Since Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) officially named the district and opened the Crawley Industrial Area on January 25, 1950, Manor Royal has evolved from a post-war dream into one of the South East's premier employment powerhouses, supporting over 30,000 jobs across more than 600 businesses.

Roots in a New Town Vision

Crawley's story as a modern industrial centre begins in the shadow of World War II. In 1946, Parliament announced that the town - then a modest settlement with roots tracing back to the Stone Age and Iron Age ironworking - would be transformed into one of Britain's first New Towns under the New Towns Act of 1946. The following year, 1947, saw the official designation order, aiming to alleviate London's housing shortages by creating balanced communities with jobs, homes, and green spaces. By 1948, the masterplan was unveiled, earmarking a 260-acre swath north of the town centre - once part of the Gatwick Manor estate - as the industrial heartland.

This area, known historically for landmarks like the 15th-century Hyders Hall (a Grade II* listed moated manor) and 16th-century Rowley Farmhouse, was poised for rebirth. The vision was bold: provide skilled employment for 8,500 locals in light industries, from engineering to food processing, while fostering a sense of community. Little did planners know it would balloon into a mixed-use dynamo employing tens of thousands.

The Royal Opening and Post-War Boom (1950s)

The pivotal moment arrived in 1950. With Crawley's population at just 7,000, Princess Elizabeth arrived amid great fanfare to unveil the name "Manor Royal" - a nod to its aristocratic past - and declare the industrial estate open. The secret moniker, kept under wraps until the ceremony, symbolized a fresh start. Factories sprang up swiftly along the main artery, Manor Royal road, and by 1951, the population had surged to 30,000, with manufacturing dominating 61% of jobs.

The 1950s were a whirlwind of arrivals. In 1949, WC Youngmans, pioneers in industrial trucks and builders' plant, leased a 10-acre site as one of the first tenants. W. Edwards, vacuum pump makers (later part of BOC plc), opened a 9.5-acre facility in 1953, employing 300. SmithKline Beecham (then GlaxoSmithKline) followed in 1954 with a pharmaceutical factory, while A.P.V. - major suppliers of processing equipment - leased land in 1956, drawing 1,500 families over three phases. Upjohn Pharmaceuticals broke ground in the mid-1950s, opening a landmark site in 1957 that would later house aviation innovators.

Vent-Axia, ventilation experts, arrived in 1958, cementing Manor Royal's reputation for engineering prowess. By decade's end, roads like Kelvin Way, Gatwick Road, and Napier Way crisscrossed the district, fuelling expansion.

Expansion and Diversification (1960s–1980s)

The 1960s brought royal returns and rapid scaling. In 1961, Queen Elizabeth II reopened the expanded Gatwick Airport and the full Manor Royal Industrial Estate, linking the district's fate to aviation growth. Redifon (now Thales), flight simulator makers, settled on Gatwick Road in 1962, while Mullard Equipment Ltd (a Philips division) built a sprawling site in 1963, peaking at 2,250 employees in the 1970s. By 1965, 79 factories spanned 3 million square feet, employing 15,000 - 60% in manufacturing, 34% in services buoyed by Gatwick.

The 1970s shifted gears. Demand for warehousing outpaced factories, driven by airport logistics and regional distribution. Crawley's population hit 67,608 in 1973, with services overtaking manufacturing (53.5% vs. 46%) and a net 10,000 daily commuters. A.P.V. expanded again in 1974, claiming an eighth of new factory space. Priestley Way opened in 1963, Fleming Way extended in 1968, and Crawley Avenue in 1975, easing traffic as the district matured.

By 1978, Crawley Urban District became a borough, and the 1980s saw skyline-defining projects like the 1981 approval for Astral Towers, Crawley's tallest building at the time. Population reached 73,081 in 1982, with 67% service jobs and 20,120 net commuters. Gatwick's second terminal was greenlit in 1985, and Rediffusion Simulation (Thales) solidified as a major employer by 1987. County Oak Retail Park followed in 1991, blending commerce with industry.

Modern Reinvention (1990s–Present)

The 1990s and 2000s diversified Manor Royal beyond factories. Pasta Reale built Europe's largest fresh pasta plant on Fleming Way in 1993. CGG Veritas (now CGG) made it its UK geophysics hub in 1994. Virgin Atlantic opened offices in 1998 in the Crawley Business Quarter, followed by Thales' £100 million facility in 2000. Basepoint Innovation Centre launched in 2003, and Fastway bus rapid transit arrived in 2004, enhancing connectivity.

Today, Manor Royal spans 540 acres offering nearly 10 million square feet of commercial floorspace, hosting giants like Amazon, Nestlé UK, Virgin, Evri, Boeing UK, Elekta, Acron Aviation, People’s Partnership, who are nestled among hundreds of smaller, dynamic companies who together make up the diverse business community of the Business District.

Following a vote by businesses to create it, the Manor Royal Business Improvement District (BID) was formed in 2013 to drive improvements and deliver additional services across the Business District acting as a representative voice for the area and leveraging millions of pounds of new investment.

Since its creation, the Manor Royal BID has been delivering on its objectives and making a tangible difference to the way the Business District looks, feels and operates.

Infrastructure upgrades, sustainability initiatives, additional security, regular maintenance, digital infrastructure, new green spaces, arts trail, subway upgrades, wayfinding, a wide variety of business support including events, discounted training, free jobs board, CSR Brokerage initiative, Business Watch and much more.

Celebrating 75 Years

75 years of Manor Royal has been marked in a number of ways. The Manor Royal Recognition Awards celebrated outstanding contributions from people and companies within the Business District, The Manor Royal Charity Treasure Hunt raised funds for local causes, while the "Manor Royal Matters" event toasted "75 years of commerce and community."

From Royal fanfare to global giants, Manor Royal embodies Crawley's journey from fields to an economic powerhouse. As one original worker, Ted Hembery, recalled in his memoir, it was "a place where dreams were built - one factory at a time."

Here's to the next 75 years.