Edward Cratney was born in Willington Quay, Northumberland, England on 25 January 1882. He was articled to Hicks & Charlwood (William Hicks and Henry Clement Charlwood) in Newcastle-upon-Tyne from 1898 to 1901, following which he remained as an assistant at the firm in until 1902. He subsequently worked as an assistant to Joseph Morton Hall in South Shields; to George Reavell in Alnwick; and to Samuel Evans in Mold.
Cratney commenced independent practice as an architect in 1907. Competitions he entered included North of England Model Cottage Exhibition (Gold, Sliver, and Bronze Medals for cottages erected; ; School, Wallsend, (2nd); Library, Benwell (2nd): School, Cramllngton (3rd); Library, Kilkenny, Ireland (3rd;) Grammar School, Penrith (4th); Library, Annfield Plain; Council Offices, Newburn-on-Tyne; Branch Library, Hendon, Sunderland; Secondary School, Blyth; Cottages, North of England Model Cottage Exhibition; Branch Library, Monkswearmouth, Sunderland; Public Shelter, Whitley Bay; Cemetery Buildings, Whitlev Bay; Cottages and laying out Walker Estate, Newcastle-on-Tyne. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1914]
He was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1912. His address was given as 88 Station Road, Wallsend-upon-Tyne and Tose Hill, Willington-upon-Tyne in 1912 and 1914; and Neville Chambers, Westgate Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1914. He died in Wallsend, Northumberland on 1 December 1916.
Library, Annfleld Plain; Council offices, Newburn-on-Tyne; branch library, Hendon, Sunderland; Secondary School, Blyth; cottages. North of England Model Cottage Exhibition; brand) library, Monkswearmouth, Sunderland; cemetery buildings. Whitley Bay; houses, Wallsend, Blyth, Hexham, Willington-on-Tyne, Stocksfield-on-Tyne, West Calder. Midlothian; cottages for the Northumberland Small Holdings Committee; laboratories for the Thermal Syndicate, Wallsend-on-Tyne: large dining (girls') rooms for Messrs. R. Hood, Haggle & Son, Ltd.; Picture Hall, Wallsend-on-Tyne; laid out various estates. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1914]
Armstrong, Barrie and Armstrong, Wendy. The Arts and Crafts movement in the North East of England: a handbook. Wetherby, England: Oblong, 2013
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
'Obituary'. The Builder vol. 111, 8 December 1916 p.354
'Obituary'. The Builder vol. 111, 15 December 1916 p. 375
'Obituary'. RIBA Journal vol. 24, 1916-17 pp. 64, 194, 129
Who's Who in Architecture 1914. London: Technical Journals Ltd., 1914