Cricklewood: Railway Art and Architectural History

Cricklewood tells its history through a variety of subjects: railway art speaks of the railway and the area, while the Crown and St Agnes represent different periods of construction. There are also traces of coach and air travel, as well as local food production. If you’re looking for a hotel in Cricklewood, these features give you a concrete sense of the historical themes that define the area.

Railway Art and Local History

At Cricklewood station, panels on the area’s history are displayed on glass panes in the passenger waiting area on Platform 1. Another feature is an Amy Johnson mural on the platform wall. A Blue Plaque at Vernon Court also commemorates Amy Johnson, who once lived there. The two tributes highlight different aspects: the mural is an artistic feature at the station, while the plaque marks a biographical connection to a former home.

On the way to the platforms, you can also see a depiction of Handley Page biplanes, created by Cricklewood-based artist Alistair Lambert. Another work about the station’s history is by Freddie Needle. His 9 × 6 metre montage of paintings, prints and photographs shows Cricklewood’s history from the arrival of the railway in the 1860s and its subsequent effects on the area. While the railway features present specific images and references, Needle’s work traces the area’s development over time.

Buildings and Places of Remembrance

The Crown on Cricklewood Broadway is a Grade II-listed Victorian building clad in terracotta. Shoebridge & Rising rebuilt it in 1899. The Crown is also associated with an earlier travel story: as early as the 1750s, it provided accommodation for travellers taking the stagecoach to and from London. They travelled along Watling Street, a Roman road to St Albans that continued through North Wales to the Irish Sea.

St Agnes reflects a different architectural period. The present building was constructed in 1930 to designs by T. H. B. Scott. Its restrained Romanesque design is typical of his church buildings; the brick interior is striking and austere. The comparison reveals two distinct building histories: the Crown is defined by its Victorian design, terracotta and reconstruction, while St Agnes is characterised by its 1930 design and brick interior.

Transport and Everyday History in Earlier Decades

Cricklewood’s transport history extends beyond the railway. From 1919 to 1926, Cricklewood Airport offered commercial flights to Paris, Brussels, Berlin and Bournemouth. These dates clearly define the period of air travel. Freddie Needle’s artwork reaches further back: it begins with the arrival of the railway in the 1860s and explores its later effects on the area. Needle’s work therefore begins well before the airport’s period of operation.

Local food history is also connected with the Crown: Smith’s Crisps started out in garages behind the building in 1912. Alongside its earlier role as accommodation for stagecoach travellers, this tells of two different uses of the area around the Crown—travel in the 18th century and the start of production in the early 20th century. The dates help distinguish these stories, while railway art, buildings and the plaque offer further perspectives on Cricklewood.

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