Crook is a town ten miles south west of the city of Durham and is often referred to as the Gateway to Weardale and the North Pennines.

Prior to the 1830s it was an agricultural community of about 200 residents.  The development of coal mining and the coming of the railways resulted in Crook mushrooming to a significant town of over 12,000 inhabitants in the latter part of the nineteenth century.

For over 120 years the coalmining industry dominated the town.  In addition to the pits, a large industrial complex developed for the production of coke and other coal by-products.  Coal and coal-related work provided nearly all the jobs in the area.  During these years Crook developed a community and social life with many significant features, e.g. two cinemas, a theatre (later to become a third cinema), an influential Mechanics’ Institute, a flourishing Co-operative Society, 8 churches, and many clubs and organisations.

By the 1960s all the pits had closed and the railway service was withdrawn.  New factories were built and light and service industries were brought to the town, but by the 1990s many of these factories were closed.  During the last 30 years Crook has undergone many changes, its population declining from 12,000 to 8,500 and most of its residents needing to travel to other areas for employment.