Heritage & Personal History Tours

 

Originally a Granary, Craster Square is ‘The Oldest’ part of this area and still mostly owned by our family who have lived here since before 1850. We are proud to be mentioned by one of the most well-respected descriptive books of England. Pevsner’s book ‘The Buildings of England; Northumberland gives recognition of Craster Square as a “delightful courtyard”. We now strive to maintain this title of delightfulness and continually get appreciative comments from visitors and passers-by, especially during summer months when the courtyard is transformed with flowers & shrubs.

A Village by the Sea

Geoffrey, the owner of both Cottages and the entrance courtyard is also the acknowledged Historian of Seahouses. He is featured in a number of very informative DVD’s of Seahouses which you will find in the cottage, one of them called ‘A Village by the Sea’ was made during the year leading up to the millennium and material gathered also initiated the Local Archives.
Should guests be interested in local history,  take advantage as our guest to chat with Geoffrey.

Heritage Trail

A man who appreciates the beautiful area we live in, Although now retired Geoffrey is not only a Historian and talented artist, he has been very involved with the local community groups in Seahouses and the wider area of the AONB in Northumberland.
This immediate area which surrounds our courtyard Craster Square is steeped in the evolving history of our beautifully situated fishing village. The sign-posted Heritage Trail brings you past our entrance, around the converted Herring Yards (now housing) which were built to serve the fishing fleet in the late 1800 and most of the 1900’s.

Local History

Seahouses stands on the edge of the North Sea in mid-Northumberland, 20 miles south of Berwick & 14 miles north-east of Alnwick. It was developed as the newer, seaward end of North Sunderland village. The area is made up of clay and sandy soil, with clay and rock subsoil. Crops in the surrounding fields at the end of the nineteenth century included wheat, oats, barley, turnips and potatoes.

Thriving Fishing Industry

There were a number of lime quarries excavated to the south of the village. Mines to the west and north provided the coal for the burning of the lime. The building of the ‘New’ harbour provided this industry with a means of exportation. Grain was also exported during this time. A private branch railway was constructed to connect Seahouses with the main east coast line via Chathill. The coming of the railways signalled a decline for some industries, but allowed the fishing industry to grow and thrive.