Cramlington The Five Minute Spare Guide

Cramlington Former coal mining village and the northern border of Tyne and Wear.

Newcastle has multiple suburbs, each one as daintily removed from the city as possible. While as little as thirty years ago, the landscapes of the northwest featured churned earth wall-to-wall with mines and smelting furnaces, nature has worked hard to reclaim many of these sites. Towns outside of Newcastle can be pleasant, leafy, quaint, and suitable places to remove yourself from the city for a day or two.

Cramlington is one of those little suburban towns that lies only 6 miles north of the city itself. The perfect commuter town, this area has plenty of high-class shops and lots of things to see and do. We reviewed some of the history of the local area below, and then we will move on to the attractions. Come along for the ride. It might be your new favourite place in the world. Here’s everything you never knew you wanted to know about Cramlington in one spot.

Early Days of Cramlington

We came across estimates that the town of Cramlington goes back as far as the 9^th century. Certainly, there are Roman Baths in Newcastle. The town lies just off the Roman road, the A1, which they called the Old North Road. It makes sense that there would be stables and inns along that road. We found that a geological survey found evidence of a possible Iron Age settlement in the area. Other than that, it appears that the history of the town ties in closely with the history and development of coal mining.

Medieval Times

There has been a chapel in Cramlington since 1270. The existence of the chapel indicates that the parish grew large enough to need one. There are land registry records from 1135 which denote the Manor of Cramlington as a gift to Nicholas de Grenville, from the king. The first notable person in the town was John the Clerk, which sums up England as a whole, really.

The town continued to be a rural and agricultural area which contained a few spotted settlements and farms. The city was where the wealth was. Even up until the point of the industrial revolution. The local Church of St Nicholas saw completion in 1865. This indicates that the parish grew large enough to require this second church. Landowners sunk deep mines throughout the north and indeed, here in Cramlington, they were mining all the way back as far as the end of the 17^th century.

Fun Facts about Cramlington

We always like to take breaks when we are recounting the history of our travel guide destinations. It can get a bit difficult to focus when we barrage you with dates and facts. Take a breather and enjoy some fun facts we found out about Cramlington. Here’s the scoop:

• Concordia, the town’s leisure centre, had a royal visitor. It opened in 1977 under the watchful eye of Queen Elizabeth II.
• Cramlington played an important part in WWI. The men of the town came together to form the No. 36 home defence squadron, to protect the home front from the enemy. They formed in 1916 under Captain R. O. Abercromby.
• There are four pubs – yes four – in the town square. One of them is a Grade II listed building: the Blagdon Arms.
• Ross Noble is from here, Sting lived here for a bit. Both are impressive claims to fame.

Let’s jump back into the history before we lose our place. Cramlington has as much local gossip as the next place. Most gossip doesn’t make sense, though, if you are unfamiliar with the origin story.

The 17^th Century and the Industrial Era

One of the noted historical facts from the area is the development of Seaton Delaval Hall in 1728. It is in the classical style; the hall now belongs to the National Trust. The hall lost its architect and its owner before it opened. In 1822, a fire destroyed its innards. The gardens themselves are a Grade II listed building now. The hall stands testament to the wealth of its creators: Admiral George Delaval and Sir John Vanbrugh.

The main collieries started sinking their mines at the turn of the 18^th century. The town lies upon a rich coal seam which local landowners made money from. By 1900, the Cramlington Coal Company Ltd had several deep mines in the area. Most had female names, among these the Amelia and the Betsey Pits. By 1896 this single company employed 420 men underground and 116 above ground. They brought the coal up from the seam and shipped it by way of a small narrow gauge railway back and forth from the pits. In 1902, the pit manager was JHB Forster. In 1930, the Cramlington Pit still had 509 men underground and 180 above ground.

The town received the clock tower in 1873, paid for by the men of the colliery. It cost £1,000, which was incredible in those days. The church of St Nicholas opened in 1868 to facilitate the miners. Nearby Shankhouse also housed a Church of England. Historians note a Primitive Methodist and a Free Methodist Chapel, too.

Modern Cramlington

When coal mining went into decline to make way for gas and electricity, the town also declined. Modern Cramlington features an array of buildings erected in the 60s and 70s. The area then became one of the many New Towns that would soak up the overspill from the big cities. The town grew in 1964 under the development of William Leech and J.T. Bell. Between them, they designed some of the larger housing areas of the city. Leech was a prominent builder all along Tyneside who went out of business in 1985. They created Beaconhill, Collingwood, Eastfield, Mayfield, Shankhouse, Southfield and Whitelea.

Cramlington had its own protective military unit during the First World War. Later, it would become an important Airship Base. Cramlington Airfield featured in a W.E Johns book of 1935. In 1855 and in 1926, two rail accidents saw injury and death in the town. The latter was the result of striking miners in the area, who derailed a train.

Locals introduced the Cramlington Folk Fest as of the year 2000. The population hovers around thirty thousand happy residents. It is a wonderful place to visit, especially if you are in the city. It offers cheaper accommodation than the seaside resorts but if you have a car, you can easily travel. We give Cramlington a thumbs up on the staycation scale. Go knock yourself out.

Famous People from Cramlington

We wouldn’t be very good tour guides if we didn’t point out all the celebrities that passed through here. We’re not quite as particular as that, but we did find some famous faces that were born in or lived in Cramlington. Here’s the deets:

• Loads of famous footballers come from the north. Something about the cold makes you better at kicking…or something. You have William Banks, James Brown, Joe Brown, Graeme Owens, and more.
• Uh… a few more footballers, including Tommy Dixon, George Cook, Bill Inglis, Malcolm Tucker, and Bobby Willis.
• Jack Thompson, a footballer in the 1920s.
• Jim Turney. A rugby player – JK. He was a footballer.
• STING lived in Cramlington. The Actual Sting of The Police fame.
• Athlete and Paralympic Gold Medallist Stephen Miller.
• And the stand-up comedian Ross Noble.

That’s a lot of famous footballers plus one Sting. To be fair, one Sting is enough for famous people. It’s like having the Beyonce of the 80s & 90s in your backyard. For those of you who don’t want to go Sting-spotting for your holidays, here are the other great things to see when you visit Cramlington.

Best Attractions in Cramlington

This is the part of the article that some of you skipped to, isn’t it? That’s fine, but you missed a whole bunch of useful information you could have brought out at dinner parties. Alas… on with the show. Here are the Five Minutes Spare guide’s favourite fun things to see and do in Cramlington.

Historic Sites

Both a historic site and landmark, this area of the country is best known for Seaton Delaval Hall. Belonging to the National Trust and built in 1728, a fire gutted this epic building in 1822. It is a Grade I listed building that extends for an unbelievable length. Browse the Grade II listed buildings and have high tea in the tearoom. We haven’t even checked if there is a tearoom yet and we already know it. It’s the kind of monument that screams ‘TEA ROOM’ in capital letters. (It’s a café. And they have ice cream and a Playdium.)

There is another hall near the town, except this one is now a Grade II listed block of luxury flats. Since it is a private residence, you shouldn’t really go there. Hartford Hall opened in 1807 at the behest of William Burdon. Burdon was a mine owner and philosopher. The hall became a miner’s rehab centre until 2004. Instead of viewing it, we suggest a trip down to the bridge. Hartford Bridge is also a Grade II listed building that crosses the River Blythe. It’s a peaceful place to have a walk in the forest and enjoy the estate.

Landmarks

To the north of town lies the Plessey Woods Country Park. The park hosts the River Blythe and lots of nice areas to spend time with the kids. While you are out there, try to spot the land sculpture of a woman lying down – Northumberlandia. The Lady of the North has her own sites and information centres. She is an art installation of epic proportions and well worth the visit. Locals carved the hills out in the shape of a ‘recumbent woman.’ In addition to this phenomenal sculpture, Plessey has over 100 acres of farmland, woodland, playparks, cafes, and fun adventures. Explore to your heart’s content. They encourage tree climbing and old-fashioned fun. Pick raspberries and go hiking or biking.

Outdoor Attractions

Plessey Woods and Northumberlandia are two great outdoor landmarks, but there are lots of other things to get out and about and see near Cramlington. If you are the kind of person who spends a Sunday driving on country roads looking for pretty plants, then visit the Azure Garden Centre. This place is a unique heptagonal building with a playground right on the front lawn. They have a patio and paving centre, plenty of home décor, and a thousand, thousand plants for you to admire. They have an online store, but we all prefer to visit. One of their key sellers is small fairy gardens made to delight your children.

We recommend that you make the 5.6-mile trip southeast down to Whitley Bay, at least for a day. While you are there, enjoy the beaches and even try to spot ammonite fossils. Afterwards, head to St Mary’s Lighthouse to enjoy the views. St Mary’s is a tiny island that you can walk around, and the lighthouse opened in 1898 to highlight the hazard to passing vessels. There are keeper’s cottages which North Tyneside Council converted into a visitor centre. The whole island is a nature reserve. Spot birds on the cliffs or find life in the rock pools. Just remember to leave only footprints.

Sports

The residents of Cramlington favour a bit of football. You can watch Cramlington Town FC or Cramlington United FC play. You might decide you like Burnside United instead. You could also play with the Cramlington Juniors FC if you grew up here. What’s the difference? Mainly location, by the looks of things. United play in Northburn Sports & Community Centre. Cramlington Town plays on Ormston Street. The Burnside club belongs to a local school.

As for Rugby, catch the Cramlington Rockets RLFC in Eastfield Community Association Pavilion. If you want to watch the adults play, visit the Seghill Rugby Club. Notably, Mercedes Benz of Newcastle sponsor this team, so they must be doing something right. They have an RFC online shop if you’d like to browse their goods.

This is England and so there is a golf club, of course. The local club is at Arcot Hall, which has a pro team of its own. They have an excellent website where you can book your visit online and they do accept visits from non-members. This one is a little fancy; they even have their own lake. This makes Cramlington not a bad place for a golfing holiday. It also captures business from golfers on the weekends. Heading south gets you other options. There is the Parklands Golf Club and the City of Newcastle Golf Club. You can even head to Whitley Bay to play.

Recreation

There is a recreation centre in Cramlington. Concordia Leisure Centre features a bowling alley and a climbing centre. They have a pool and a soft play centre. They also have a gym and fitness studios you can rent out. They even give spin classes. It has all you need to keep fit under one roof.

At the top of the list of things locals count as an attraction in Cramlington, we have the Gala Bingo hall. This is a town of people who take their bingo very seriously. And no wonder. The rules are straightforward, they serve alcohol, and you can win cash prizes that you wouldn’t believe. Some people win thousands here, and they have national and regional competitions too. Ok, so you must pay for the ticket, but once you are through the door the prizes are new-car worthy.

Shopping

There are great shops in the town centre. Head for the Manor Walks Shopping and Leisure Centre for good places to eat and drink and some fancier shopping. If you head towards the train station you will find more shops, including a Next, a Dunelm, and a McDonald’s.

Cramlington also has an annual food fair which is well worth a visit even if you are not a foodie. It has been cancelled of late due to Covid but should be back on again soon. You can check with the Council Website for updates.

Eating and Drinking

There are two favourite restaurants in the town centre. Look for Panuccies of Cramlington, an Italian with a takeaway option, or Sambuca, in the Glasshouse, south mall. It is perhaps best known for its cocktails. Trip Advisor travellers favour the Plough for a good, old-fashioned pint.

What to do in Cramlington with Kids?

You can take the kids to any of the attractions mentioned above. If you want to treat them, a visit to the soft play at TJ’s Jungle could tire them out in the best viable way. It is well-designed, clean, and bright, according to reviewers. You can buy food onsite and you can get a coffee while they go nuts. It’s a good way to network and meet other parents who are just as stressed as you are. Remember, the parents you meet at soft play are the same parents you might find your kids go to school with. Play nice, just like the kiddies.

There is a Vue cinema near Cramlington, too. It’s not a very large Vue, so be sure to book in advance. Fortunately, it is a Vue, so everything is online. They have reasonable ticket prices compared to other, bigger theatres. Take the kids to see a film on a Saturday and treat them to some Mcdonald’s. It’s an expensive treat day out once in a while, but Vue helps soak up some of the cost.

Our last suggestion for things to do in Cramlington with kids lies in the Airbox Bounce Trampoline Park. It’s right next to the cinema, so you could do both on the same day. Fill them full of sugar and popcorn, then send them off to the trampoline park to go crazy while you sit with a cuppa and watch. Trampoline parks are demanding work, they take a lot of energy out of you… which is just what you need when it is week 6 of the summer holidays and you think you might kill someone. This park has slam dunk areas, softball pits, free jumping, and jump walls.

Other Notable Northumberland Attractions

Northumberland is brimming with wonderful things to see and do. There are museums, galleries, unique experiences, excellent restaurants… you name it. Here are some of the things you could do if you visit the area, and have transport:

• Visit Blythe. The beach is so nice that they have those little red and yellow and blue beach huts you can rent out. They also have big guns at Blythe Battery.
• Visit Clitheroe, they have a whole castle. It’s the second smallest in the UK and there’s a hole in it, but it’s a castle nonetheless.
• Visit Ashington, another old mining town. In fact, it was once the biggest mining village in the world. They have a refurbished old mine with equipment and all sorts.
• There’s always Newcastle If you ever want to completely forget a night in your life, this is where you go to do it.
• Whitley Bay is not far to your south, famous for its beaches.
• Tynemouth is only a little farther and the whole area is beautiful.
• There is a quad biking track out in the countryside near Cramlington. You get to ride a quad bike around a track. Prepare for dirt.

There are things to see and do all along this stretch of Northumberland. Head east to the sea or west to the city. There’s a reason why so many Newcastle and Sunderland residents choose to holiday in this area.

How to get to Cramlington?

You are now an expert on all things Cramlington. We bet you’re really fun in the pub quiz. If you’d like to know how to get there, hang on a second while we look up our categorically dodgy directions.

By Road

Follow the A1 until you hit the A19.

By Rail

Look for Cramlington train station on the Northern Line.

By Air

The nearest airport is Newcastle International Airport.

By Sea

You are ten minute’s drive from Blythe and a little farther from Newbiggin port.

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