Craster Explained

Static Image Name:Crasterharbour01.jpg
Static Image Caption:View of Craster Harbour with lobster pots in the foreground, and Dunstanburgh Castle in the distance at centre left
Country:England
Official Name:Craster
Coordinates:55.4718°N -1.5958°W
Label Position:top
Population:305
Population Ref:(2011 census)[1]
Region:North East England
Post Town:ALNWICK
Postcode District:NE66
Postcode Area:NE
Os Grid Reference:NU255198
Constituency Westminster:Berwick-upon-Tweed

Craster is a small fishing village on the Northumberland coast of England, 8mile from Alnwick. The next village to the north is Embleton. It is within the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Geography

The walk along the coast to the south passes by Cullernose Point, an example of the basaltic cliffs which are a significant feature of the local landscape, and are part of the Whin Sill. The walk along the rocky shore to the north along leads to the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle.[2]

History

The remains of a tower on the end of the harbour are all that can be seen now of the much taller building which was part of the overhead equipment which used to convey the local stone from where it was quarried to boats in the harbour. The disused quarry is now a car park.[3]

A mile to the west, Dunstan Hall is a mansion incorporating a medieval pele tower, now used as holiday accommodation.

A small distance inland lies Craster Tower, the home of the Craster family who were the local lords of the manor.[4] A memorial on the harbour wall commemorates Captain John Charles Pulleine Craster, who was killed in Tibet on 28 June 1904.[5] [6]

For many years, the village has had a herring-curing business:[3] Craster kippers are well known around the world.[7]

During the Second World War, the Heughs, north of Craster, were home to a Coastal Defence/Chain Home radar station.[8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Parish population 2011. 29 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150705081643/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11122422&c=NE66+3DT&d=16&e=62&g=6452800&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1435599860804&enc=1. 5 July 2015. dead.
  2. Web site: Craster to Dunstanburgh Castle Walk. May 2020 . Third Eye Traveller. 16 October 2023.
  3. Web site: Craster History We Can Mind the Time. visitcraster.org.uk.
  4. Web site: CLHG History Walks Craster Tower. 2020-06-26. www.crasterhistory.org.uk.
  5. Web site: Memorial to Captain Craster. Craster Local History Group. 16 October 2023.
  6. http://www.northumbria-byways.com/blog/2009/01/craster-harbour.html Memorial to John Charles Pullein Craster
  7. Web site: Where to Eat the Best Kippers in the World? TasteAtlas . 2022-06-07 . www.tasteatlas.com.
  8. News: Brown . Mark . Boat-shaped church and radar station among English heritage list newcomers . 13 December 2023 . The Guardian . 15 December 2023.