Catchgate

Catchgate is a former mining village in County Durham, England. It has a population of approximately 3,000 people.

Catchgate
Catchgate Location within County Durham
Population	3,000 (approx)
OS grid reference	NZ162523
Shire county	County Durham
Region	North East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	STANLEY
Postcode district	DH9
Police	Durham
Fire	County Durham and Darlington
Ambulance	North East

Its nearest town is Stanley, also a former coal mining community. The town of Consett, once famous for its steel works, is 5 miles (8.0 km) away.

It is bordered by the villages of Greencroft to the west, Annfield Plain to the south, Harelaw to the north (the B6168 runs through it from Annfield Plain to Harelaw), and West Kyo (also known as Old Kyo) to the east. Also once to the west of Catchgate was Pontop village, now no more than a few bungalows, dominated by the enormous Pontop Pike television and radio transmitter.

Catchgate, looking south along the front street. The police station in on the immediate right, with the Crown and Thistle pub ahead on the left (behind the van).

Annfield Plain Public Library, actually located in Catchgate.

Catchgate is home to Annfield Plain Library (on the boundary with Annfield Plain) and also the Crown and Thistle pub, known locally as Bob Bells due to a former owner. The pub is rumoured to be haunted by Bob Bell. A small police station is situated at the north end of the village, though this is only partially manned.

Crown and Thistle pub, Bob Bells, Catchgate, circa. 2009. The outside of the pub has since been plastered and painted white. Bob Bell is rumoured to haunt the pub.

Smiths Arms, a former pub on Catchgate crossroads. The building is now derelict.

Bethany Chapel, now closed, to the east of Catchgate Crossroads.

The Smiths Arms, another pub, used to be situated on Catchgate crossroads. A number of working men's clubs used to exist, notably the Excelsior, the RAOB and the Buffs. The last of these has now been converted and split into three premises, One Stop retail shop, a boxing club and a currently vacant premises.

A long standing fish shop is located just to the east of Catchgate crossroads. Opposite this is the long closed Bethany Chapel, which was temporarily home to an employment agency after closure. A second retail shop and two hair dressers complete the more permanent businesses in Catchgate.

Catchgate Primary School is situated 200 m west of Catchgate Crossroads on the road to Greencroft. The school was moved 100 m to the west in the 2000s when the old infant and junior school were demolished (now replaced by a housing estate).

Carrmyers Pond, on boundary of Catchgate and Harelaw

Carrmyers Pond and Carrmyers Burn form the northern boundary of Catchgate, beyond which is Harelaw. Harelaw School (a school for children with special needs) was situated next to the B6168 at this boundary, before relocating to the former site of Greencroft Comprehensive School after 2013. It is now known as Croft Community School.