Crook, County Durham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crook |
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|---|---|
| Town | |
 Hope Street |
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 Crook
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| Population | 10,019 |
| OS grid reference | NZ165356 |
| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Crook |
| Postcode district | DL15 |
| Dialling code | 01388 |
| Police | Durham |
| Fire | County Durham and Darlington |
| Ambulance | North East |
| EU Parliament | North East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Crook is a lively market town located in County Durham, England. It's often called the "Gateway to Weardale" because it sits right on the edge of the beautiful Weardale area.
This town is about 9 miles (14 km) southwest of the historic city of Durham. It's also close to Bishop Auckland (5 miles or 8 km northwest) and Willington (2 miles or 3 km away). The A689 road passes through Crook, leading up into the scenic upper parts of Weardale.
Contents
A Look Back at Crook's History
Crook started as a small farming village around 1795. Back then, the main jobs were in agriculture. It had a local inn and a blacksmith shop. However, things changed quickly!
About 40 years later, Crook became a busy mining village. Coal was easy to find close to the surface, and soon there were over 20 mines nearby. The town grew very fast in size and wealth by the late 1800s. But in the next century, many mines and industries closed down. This meant that a lot of people in Crook lost their jobs.
Crook Town Football Club
Crook is famous for its football team, Crook Town F.C.. They have won the FA Amateur Cup five times! Their last win was in 1964. This is an amazing record, second only to their neighbours, Bishop Auckland F.C.. The club even played a big part in helping FC Barcelona grow, by playing friendly matches with them in the 1910s and 1920s.
Important Landmarks in Crook
Crook has a few interesting spots to visit.
War Memorial
In the heart of Crook's town centre, you'll find a special War Memorial. It remembers the brave people from Crook who served in World War I and World War II.
The Devil's Stone or The Blue Stone
In Crook's market place stands a unique rock called The Devil's Stone, or sometimes The Blue Stone. This huge rock is an glacial erratic, which means it was carried here by a glacier a very long time ago! It originally came from the Borrowdale volcanic group.
What Can You Do in Crook?
Crook's town centre is a protected area, known for its charm. It has many shops and businesses.
Shopping and Markets
You can visit the market on Tuesday mornings, and there are usually a few stalls open on Saturdays too. It's a great place to find local goods.
Churches
There are several important churches in Crook. St Catherine's CE is right in the centre, and Our Lady Immaculate & St Cuthbert's RC is on Church Hill. St Andrew's Church is a historic building shared by the United Reformed Church and Methodist Churches.
Crook Golf Club
If you enjoy golf, you'll find the Crook Golf Club on top of the hills to the east of the town.
Electric Palace Cinema
Crook was home to the very first purpose-built cinema in the north of England! It was called the Electric Palace and opened way back on November 21, 1910. Some of its original features are still there today.
Learning in Crook: Schools
Crook has several schools for different age groups.
Crook Nursery School
This is a nursery school for young children in the local area.
Crook Primary School
Crook Primary School officially opened in 1950. It's a larger school that shares its site with Crook Nursery School. A teacher named Marilyn Tempest retired from the school in 2014 after 30 years, saying "teaching is the best job in the world."
Hartside Primary School
This is a smaller primary school.
St Cuthbert's RC Primary School
This is an average-sized primary school.
Crook's Culture and Events
Crook has a lively cultural scene with different events throughout the year.
Empire Electric Palace Theatre
The Empire Electric Palace Theatre hosts various stage events, including fun pantomimes, especially around Christmas!
Annual Events
- Crook Carnival: Held in early July, this event features a parade, fun rides, stalls, and live music.
- Winter Light Parade: At the end of November, Crook holds its annual Winter Light Parade. It ends with the exciting moment when the town's Christmas lights are switched on!
- Crookfest: This is a one-day music festival that takes place on the Sunday of the early May Bank Holiday weekend. It has three stages and is held at Crook AFC's ground.
Crook also has many places to eat and drink for a town of its size.
Famous People from Crook
Many notable people have connections to Crook:
- Brian Foster: A particle physicist and professor at the University of Oxford.
- Jack Greenwell: The first official coach for FC Barcelona, who won many titles with them.
- Darren Holloway: A former professional footballer who played for teams like Sunderland AFC.
- Bill Rowe: A sound engineer who won two BAFTA Awards for his work on over 160 films.
- Constantine Scollen: A missionary priest who worked with the Blackfoot and Cree peoples in Canada in the late 1800s.
- Nigel Wright: A former professional boxer who was a three-time English light welterweight champion.
- Doug McCarthy: A former professional darts player who competed in the BDO World Darts Championship four times.
Getting Around: Transport
You can get around Crook and to nearby towns using bus services.
Bus Services
- A bus service (765) runs once a day from Crook to Consett.
- Arriva North East service 1 runs once an hour to Tow Law from Monday to Saturday.
- Towards Willington and Durham, the Arriva North East X46 service runs every 20 minutes from Monday to Saturday, and every 30 minutes on Sundays.
- Towards Bishop Auckland and Darlington, Weardale Travel's service 101 runs every hour to Bishop Auckland. Arriva North East service 1 also runs every 30 minutes during the day from Monday to Saturday.
Crook's Beautiful Landscape
Crook is surrounded by hills on most sides, except for the south. The tallest hill near the town is about 300 metres (980 feet) high. The highest point within the town itself is on West Road, at 210 metres (about 690 feet).
About 2 miles (3 km) west of Crook, on the A689 road towards Wolsingham and Weardale, you can find the World War II Harperley POW Camp 93. This camp was used to hold prisoners of war during the war.
Gallery
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Crook Market
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Looking up Church Hill
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Shopping in Hope Street
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A view across Crook
