Crawcrook
Encyclopedia
Crawcrook is a semi-rural village close to the western border of the metropolitan county
of Tyne and Wear
in England
. Traditionally an independent village in County Durham
it has since been incorporated into the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead
.
in Northumberland
and Ryton
, also in Tyne and Wear.
, Crawcrook is located in the 'Crawcrook, Greenside
and Clara Vale
ward'. The ward is at the far west of the borough and borders Northumberland
. The Crawcrook and Greenside ward is served by three councillors, 1 Labour and 2 Liberal Democrats. Gateshead Council is Labour
controlled.
Crawcrook is located within the parliamentary constituency of Blaydon. Its current MP is Labour's Dave Anderson
.
, Clara Vale
and Stargate, Crawcrook was a village with a vibrant coal industry
. With major pits such as Emma and Clara, as well as several smaller pits, Crawcrook became a major coal mining centre. However the coal industry collapsed in the village during the 1950s and 1960s. As has happened to a number of other northern English
villages employment in tertiary industries has replaced the coal industry. However, Crawcrook's coal mining heritage is still evident; a number of the old miners' homes still exist in the surrounding area, including Clifford Terrace near to Crawcrook's main street, and the Simpson Memorial Home in nearby Barmoor. Old wagonways used to transport coal are also still present, although they are now maintained as footpaths.
During the 1970s and 1980s, with the creation of the Kepier Chare and Westburn private housing estates, Crawcrook grew significantly in size and became largely suburbanised and is being used increasingly as a commuter village for the conurbation of Tyneside
.
, Pentecostal, Church of the Holy Spirit
and Methodist. After the closure of Kepier Chare school, the village now has only two primary schools; St Agnes Roman Catholic school and Emmaville school. During 2007, Emmaville school was extended to allow former pupils from Kepier Chare to attend there. There is also a separate private nursery located next to the Doctors Surgery.
The area is also well served by public transport, with regular bus links to Hexham
, the MetroCentre, Gateshead
and Newcastle Upon Tyne
as well as nearby towns and villages such as Ryton, Prudhoe, Chopwell
, High Spen
and Clara Vale.
Crawcrook has its own village park, located in the Garden House Estate area of the village. Created in the 1950s it consists of toddler
play equipment, a tennis court/five a side football area, and a bowling green
.
Other recreational facilities nearby include four golf
courses, Tyneside golf club at Ryton, Ryton golf club at Clara Vale, Close House golf club in Wylam
, and Prudhoe golf club in Prudhoe. Golf courses slightly further away include Whickham golf club, at Whickham
, Garesfield golf club at High Spen and Stocksfield golf club in Stocksfield
.
, the school of Crawcrook's Roman Catholic parish and Emmaville primary school. Both schools perform exceedingly well compared to other schools in the Gateshead Local Education Authority
and nationally.
There was a third school, Kepier Chare school. However, in 2007 it was closed with all remaining pupils transferred to Emmaville school.
walled garden and, to the north, more farmland as well as the meadows between Crawcrook and Wylam.
Other notable features of Crawcrook's environment include its landed estates, in particular Bradley Hall, and its sand quarries, that have partly encroached on some of its countryside to the north-west of the village. Further down the Tyne valley there are picturesque villages and towns such as Prudhoe, Stocksfield and Corbridge
.
Metropolitan county
The metropolitan counties are a type of county-level administrative division of England. There are six metropolitan counties, which each cover large urban areas, typically with populations of 1.2 to 2.8 million...
of Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Traditionally an independent village in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
it has since been incorporated into the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead
Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead
The Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead is a metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. It is named after its largest town, Gateshead, but also spans the towns of Rowlands Gill, Whickham, Blaydon and Ryton; suburban areas include Felling, Pelaw, Dunston and Low Fell.It is bordered...
.
Location
Crawcrook lies midway between PrudhoePrudhoe
Prudhoe is a medium sized town just south of the River Tyne, in the southern part of the county of Northumberland, England about west of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. The town is sited on a steep, north-facing hill in the Tyne valley and nearby settlements include Ovingham, Ovington, Wylam,...
in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
and Ryton
Ryton, Tyne and Wear
Ryton is a semi-rural small town near the western border of Tyne and Wear, England. Once an independent town in County Durham it became incorporated into the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear and the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead in 1974. It has a population of 15,742.- Location :Ryton lies...
, also in Tyne and Wear.
Local politics
In local governmentLocal government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
, Crawcrook is located in the 'Crawcrook, Greenside
Greenside
Greenside is a village located in the extreme west of the Metropolitan County of Tyne and Wear, England. Once an independent village in County Durham it became incorporated into Tyne and Wear in 1974 and then the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead in 1986....
and Clara Vale
Clara Vale
Clara Vale is a hamlet situated on the south bank of the River Tyne in Tyne and Wear, England. Once an independent village in County Durham it became incorporated into the new metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear in 1974 and later became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead.-Location:Clara...
ward'. The ward is at the far west of the borough and borders Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
. The Crawcrook and Greenside ward is served by three councillors, 1 Labour and 2 Liberal Democrats. Gateshead Council is Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
controlled.
Crawcrook is located within the parliamentary constituency of Blaydon. Its current MP is Labour's Dave Anderson
David Anderson (UK politician)
David Anderson is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Blaydon since 2005.-Early life:...
.
History
At the turn of the twentieth century, and in common with the nearby areas of GreensideGreenside
Greenside is a village located in the extreme west of the Metropolitan County of Tyne and Wear, England. Once an independent village in County Durham it became incorporated into Tyne and Wear in 1974 and then the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead in 1986....
, Clara Vale
Clara Vale
Clara Vale is a hamlet situated on the south bank of the River Tyne in Tyne and Wear, England. Once an independent village in County Durham it became incorporated into the new metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear in 1974 and later became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead.-Location:Clara...
and Stargate, Crawcrook was a village with a vibrant coal industry
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
. With major pits such as Emma and Clara, as well as several smaller pits, Crawcrook became a major coal mining centre. However the coal industry collapsed in the village during the 1950s and 1960s. As has happened to a number of other northern English
Northern England
Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North or the North Country, is a cultural region of England. It is not an official government region, but rather an informal amalgamation of counties. The southern extent of the region is roughly the River Trent, while the North is bordered...
villages employment in tertiary industries has replaced the coal industry. However, Crawcrook's coal mining heritage is still evident; a number of the old miners' homes still exist in the surrounding area, including Clifford Terrace near to Crawcrook's main street, and the Simpson Memorial Home in nearby Barmoor. Old wagonways used to transport coal are also still present, although they are now maintained as footpaths.
During the 1970s and 1980s, with the creation of the Kepier Chare and Westburn private housing estates, Crawcrook grew significantly in size and became largely suburbanised and is being used increasingly as a commuter village for the conurbation of Tyneside
Tyneside
Tyneside is a conurbation in North East England, defined by the Office of National Statistics, which is home to over 80% of the population of Tyne and Wear. It includes the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Metropolitan Boroughs of Gateshead, North Tyneside and South Tyneside — all settlements on...
.
Amenities and Transport links
Unlike many villages of a similar semi-rural character, Crawcrook has maintained its broad range of amenities. Crawcrook main street has several shops including a library, a co-operative food store, a newly upgraded Nisa Local Store and two petrol stations. It also has a selection of independent shops including a family run freezer centre/bargain store, a greengrocers, two butchers, two gentlemen's barbers, a hairdressing salon, a tanning salon, a number of pubs, a chiropodist, a doctor's surgery, two veterinary practices and a restaurant. There are also several churches in the village from a number of denominations including CatholicRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, Pentecostal, Church of the Holy Spirit
Church of the Holy Spirit
Church of the Holy Spirit or Holy Spirit Church may refer to:* Church of the Holy Spirit * Church of the Holy Spirit * Church of the Holy Spirit * Church of the Holy Spirit...
and Methodist. After the closure of Kepier Chare school, the village now has only two primary schools; St Agnes Roman Catholic school and Emmaville school. During 2007, Emmaville school was extended to allow former pupils from Kepier Chare to attend there. There is also a separate private nursery located next to the Doctors Surgery.
The area is also well served by public transport, with regular bus links to Hexham
Hexham
Hexham is a market town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, located south of the River Tyne, and was the administrative centre for the Tynedale district from 1974 to 2009. The three major towns in Tynedale were Hexham, Prudhoe and Haltwhistle, although in terms of population, Prudhoe was...
, the MetroCentre, Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
and Newcastle Upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
as well as nearby towns and villages such as Ryton, Prudhoe, Chopwell
Chopwell
Chopwell is a village in Tyne and Wear, located approximately three miles west of Rowlands Gill and one mile north of Hamsterley.Traditionally an area of coal mining, Chopwell was nicknamed "Little Moscow" because of the strong support for the Communist Party...
, High Spen
High Spen
High Spen is an old mining village in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. There is an entrance to Chopwell Wood, whose forest festival and Christmas Trees attract many visitors to the village every year. High Spen has one pub, called The Bute Arms, and two Working Men's clubs...
and Clara Vale.
Crawcrook has its own village park, located in the Garden House Estate area of the village. Created in the 1950s it consists of toddler
Toddler
A toddler is a young child, usually defined as being between the ages of one and three. Registered nurse, midwife and author, Robin Barker, states 'Any time from eight months onwards your baby will begin to realise he is a separate person from you...
play equipment, a tennis court/five a side football area, and a bowling green
Bowling green
A bowling green is a finely-laid, close-mown and rolled stretch of lawn for playing the game of lawn bowls.Before 1830, when Edwin Beard Budding invented the lawnmower, lawns were often kept cropped by grazing sheep on them...
.
Other recreational facilities nearby include four golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
courses, Tyneside golf club at Ryton, Ryton golf club at Clara Vale, Close House golf club in Wylam
Wylam
Wylam is a small village about west of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is located in the county of Northumberland.It is famous for the being the birthplace of George Stephenson, one of the early rail pioneers. George Stephenson's Birthplace is his cottage that can be found on the north bank of the...
, and Prudhoe golf club in Prudhoe. Golf courses slightly further away include Whickham golf club, at Whickham
Whickham
Whickham is a town in North East England, four miles south west of Newcastle upon Tyne and four and a half miles west of Gateshead. Whickham is part of the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Its postal address is Whickham, Newcastle upon Tyne. Whickham is situated on high ground overlooking the...
, Garesfield golf club at High Spen and Stocksfield golf club in Stocksfield
Stocksfield
Stocksfield is a small, sprawling commuter village situated close to the River Tyne, about west of Newcastle upon Tyne and east of Hexham in the southern part of Northumberland, England...
.
Education
There are two primary schools in the village. St Agnes RC schoolSt Agnes RC school
St Agnes Roman Catholic School is a Catholic voluntarily aided primary school in Crawcrook, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom. It is a popular and oversubscribed school, larger than average for a village primary school. This is largely due to its excellent performance when compared to other schools in...
, the school of Crawcrook's Roman Catholic parish and Emmaville primary school. Both schools perform exceedingly well compared to other schools in the Gateshead Local Education Authority
Local Education Authority
A local education authority is a local authority in England and Wales that has responsibility for education within its jurisdiction...
and nationally.
There was a third school, Kepier Chare school. However, in 2007 it was closed with all remaining pupils transferred to Emmaville school.
Surrounding Area
Within less than a mile of Crawcrook's main street and its residential areas, lies farmland and rich countryside, particularly to the west and north of the village. To the west of the village these include farmland and Sled Lane, with its woodland and ponds; Bradley Gardens, a VictorianVictorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
walled garden and, to the north, more farmland as well as the meadows between Crawcrook and Wylam.
Other notable features of Crawcrook's environment include its landed estates, in particular Bradley Hall, and its sand quarries, that have partly encroached on some of its countryside to the north-west of the village. Further down the Tyne valley there are picturesque villages and towns such as Prudhoe, Stocksfield and Corbridge
Corbridge
Corbridge is a village in Northumberland, England, situated west of Newcastle and east of Hexham. Villages in the vicinity include Halton, Acomb, Aydon and Sandhoe.-Roman fort and town:...
.