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Coastal

Heritage Trail

Follow the trail to begin your tour. Along the way you will see and learn about the remarkable history and heritage of The Durham Heritage Coast.

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Start

000 Russell St, Sunderland (High St, - L

We start this tour at the junction of High Street West and High Street East on the original western boundary for Sunderland Parish, at the junction of Russell Street and Sans Street, marked originally by a distinctive boundary stone known as the blue stone.

Russel Street

Russel Street

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From Low Street you would have been able to access a number of businesses littered between alleys and quays. Both Corder’s Manuscripts and the earlier Rains Eye Plan provide us with some details.

Low Quay

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Returning back onto High Street East, we are looking at one of the most impressive buildings that still stand in the area.

Exchange Building

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You cannot return to the High Street without making a note of Bodlewell Lane. The supply of water for the parish and for all the shipping frequenting the port was from Low Street. Close to the foot of Water Lane

Bodlewell Lane

Bodlewell

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The river, unlike what we see today, was awash with ships and vessels of every size. In the 1790’s there was an average of 452 keels on the River Wear, more than on the Tyne.

The River

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Continuing walking eastwards we come to James Williams Street with the Royal Standard on the west side and the White Lion (now converted into) flats on the East side. Both these former pubs are reputed to be haunted.

James Williams St

James William St

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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).

Church Street

The River

Church Street East

The River

18 High St East birthplace of Clarkson S

Returning onto the High Street, we can begin to view what is left of some of those thriving businesses and industries that brought the Port of Sunderland to life.

High Street

High Street East

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Pottery Bank

As we progress east we come to the site of the Pottery Buildings and North Moor Street. This was the Street where Jack Crawford lived and his house was at the east end of the street.

Pottery Bank

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We now turn to walk down Barrack Street. On 16th May 1943, two 500kg high explosive bombs hit Barrack Street. Four persons were killed and ten seriously injured.

Barrack Street

St. John’s School stood on the right hand side of Prospect Row from the corner of Barrack Street. This Church was consecrated in 1769 and also served as a garrison Church.

St John's Chapel

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We now come to Silver Street which appears on Raine’s Eye Plan. The area east of Silver Street was known as the Hat Case, a very dilapidated area.

Prospect Row

126 Town Moor Band Stand used as a cloth

TO BE SOLD. The substantial, well-built freehold house situate on the Moor, Sunderland, lately in the occupation of Mr. C. Sharp,

Town Moor

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We now turn left at what was The Prospect Mission which dates from 1885 operating as a children’s mission

Church Walk

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Cutting back along Church Walk, turn right onto the quadrant and opposite on the east of the Trafalgar Alms Houses would have stood The Gray School.

The Quadrant

Moving along the quadrant and sited on the east side of the moor opposite Moor Terrace you will be met by a classic Victorian institution established to meet the needs of those less fortunate, orphaned or in need.

The Boys Orphanage

The Boys Orphanage

Holy Trinity Church (Wesley preached her

Cutting along Adelaide Place, just behind what was ‘the new’ Parish Vicarage house, you will see the entrance to what is now referred to as Gray Memorial Gardens; this was the Parish churchyard for Holy Trinity Church from 1719 until 1854.

Sunderland Graveyard

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Moving out of the Church Yard you walk towards Trinity Square and are met with the unmistakably edifice of Holy Trinity, Sunderland Parish Church.

Trinity Square

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You can now make your way back along Coronation Street, back towards the west end of town.

Coronation Street was given its name to mark the coronation of King George lV in 1820.

Coronation Street

Church Street East

Church Street East

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