­Location 6: Church Street

 

Further along to the east is Church Street. On the east side of the street these surviving houses are said to have been built in 1711. No 10 was occupied by the Hearts of Oak pub (Now occupied by The Hells Angels).

​

On the opposite side of the street one of the buildings is occupied by Sunderland Maritime Heritage. On the East corner of Church Street and High Street stands the East Ender Club.

On High Street opposite Church Street was Water Lane where, according to a report in the early 1900’s, a tunnel was found leading to beneath the river. Mr. Marshall the Toll Keeper at the Ferry was witness to this find. On the South side of High Street from Church Street to Hartley Street was, before and during the Second World War, a very busy shopping area. Along this stretch of the street were, among others, Alice Redman (fruiterer), Chisholm’s (fresh fish), Alby Gibbons (Butcher), The Co-op, Dr. Blakey and Geo. Bell (Chemist).

​

With the thriving development of trade and business in the port of Sunderland, those nouveaux riches businessmen wanted to be suitably housed near the bustling river Wear and their investments.

A new wave of housing in the early 1700’s concentrated around Church Street. These prominent homes were built for merchants, coal fitters and wealthy traders.

​

As you can see, most of these houses were three-storey with a basement and five bays wide. While extremely substantial, most were built in terraces. John Freeman’s house in Church Street and its neighbour are the only two now standing.

​

https://www.victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk/explore/items/townhouses