Cramlington
Church of St Nicholas, Cramlington
Last Updated:
30 Jan 2025
Cramlington
This is a
Church, Place of Worship
55.085901, -1.582982
Founded in
Current status is
Extant
Designer (if known):
John Dobson, Austin & Johnson
Listed Grade II
The standout historic landmark of Cramlington is the Church of St Nicholas.
Though the current building is from 1868, previous iterations stood here for around 900 years. The medieval structure, originally dedicated to St Mary, was primitive - "barnlike...and thick stone walls" which makes it sound fortified like an old pele, but this was later rebuilt in the late 17th century into the form of the last photograph below. This is a curious little chapel constructed in an L shape, with the rear not visible. It had become its own parish by the 1840s. Combine this with the exploitation of the lands it was clear a new place of worship was needed, given it only seated 130. It was demolished, though a small part of the chancel arch survived.
The population of the village went from a few hundred to a few thousand in the first 50 years of the 1800s. Much of this was in part thanks to Hugh Taylor, the main who lived in Cramlington Hall who had vast colliery interests here and in South Wales, and was later the MP for Tynemouth. Though by the time the current church opened, Cramlington Hall was occupied by Mr Charles Carr - infamously the owner of the Hester Pit during the disaster.
A committee headed by Sir Matthew Ridley sought designs from John Dobson, with this one chosen with slight adaptations by Austin & Johnson. The consecration took place in the May of 1868. It has French influences with a chancel 29 x 20ft. It fit 412 people, and became the foreboding landmark for miles alongside the winding engines of the pits. It is finished entirely of local stone with oak lining the whole interior. The Holy Table was made with some old black oak found in the River Blyth and presented by Ridley himself.
The total cost was around £3000, with £2500 paid for from Ridley and other landowners in the area.
Listing Description (if available)
Both the Ordnance Survey maps shown here depict Cramlington from the 1850s through to the 1890s. The first features the earlier 17th century chapel, which stood almost as a corner building as part of a larger complex backing onto the village square. Cramlington was a far different place then, originally borne out of agriculture and the hall but eventually fed off the multiple nearby collieries - one of which led directly from the east lane. The Paradise Row (the name still exists too) was one such terrace to accommodate industrial workers, and you'll see the footpath leading straight to the clay pits near the colliery.
There was still only marginal change through to the 1890s, though there is the addition of the terrace leading to Cramlington Station alongside a new Primitive Methodist Chapel and lodge. Other than this, it just gives us a clearer view of the village as well as a first look at the current iteration of our church. It's worth noting just how many farms there area, still with the gin gangs intact which are those circular buildings often adjoining the outbuildings. The Plough have converted the gin gang into part of their pub seating.
You'll notice the boundaries of Cramlington village start to blur by the early 20th century, as the industrial developments start to edge closer and closer to our medieval settlement. A couple more rows at Blagdon Terrace had been constructed and further were coming on the east and west. A new cemetery and mortuary chapel had been opened on the eastwards lane which still remains to accomodate the rising population. West Cramlington, Klondyke and Shankhouse grew substantially in the previous decades all supported by the village infrastructure. Like Washington, it's very easy to understand why Cramlington became a New Town.
St Nicholas in December 2024
Postcard from the Alexandra Series of 1908, showing the church and Fox & Hounds in the village centre.
The second iteration of St Nicholas from the late 17th century. This stood just south of the current church.