The village originates from a small settlement around Croxdale Hall which is about half a mile to the north east of the modern village. First mentioned in records as Crokesteil in 1195 the name may come from a Viking named Krokr and the shape of the river bends that meander like a tail. Ownership of Croxdale dates back to 1291 when it was owned by a Roger Routhberi. By the early 15th century ownership had past to the Salvin family who still own Croxdale Hall and the surrounding estate to this day. Located just to the north of Croxdale is Burn Hall which was designed and built in 1821 by Durham architect Ignatius Bonomi for the Salvin family. The cost of owning and maintaining two grand halls proved prohibitive and it was sold in 1926 to Roman Catholic missionaries who used it to train boys as missionary priests. In 1995 it was sold again and became luxury apartments. The modern village of Croxdale exists because of coal mining coming to the area. Croxdale Pit was opened in 1845. This venture was carried out by the Salvin family of Croxdale Hall but lasted only a few decades, closing by 1870. At this time St Bartholomew's church was built by Salvin for the miners who were attracted to work in the colliery. In exchange for the ancient chapel situated on the nearby Croxdale Estate, Gerard Salvin, Esq., gave the site of this church, the old chapel now being used as a mortuary chapel for the Salvin family. 1875 saw a return of coal mining as the Weardale Iron and Coal Company opened Croxdale Colliery just to the south of Sunderland Bridge. Housing was built to accommodate mine workers and their families, a Methodist Chapel completed in 1877 and a school built in 1878-79 as well as St Bartholemew's being extended in 1878. The main streets in the new mining village were named after the people who provided the finance to build the housing, Salvin Street and Rogerson Terrace. So successful was the colliery that John Rogerson rented Croxdale Hall from the Salvin family for a time. The colliery closed in 1934. Until 1938 Croxdale had a railway station served by the North Eastern Railway. During World War 2 the village was home to a munitions factory. After the war this became the NESS furniture factory. This closed in 2015. In early 2017 it was announced that the former factory would be converted into a business hub with offices, service yards and storage and distribution facilities.
Community
The village has a corner shop, two Public Houses: The Daleside, a traditional English style pub and The Croxdale Inn/Penash an Indian restaurantand bar and a working men's club. There is a play parkfor the children of the village which was funded by a series of summer fun days. The Church built in 1845 and dedicated to St. Bartholomew was built in the Norman style. It consists of nave, chancel, and western tower and is situated at the western extremity of the village of Sunderland Bridge. The Community Centre is in the old school hall. It hosts various clubs and acts as the polling station on election days.
