Gallery and Joiner's Shop
Mick Oxley's gallery in the centre of the village, which was opened in June 2008, is built from the local whin stone.
Mick Oxley's Gallery, August 2010. Source: Mick Oxley
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It was opened by David Milliband, MP for South Shields and, at the time, Foreign Secretary, who is a regular visitor to the area.
Source: Mick Oxley
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The gallery replaced a joiner's shop made of wood and corrugated iron that had stood on that site for many years.
Source: Sybil Dawson
From left to right. The young man on the left is unknown. Jack Grey, Ralph Dawson and then Bill Rutherford, who had the market garden at the top of Whin Hill. The two boys are George Grey on the right and John Grey on the left. The girl is unknown.
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The joiner’s shop was built at the end of WW1 by Jack Grey using material from Boulmer Chapel when that building was demolished. Jack Grey was a joiner and undertaker, who made the coffins they needed.
Following Jack Grey’s death, the shop was bought by Dennis Dawson in 1956. Dennis was also a joiner and undertaker. The shop was his workshop for making doors, windows etc, but coffins were brought in from Newcastle to Little Mill station and when that closed brought to Craster by van. Dennis also made model cobles, Northumberland fishing boats, to sell in the gift shop.
Dennis Dawson in his workshop making model cobles
Source: Sybil Dawson
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In 1972 Dennis converted part of the shop into a gift shop, which was run by Sybil, his wife, until 1997 when Dennis died. The shop was only open in the summer months and sold a wide range of gifts, sweets, pop, toys, shells, pictures etc. Denis made a range of model cobles for sale in the shop.
Source: Sybil Dawson
Sybil Dawson standing outside the gift shop in 1975
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Source: Sybil Dawson
Sybil Dawson and Hilda Rogerson in the gift shop
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Source: Sybil Dawson
Dennis and Sybil Dawson in the gift shop in 1991
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