North East Heritage Library

Great to see some of its original features though.

Historic photo: Bill Hawkins

From the 50s it became part of the Church of the Nazarene, a splinter evangelical Methodist movement with origins in the US. I can't imagine it had a huge congregation, but it lasted here until the 1990s when it was converted into a flat. Looks like the ground floor was a shop far earlier though!

From there it became a Mission Hall - a supplementary space to support meetings, learning and preaching. It also supported the Wesleyan Sunday School until the mid 20th century.

The closing service took place in November 1903 as a new site was opened on nearby Ewesley Road, which is massive compared to this spot. It's clear there was a lack of foresight in their demand, unless this was of course temporary.

It was constructed in 1889 - the same period as many of the terraces in these parts as Urban Sunderland spread west. I'm very surprised at its very small size though - Wesleyans were everywhere around here. In fact, it's for this reason worship here only lasted 14 years.

This is a proper little gem on Kayll Road, once of the Wesleyan Methodist persuasion only evident by the first floor lancet windows and the legacy brick banding on the side elevation.

We're reaching the last legs of this long ecclesiastical & sporting trek through Sunderland. These last few will be chapel laden, including some nicely hidden ones like this!

( I didn't just pick it for the use of Calvert on the cover!!)

Morning!

Delighted that 'Eviction: A Social History of Rent' is the title going out to Book Club members in the New Year. Though national and political in scope, the experience of many in our region's industrial towns will ensure this book resonates.

www.patreon.com/cw/nehl

Morning!

I've added the Sunderland Union Workhouse to the site, complete with a history on its inception and how it changed across the century it operated and transformed into the hospital.

Have a great Thursday.

www.northeastheritagelibrary.co.uk/features/sun...

Burdon Lane, Ryhope (1890s - 1900s)

This site is now unrecognisable as it’s covered by housing, but 120 years ago this ground was home to Ryhope Villa. They were a cricket and football club, and had modest success winning the Durham Aged Mineworkere Cup against Stanley Utd.

The Berwick upon Tweed Union Workhouse was at the rear of the Infirmary. Sadly what's left of the infirmary is under threat.
bsky.app/profile/past...

The complex was designed by JE Oates, predominantly known as a workhouse & infirmary architect. Examples can also be found of his at Wakefield and Blackburn.

It expanded through the 1860s for extra inmates, alongside a larger infirmary which eventually claimed full purpose over the whole site. This transition began in the 39s, but was fully finalised when the National Health Service was introduced. From there the blocks were claimed for healthcare only.

It is worthy of note children were not cared for here separately at first, so were bundled in with elders. A school and library were catered for them.

The workhouse had facilities for the “insane”, the infectious, vagrants and refractors (ie those showing rebellious behaviour). It’s interesting how “care” for delinquents and the unwell came under the same umbrella.

The workhouse on our site was therefore constructed between 1853 to 1855, costing over £15000 to fit 600 inmates. 306 occupants were moved in during its first phase.

The Poor Law Union was formed in the 1830s, and though the existing workhouses expanded they struggled to keep up with the population influx thanks to the growth of the shipyards, collieries and general industry.

As a result a number of other sites were opened, including at Low Row and Gill Bridge Avenue.

The Holy Trinity workhouse seen here.

Sunderland has had a public workhouse since the mid 18th century, located on Church Walk next to the Holy Trinity in the east end. It was extended to its absolute peak as Sunderland exploded in growth, from a capacity of 90 to hundreds in the 1820s.

Workhouses are seen rightfully as unfavourable today due to their harsh treatment of “inmates”, but they were effectively a social security net exchanging labour for food and accommodation. This was generally confined to the poorest, the infirm, the elderly etc.

Tons of hospitals in the region are built upon the foundations of Victorian warehouses. North Shields, Newcastle, South Shields, you name it. The same can be said of Sunderland’s General Hospital.

A little reminder you can subscribe for free, and get all our content in a 'collections' format - geographical, as well as pubs and churches as you can see below.

This will only grow!

patreon.com/NEHL

Hello :-) This months Monthly Update is up on Patreon. A bit of a natter on surveys, 2026, Christmas, the Book Club and life in general!

www.patreon.com/posts/monthl...

Derwenthaugh Junction (1930s)

A total mystery this one, but I suspect it was used by the Delta Iron Works for their works team. It can be seen below next to the railway line, which is now the corner of the Metrocentre Retail Park.

The full project was designed by C A Clayton Greene, a fella we mentioned very recently on his municipal and ecclesiastical projects around Wearside.

Interestingly, it appears they never raised enough money to construct the full project. You can see below an artists vision, complete with the bulky tower and steeple. It was fully funded by parishioners, so it's no surprise when they were able to move in the work stopped.

As such, the intention was to fit 850 people into this building at a total cost of £13000. The stone was excavated from Heworth Burn.

This is St Gabriel's, a church opened in 1912 and started in 1910. The foundation stone was laid by Lord Barnard, MP for County Durham and Boroughbridge, for the benefit of the growing suburbs on the west of the town.

Opposite Sunderland General Hospital is a behemoth of a church, which reminded me quite frankly of art nouveau constructions you'd see abroad in places like Central Europe. I've not seen too many like it, which is only accentuated by the fact it has no tower!