With breathtaking scenery along Northumberland’s coastline, Craster is a sought-after location for house buyers. Aranda Garrard finds out more. WITH its coastal footpath across the fields to the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, few would disagree that Craster is one of the most picturesque places to set up home.
It is popular with day-trippers and families who have bought properties as weekend homes or for holiday letting, but a strong community feeling remains. The, village, which has plenty stone-built properties, full of character, owes its name to the Craster family. The first mention of the family is reference to William de Craucetr holding the estate in 1272. It was the Craster family who built the harbour in 1906 in memory of Captain John Craster who was killed during service in India, in 1904. Craster Tower, listed in a survey of forts carried out in 1415, is a 15th Century stone-built, two-storey tower with a vaulted basement. The present building is little changed since that date. Today the fishing village, part of the NE66 postcode area, has a population of about 350, and has retained its character and charm. Tony Hooks, head of property sales at Alnwick office of George F White, said: “Its history as a fishing village continues to this day, highlighted particularly by the world-famous Robson’s Kippery.” The kippers and smoked salmon are prepared by the traditional method of oak smoking. The fish are delivered next day to all parts of the UK mainland and can also be bought either in the shop, locally or ordered online. Tony added: “Craster’s residents are a mix of locals and holidaymakers, with housing predominantly consisting of former local authority dwellings and small cottages which are always in demand as second homes. In more recent years, larger family homes have been constructed in the area, known as Norwell Brow, permitting families to remain or move into the village, with two good first schools within a three-mile radius and a selection of secondary schools and a high school in Alnwick, around six miles away. “An extremely popular area, Craster properties rarely became available and potential purchasers can expect a healthy price tag; around £265,000 for a semi-detached property and £400,000 for a detached home.” Other claims to fame for the village is that the ITV comedy-drama series Distant Shores was filmed at various locations along the Northumberland coastline. Various settings were used in and around Craster, including nearby Dunstanburgh Castle. Nearby places of interest include a visit to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and its castle, while Amble, Seahouses and Berwick are also worth a trip. Archaeologists from Newcastle University unearthed the best-preserved Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) house ever to be found in Britain, a few miles south of Craster at Howick. A reconstruction of the house was created for the BBC2’s Meet the Ancestors. | 
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