The two towns are very different in character. Crewe is the industrial centre for Cheshire, home to a huge rail junction, Rolls Royce and many industrial and business parks. Its residents are mainly working class and Labour support is strong.
Nantwich, on the other hand, is an attractive traditional market town of great historic interest. It is famous for its many half-timbered Tudor buildings and 14th century parish church. The region is also home to Cheshire cheese.
This 'split personality' used to explain the marginal nature of the seat in recent times - in 1983 the majority was just 290. In 1997, however, Labour won with a 15,798 majority although things had been made substantially easier by boundary changes.
Before 1997 some rural parishes west of Crewe - historically Conservative and home to 11,000 voters - were transferred to Eddisbury, while 4,000 electors were brought in from the more marginal area of Haslington in Congleton.