Craster

Coordinates: 55°28′18″N 1°35′45″W / 55.471794°N 1.595788°W / 55.471794; -1.595788

Craster
View of Craster Harbour with lobster pots in the foreground and Dunstanburgh in the distance
Craster  Craster shown within Northumberland
Population	342 (2001 census)[1]
OS grid reference	NU255198
Shire county	Northumberland
Region	North East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ALNWICK
Postcode district	NE66
Police	Northumbria
Fire	Northumberland
Ambulance	North East
EU Parliament	North East England
List of places: UK • England • Northumberland

Craster is a small fishing village on the Northumbrian coast of England. It has a small and attractive harbour and offers a view northwards along the rocky shore to the spectacular ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle. This is the nearest point of access to the castle and the approach must be made on foot as there is just a grassy path. The next village to the north is Embleton.

For many years, the village has had a herring-curing business: Craster kippers are well known in England. The local herrings are smoked in a traditional manner by the Robson family.

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. A small distance inland lies Craster Tower, the home of the Craster family who owned the quarry and had the harbour improved for its benefit. A memorial on the harbour wall commemorates a member of the Craster family who died serving with the British Army in Tibet in the 19th century, the development of the harbour was as a memorial to their son.

The walk along the coast to the south is almost as spectacular as that to the north and passes by Cullernose Point, an example of the basaltic cliffs which are a significant feature of the local landscape. It is within the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

References

1. ^ Office for National Statistics: Neighbourhood Statistics

External links

• Northumberland Communities (Accessed: 6 November 2008)
• Craster History told by the people themselves
• Memorial to John Charles Pullein Craster