Sunderland
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about Sunderland from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover your local listed buildings and places
Introducing some of Sunderland's most historic sites, included in the National Heritage List for England. Some of these captions have been summarised by AI. Click through for the official List entry. Skip this section and go to place by numbers
Sunderland Synagogue
Sunderland
Synagogue of The Sunderland Hebrew Congregation. 1928 by Marcus K Glass, altered by insertion of Bimah in 1968.
Monkwearmouth Anglo-Saxon monastery and medieval priory
Sunderland
Monkwearmouth's Anglo-Saxon monastery, founded by Benedict Biscop in 674, influenced religious life and architecture through excavation-confirmed remains, like a notable covered walkway...
Elephant Tea Warehouse and Grocers
Sunderland
Grocers and tea warehouse for Grimshaw & Son to designs of Frank Caws, incorporating an early-C19 house and a later-C19 building. C20 ground floor and other internal alterations.
Usworth Hall Washington Development Corporation Headquarters
Washington
Usworth Hall, a late 18th-century house built for Bernard Shaw, features sandstone ashlar, a U-shaped plan, and Tuscan porch with Welsh slate roof.
Former North Eastern Railway Stables
Sunderland
The former North-Eastern Railway Stables, designed by William Bell in 1883-84, features red brick construction with blue brick and ashlar details. It includes a Horse Hospital and Van Shed.
Church of St Aidan
Shiney Row and Penshaw
The Church of St. Aidan, built in 1885-6 by H. Morton, features Early English style architecture with snecked sandstone, ashlar dressings, and historic electric lighting origins.
Mowbray Park
Sunderland
Mowbray Park, established in 1857 and expanded in the 1860s, features historical statues and a network of paths. It continues in public use, reflecting Sunderland's historical development.
Hasting Hill cursus and causewayed enclosure, 600m south …
Sunderland
The Hasting Hill site features distinctive Neolithic structures, including a cursus, causewayed enclosure, and round barrows, uniquely representing ceremonial and ritual landscapes in north...
Blue House Villa
Washington
Blue House Villa, built in 1802, features sandstone structure, Tuscan doorcase, sash windows, high-pitched slate roof, and original interior architraves with a cast iron stair balustrade.
Round barrow on Hasting Hill, 230m west of Hasting Hill Farm
Sunderland
The round barrow on Hasting Hill is a Bronze Age funerary monument with historical significance, featuring burials and artifacts, highlighting prehistoric beliefs and social structures.
Church of Holy Trinity
Sunderland
Anglican Church, 1719 possibly to designs of William Etty. The sanctuary was extended in 1735 by the addition of an apse, later alterations were made to the church. Baroque style.
Roker Park
Sunderland
Roker Park, a public municipal park in Sunderland, opened in 1880, features a deep ravine, promenades built in 1885, and historical structures like a Grade II bandstand.
Penshaw Parish, Shiney Row War Memorial
Shiney Row and Penshaw
First World War memorial, unveiled 1922.
First World War early warning acoustic mirror on Namey Hi…
Sunderland
An early-C20 military early warning device known as a sound mirror.
Mackie's Corner
Sunderland
Former shops and houses, 1850-53, to the designs of George Andrew Middlemiss. Classical style. C20 and C21 alterations.
Newbottle Working Men's Club
Newbottle
Newbottle Working Men's Club, an 18th-century building in Newbottle, features brick construction, sash windows, and a distinctive high-pitched roof with four chimneys.
F Pit Winding House
Washington
'F Pit Winding House' is a historic brick building featuring 19th-century machinery, constructed with round-headed sash windows and a King-post roof. The first pit shaft was sunk in 1777.
Hutchinson's Buildings
Sunderland
Former shops and offices, rebuilt in 1898-1899 after destruction by fire, to the designs of Henry Miller Potts of Joseph Potts & Son.
Roman Catholic Church of St Leonard with attached presbyt…
Sunderland
Roman Catholic Church, presbytery and enclosing walls, 1872-3 to designs of George Goldie of Goldie and Child. Early English Gothic style.
Houghton-le-Spring War Memorial
Houghton-le-Spring
First World War memorial, 1925, with sculpture by FW Doyle-Jones.
Washington and Barmston War Memorial
Washington
First World War memorial, unveiled 1920, with additions for later conflicts.
Fatfield War Memorial
Washington
First World War memorial, 1922, with later additions for the Second World War.
Phoenix Hall
Sunderland
Masonic Hall, 1784-5 by John Bonner; banqueting range converted from an attached building 1890-1894, and extended late C20; rear entrance hall range added in 1923.
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Search for more listed places in SunderlandSunderland through time
This timeline shows the first period of use for buildings and places on the National Heritage List for England, just one of the details recorded for every list entry. Click around to see how Sunderland changes over time. Skip this section and go to aerial photos
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion, from hunter-gatherers of several human species, including Neanderthals, to more recent herders and farmers. It was a time of developing technologies and belief systems, involving contact with and migration from Europe, all reflected in the variety of artefact and monument types characteristic of particular prehistoric periods.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion, from hunter-gatherers of several human species, including Neanderthals, to more recent herders and farmers. It was a time of developing technologies and belief systems, involving contact with and migration from Europe, all reflected in the variety of artefact and monument types characteristic of particular prehistoric periods.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Aerial photos of Sunderland
Aerial photography helps reveal secrets of England's changing landscapes that are impossible to see from the ground. Skip this section and go to archive images
Sunderland
The British Ropes Ltd Hemp and Rope Works in Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, 1936
Sunderland
The British Ropes Ltd Hemp and Rope Works in Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, 1936
Washington
Turner and Newall Ltd Washington Chemical Works, Washington, 1926
Washington
Turner and Newall Ltd Washington Chemical Works, Washington, 1926
South Hylton
Ford Quarry, South Hylton, 1926
South Hylton
Ford Quarry, South Hylton, 1926
Sunderland
The Sunderland Forge and Engineering Co Ltd Works, Sunderland, 1932
Sunderland
The Sunderland Forge and Engineering Co Ltd Works, Sunderland, 1932
South Hylton
Ford Paper Mills, South Hylton, 1926
South Hylton
The Ford Paper Mill and the Ford Limestone Quarry, South Hylton, 1948
Sunderland in the Historic England Archive
The Historic England Archive cares for over 15 million images, dating from the 1850s to the present day. Discover stunning images of Sunderland's past. Skip this section and go to stories about heritage
Eileen ‘Dusty’ Deste Collection
Sunderland
Date created: Feb 1961
Two women on the dance floor at a party
Eric de Mare
Houghton Le Spring, Sunderland
Date created: 1945 - 1980
Exterior view of St Michael and All Angels' Church in Houghton le Spring showing a window detail.
John Laing Collection
Sunderland
Date created: circa 1946 - 1959
Interior view of a sitting room in a prefabricated BISF (British Iron and Steel Federation) steel framed show house furnished by the Newbottle and...
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Sunderland
Date created: 1900 - 1908
INTERIOR VIEW
Eric de Mare
Sunderland
Date created: 1945 - 1980
Interior view of Holy Trinity Church in Sunderland showing the nave looking west. It was designed in 1719 by William Etty of York.
John Laing Collection
Sunderland
Date created: circa 1946 - 1959
Exterior view of a prefabricated BISF (British Iron and Steel Federation) steel framed show house furnished by the Newbottle and District Co-operative...
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Mowbray Park, Sunderland, Sunderland
Date created: 1900 - 1930
GENERAL VIEW LOOKING TOWARDS THE MONUMENT
Eileen ‘Dusty’ Deste Collection
Sunderland
Date created: Feb 1961
A couple on the dance floor at a party
Eric de Mare
Sunderland
Date created: 1945 - 1980
Interior view of Holy Trinity Church in Sunderland showing the font cover. It is dated 1719.
John Laing Collection
Sunderland
Date created: circa 1946 - 1959
Interior view of dining room in a prefabricated BISF (British Iron and Steel Federation) steel framed show house furnished by the Newbottle and...
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Roker Park, Sunderland, Sunderland
Date created: 1900 - 1906
GENERAL VIEW OF PEOPLE ATTENDING CONCERT IN PARK
Stories about heritage in your local area
Historic England publishes news, blogs, research, videos, and podcasts celebrating England's rich heritage. Discover the stories we have about Sunderland. Skip this section and go to education
A Brief Introduction to Arts and Crafts Architecture
Mentions Church of St Andrew
Emerging in reaction to the 19th century Industrial Revolution, the Arts and Crafts movement embraced local materials and traditional craftsmanship.
The History of Religious Wall Paintings in England: From the Middle Ages to the Victorian Era
Mentions Church of St Andrew
Explore England's religious wall paintings, a blend of art and spirituality spanning the Middle Ages to the 19th century.
10 Places with Coal Mining History
Mentions Coal Staithe at Wearmouth Collery, Lime Kilns on North Bank of River Wear at NZ 3895 5826, Joicey Aged Miners' Homes, Front Wall and Railings
Evidence of England’s coal mining heritage can still be found nationwide.
The Great Fire of Sunderland
Mentions Hutchinson's Buildings
120 years ago a catastrophic fire broke out in the heart of Sunderland in the North East.
6 Historic Sites Added to the Heritage at Risk Register
Mentions Old South Pier Lighthouse in Roker Cliff Park NZ 4073 5974
Our Heritage at Risk Register is an annual snapshot of the health of England’s heritage.
A Brief Introduction to Historic Power Stations
Mentions National Coal Board Central Garage
Coal fuelled Britain’s industrial revolution from the late-18th century.
From Pixels to Pasts: Uncovering the Value of Shipwrecks Through Social Media
Mentions Sunderland
A new study examines how social media platforms can illuminate the social values of shipwreck heritage.
Researching Sunderland's Heritage Action Zone
Mentions Sunderland
Exploring the history and architecture of Sunderland to aid sensitive regeneration.
New Funding Allows Young People to Explore Their Forgotten Local Histories
Mentions Sunderland
Historic England has announced brand new funding for 11 ‘History in the Making’ youth-led place marking projects across northern England.
Successful Heritage Regeneration Programme Has Revived Historic Towns Across England
Mentions 170, 171 and 173, High Street West, Phoenix Hall, Sunderland
Historic England’s £6 million Heritage Action Zone scheme has unleashed the power of heritage to breathe new life into 10 historic towns.
Historic England Launches Interactive Story Map for Schools to Celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee
Mentions Sunderland
A resource to educate children about their local history, highlighting important sites that the Queen has visited throughout her 70-year reign.
Historic England Highlights Captivating Heritage Sites Listed in 2021
Mentions Sunderland
Highlights from over 400 historic places which have been added to or amended on the National Heritage List for England in 2021.
21 Fascinating Places Listed in 2019
Mentions Sunderland
Highlights from over 500 historic places which have been added to the National Heritage List for England in 2019.
Heritage at Risk 2019
Mentions Church of St Andrew, Sunderland
Historic England has revealed the historic sites most at risk of being lost forever as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development.
£40 Million Government Funding To Improve Historic High Streets
Mentions Sunderland
Government funding that will be delivered by extending Historic England’s successful Heritage Action Zone initiative.
£6m National Heritage Drive to Bring Economic Growth across England
Mentions Sunderland
Heritage Action Zones to help attract more tourists, reinvigorate local areas and grow local economies.
Heritage at Risk 2015
Mentions Sunderland
Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register is published today, an annual snapshot of the health of England's historic environment.
First World War Acoustic Mirror Saved
Mentions Sunderland
A rare First World War structure, built to warn communities of Zeppelin attacks re-opens following £68,000 restoration
Sunderland's social history through photos
Over 10,000 images from the Historic England Archive have been specially selected and re-captioned for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about their local area. Skip this section and go to grant-aided places
Victoria Hall Disaster Memorial, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
Memorial to 183 children who died in the Victoria Hall Disaster on the 16th June 1883.
Victoria Hall Disaster Memorial, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
The Bede Memorial, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Period: Edwardian (1902 - 1913)
The Bede Memorial was built in 1904 in a Saxon style to commemorate the religious scholar known as the venerable Bede.
The Bede Memorial, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Sunderland Harbour Lighthouse, Tyne and Wear
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
The old lighthouse was built in 1856 by Thomas Meik and transferred to this site in 1983 when the pier was shortened.
Sunderland Harbour Lighthouse, Tyne and Wear
Steel Framed House, Newbottle, Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear
Period: 1950s (1950 - 1959)
Exterior view of a prefabricated BISF (British Iron and Steel Federation) steel framed show house furnished by the Newbottle and District Co-operative...
Steel Framed House, Newbottle, Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear
Statue of General Havelock, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
Statue of General Havelock built in 1861, the inscription reads 'Born 5 April 1775 at Ford Hall, Bishopwearmouth.
Statue of General Havelock, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Roker Park, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Period: Edwardian (1902 - 1913)
Children gathered around the edge of the lake. This park was opened to the public in 1880.
Roker Park, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Prefabricated house, Sunderland
Period: 1950s (1950 - 1959)
This sitting room is in a prefabricated BISF (British Iron and Steel Federation) steel framed show house.
Prefabricated house, Sunderland
Prefabricated house, Sunderland
Period: 1950s (1950 - 1959)
This dining room is in a prefabricated BISF (British Iron and Steel Federation) steel framed show house.
Prefabricated house, Sunderland
Visit grant-aided places near you
These places and buildings have been helped by Historic England's financial grants. Find local heritage in your neighbourhood that you never knew existed! Please note that opening times may vary. Skip this section and go to related locations
Bowes Railway, Blackfell Hauler House Machinery, Eighton Banks, Gateshead
This Small Hauler House forms part of Bowes Railway and sits on a 1-acre site.
Bowes Railway, Engineering Shop and Wagon Shop Roof trusses, Springwell Site, Gateshead
Bowes Railway and colliery museum operates guided site tours to the public during the opening season.
Fulwell Mill, Newcastle Road, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
This Grade II*-listed mill, built in 1821 using local limestone, remained in use until 1949. The mill was restored as a visitor attraction in 2019.
Holy Trinity Church, Church Street East, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Holy Trinity Church is one of only two Grade I-listed early Georgian churches in the North East of England and was built in 1719 following a petition...
Phoenix Hall, Queen Street East, Hendon, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
The Masonic Temple, purpose-built by Phoenix Lodge No.
Wagon Repair Shop, Bowes Railway Museum, Springwell Village, Sunderland
Bowes Railway, a scheduled monument, is the only cable hauled railway still in operation in the UK.
World War I early warning acoustic mirror on Namey Hill, 570m north of Carley Hill Cricket Ground Fulwell Acoustic Mirror, Newcastle Road, Sunderland
This World War I early warning system, comprised of a concrete sound detection dish, was designed to detect sound waves produced by approaching...
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