Clara Vale [31 photos] in NZ1364 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland

Shared description

Clara Vale

Clara Vale came into existence as a purpose built colliery community in the late C19th. Built by the Stella Coal Company, it thrived next to the nearby pit of Claravale. However, by the 1960s, the mine closed down. So too had many other nearby pits such as Emma, Greenside and Stargate.
The village was one of those listed as Category D (no development, property to be acquired and demolished and the population relocated to new housing) by Durham Council in the 1960s but the community remained and have retained a vibrant and active spirit although with employment elsewhere. Clara Vale became incorporated into the new metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear in 1974 and later became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead.
The village is now one of 22 Conservation Areas ("areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance") designated by Gateshead Borough Council.
The essence of the model colliery village has been retained from the lack of new development in the immediate area, unlike neighbouring Ryton and Crawcrook, and from the few remaining colliery and community buildings.
There are few local amenities in the village, no shop or pub, but there are three golf courses nearby, and a wide range of community-led social events and clubs.

Clara Vale in Wikipedia: Link

The 'model' colliery village of Clara Vale is described here Tyne and Wear HER(5156): Clara Vale, Colliery Village Link

Clara Vale Colliery on Durham Mining Museum's site Link

Category D villages in County Durham Link

Ryton & District Local History Society: Archive Link

Old photos on Gateshead Local Studies: Link

by Andrew Curtis

Created: Thu, 30 Dec 2010, Updated: Thu, 26 Oct 2017

31 images use this description: (all images taken in 2010)

NZ1364 : Edington Well, Clara Vale by Andrew Curtis

NZ1365 : North View & South View, Clara Vale by Andrew Curtis

NZ1364 : Terraced houses, Clara Vale by Andrew Curtis

NZ1365 : Maryside Place, Clara Vale by Andrew Curtis

NZ1365 : Clara Vale Memorial Garden by Andrew Curtis

NZ1364 : East View, Clara Vale by Andrew Curtis

NZ1365 : Former Pit-head Baths, Clara Vale by Andrew Curtis

NZ1365 : Tyne View, Clara Vale by Andrew Curtis

NZ1264 : Clara Vale Recreation Ground by Andrew Curtis

NZ1364 : Capped mine shaft, Clara Vale Nature Reserve by Andrew Curtis

NZ1364 : Numbers 13 & 14 Edlington Gardens, Clara Vale by Andrew Curtis

NZ1364 : West View, Clara Vale by Andrew Curtis

NZ1364 : Pond, Clara Vale Nature Reserve by Andrew Curtis

NZ1365 : Level crossing, Clara Vale by Andrew Curtis

NZ1364 : War Memorial, Clara Vale by Andrew Curtis

NZ1364 : Former Co-operative Building, Clara Vale by Andrew Curtis

NZ1364 : Clara Vale from East View by Andrew Curtis

NZ1364 : Back lane between East and West View, Clara Vale by Andrew Curtis

NZ1364 : Highland Cow, Clara Vale Nature Reserve by Andrew Curtis

NZ1364 : Stannerford Road, Clara Vale by Andrew Curtis

NZ1364 : Church Hall and Methodist Church, Clara Vale by Andrew Curtis

NZ1364 : Former School, Clara Vale by Andrew Curtis

NZ1364 : Edington Gardens, Clara Vale by Andrew Curtis

NZ1364 : Former Fire Station, Clara Vale Colliery by Andrew Curtis

NZ1365 : Ryton Golf Course by Andrew Curtis

NZ1365 : Font, Clara Vale Memorial Garden by Andrew Curtis

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