Location 5: James Williams Street
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. The east side of the street was the site of James Williams Street School. Opened in 1874 it was built to accommodate 1,000 pupils. At the other end of the street is the Freemans' Hospital opened in 1876. Just a few paces further along and you will be standing in front of the old shop, built about 1840, of the well-known Pork Butcher Harry Grater. It was in this area that the old Market Cross stood. Along with the Market, built in 1830, and the Coffee Pot shop, the sounds, sights, plus the aroma of the various coffee’s, pork dips, homemade pies, Jams and other offerings, created memories of this area which linger on in one’s mind long after leaving the area.
James Williams Street was built to open up one of the worst slum areas in the town and took its name from this man as he championed the improvement in living conditions for the working class poor. A Chartist, Williams was jailed for six months at Durham Assizes, in July, 1840, for attending an illegal meeting. His term in prison was a mild one - on his release Williams commented he and George Binns, who was also jailed, had received 1,500 visitors.
Sunderland School Board was established in 1871. Its first purpose-built school was on James Williams Street, an area of urban re-development in the east end of the town. This school was built in 1874; it cost £9,000 and had accommodation for 1,000 pupils. This school lives on in the memories of many of Sunderland’s residents past and present and is referred to by locals as ‘Jimmy Willies’
Chartism was a working class movement which emerged in 1836 and was most active between 1838 and 1848. The aim of the Chartists was to gain political rights and influence for the working classes. Chartism got its name from the formal petition, or People's Charter, that listed the six main aims of the movement.
James Williams Street Board School, Boys Department opened 6 January 1874. In 1904 it became a Council School following the transfer of responsibility for schools from School Boards to Local Education Authorities. On 12 January 1953 it became James Williams Street Secondary Modern Boys School following an amalgamation with Moor Secondary Modern School which closed. On 1 September 1958 the school amalgamated with Hudson Road Boys Secondary Modern School on the James Williams Street site. The school closed 22 July 1966 and pupils transferred to Thornhill Comprehensive School.
