
One of the most interesting ways to approach local history is through the memories of those who were there. While taking into account the vagaries of memory, reminiscences of the past provide a unique source of information for the historian. In the case of Crawley before the First World War,…
![RC Church of Our Lady CSCMS LG45 RC Church of Our Lady](https://crawleymuseums.org/wp-content/uploads/freshizer/f7ae28a73c970f8acd55454640c3a87c_CSCMS-LG45-RC-Church-of-Our-Lady-1440-c-90.jpg)
Here are a few photos of Langley Green. Please let us know if you have any memories of Langley Green that you’d like to share? We’d also love to have a wider selection of photos in our collections – if you have any to donate please Contact Us RC Church…
![Northgate Clinic Jon G - Northgate Clinic](https://crawleymuseums.org/wp-content/uploads/freshizer/06fb3c3ac49bf92cbcbd7be87181610c_Jon-G-Northgate-Clinic-1440-c-90.jpg)
As May 1st is International Workers Day, here are some old photographs of people working in Crawley from our collection. Richard Cook & Workers Hollingdales Shoe Shop Steeles Forge, Balcombe Road Northgate Housing under construction – April 1951 Model of West Green, February 1949 Northgate Clinic Strain Gauge measurement apparatus…