Cramlington New Town, far from being new, has a history which goes back centuries.
The whole of the Kingdom of Northumbria regularly fell victim to invading forces, and Cramlington, because of its proximity to the coast and to the main road between North and South, was frequently on the route of the enemy advances. Over the centuries the area was attacked by the Romans, the Scots, the Saxons, and the Danes - sometimes annually for periods of over twenty years.
For the early years, records relating to Cramlington are scant, but we do know that the first settlers were the Danes, who built two enclosures at Whytlawe (near Whytelaw School) in the sixth century. Northumbria flourished during the sixth and seven centuries, but the succession of invasions resumed during the later part of the ninth century, with the Danes and the Anglo Saxons each seeking supremacy. Eventually the warring parties settled together ( becoming `` The English`` ) and it is thought that the name of the local `` thegn ``, who was Danish, was Dram, `` or Kramel. It is from this man that Cramlington, or`` Kramel`s Town`` , got its name.
The momentous year of 1066 brought great changes throughout the country, for
William`s victory at the Battle of Hastings heralded a period of military despotism.
In Northumbria, the serfs revolted against the strict Norman regime but the
retaliation was severe, with much of the area being completely laid waste. Nevertheless,
one outcome, still in evidence, was the construction of numerous halls and castles,
which were built to provide secure homes for the Norman barons.
Cramlington had its own hall (east of Dudley Lane), and had neighbours at Seaton
de la val, Seghill, Horton, Burradon and Belsay.
The first recorded mention of the town is in 1135, when it was granted to Nicholas de Grenville, who in turn granted ``certain lands`` here to the monks of Durham. By 1270, records show there was the Hall, a chapel (dedicated to St. Mary ) four cottages and a water mill, already several familiar local names have entered the picture - Richard de Stike Lawe ( Stickley) Margery Trewick, William de Burdon (Burradon ) .
Scottish borders raids were a frequent occurrence, as indeed they had been - and continued to be - for a very long period. Just as unionism was an important factor in people's lives, so was the Church, with Methodism gaining strong support in the newer communities. Three Methodist Chapels were built at Shankhouse, two at West Cramlington and one in the Village. Meanwhile, St. Nicholas `Parish Church, which had been built in 1680 to replace the original Norman Chapel, had such a large congregation that they could not be all accommodated and in 1865 Mr John Dobson, the famous Newcastle Architect, was commissioned to design a new church. It was completed within three years at a cost of £3,000 and was consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Durham.
The Church was a leader in the sphere of education and operated the first school in Cramlington, using St. Nicholas`s and two adjoining classrooms. In 1849, Humble Lamb and Co., owners of West Cramlington Colliery opened a small school, which was soon to be much improved and enlarged; and in 1853, Mrs Shaw Storey opened the `` Cramlington National School for Girls`` in Cramlington Village. Schools were also soon provided at Shankhouse and Hartford.
The cup winning team of West Cramlington FC, 1924, my uncle Joseph Henderson circled.
The full team being : (Back row) J Dorman, A Dixon, J Carrick, R Waugh, A Mills, J Ritson, W Tarbuck. (Centre row) R Taylor, J Cryan, Joe Austin, Fred Oliver. (Front row) J Henderson, W Harrison, Jack Austin, N Steward, N Taylor.
During the General Strike of 1926, union activity put Cramlington in the national headlines. A dispute between miners and railway mens unions over blackleg labour led to the derailment of the Flying Scotsman between Annistford and Cramlington as a protest by the pitmen. Eight local men served prison sentences for their action.
As the years went by the coal resources, which had been Cramlington`s bread and butter for over a century, started to diminish. The Hartley Mains Company, when they took over the local collieries in 1930, brought a new viability by their use of modern methods of coal extraction and for a time enlivened the area. But the end was in sight and after the war it was evident that the town's coal supplies would soon be completely used up.
The authorities were very much aware of the consequences of such a situation and as far as Cramlington went, a `` Life or death `` decision had to be taken. After long negotiation, it was agreed that the revival of the area could be achieved by promoting industrial diversity and growth, and by bringing new houses, schools, parks and shops. And so, out of the death of Cramlington`s collieries, the New Town was born.
During the war, my sister Violet Henderson worked at the Cramlington Air Ship Shed, manufacturing buses as part of the war effort. The picture below is of the first bus made there, with my sister circled 4th from right.
