Tommy Crooks Park

This park on Yarm Road is a playing field surrounded by mature trees. This greem space provides a buffer between the industrial units and residential areas of Darlington.

The story behind the making of Tommy Crooks Park on Yarm Road named after the Darlington Major of the same name and who bought and donated the land to the town to improve the quality of life for the people of Darlington.

Thomas Crooks was born in Westerdale on the 1st of August 1855 the son of farmer. He was put to work at a very young age and by the age of 14 he was working fulltime and had only received only a very basic education. Thomas meets Sarah Ann Coates and they marry on the 21 September 1876. The young Crooks family decide that the rural life was not for them and they headed to Darlington where Thomas found work.

In 1901 Tommy moved to 12 Milton Street Thomas continued to work as a railway engine driver. In 1904 Thomas retired from the railway [N.E.R]. Thomas then became involved in improving the quality of life for Darlington folk and became Chairman of the Parks Committee. 

In 1920 Tommy became Mayor of Darlington and this was the year that Royal Agricultural Society Show was held in Hunden’s and the Duke of York [later to be King George VI] was guest of honour. 

In 1930 Tommy bought six acres of land to stop builders building on it, he then presented it to the people of Darlington in recognition of all the kindness he had been shown by the towns folk. Alderman Tommy Crooks Park opened on the 4th of July 1935, in the park was an avenue of 17 trees that were known as “Jubilee Avenue”. On the 19th of November 1940 Alderman Thomas Crooks passed away.