Research - The History of Sunderland
The history of Sunderland
Shipbuilding Town
Shipbuilding Town
Over the centuries, Sunderland grew as a port, trading coal and salt and was once famously hailed as the "Largest Shipbuilding Town in the World". Ships were built on the Wear from at least 1346 onwards and by the mid-eighteenth century Sunderland was one of the chief shipbuilding towns in the country.
Sunderland and the River Wear were one of the most productive shipbuilding regions in the United Kingdom for over two centuries. Sadly the last shipyard closed in 1988, symptomatic of the decline in British shipbuilding in the face of international competition and the need for ever larger ships. Throughout its history, Sunderland has had over 400 registered shipyards. These are some of the key yards in the development of the shipbuilding industry. J.L. Thompson and Sons was a shipyard on the River Wear, Sunderland, which produced ships from the mid-18th century until the 1980s. The world-famous Liberty Ship was among the designs to be created, produced and manufactured at the yard's base at North Sands.
In March 1814 there were 23 yards at Sunderland, with 31 ships under construction. By 1815, it was the leading shipbuilding port for wooden trading vessels. That year, 31 yards built around 600 ships. By 1840 there were 76 yards. In 1850 Sunderland built five times more ships than in 1820. The ships were almost twice as big and yards had increased production from two to five vessels per year. The Sunderland Herald proclaimed the town to be “the greatest shipbuilding port in the world” and during 1846-54 Wearside produced almost one-third of all ships built in the UK.
The shipbuilding industry suffered regular fluctuations in demand for new ships or repairs. There were many periods of low demand, or “depressions”, which normally followed periods of high demand. There were three Great Depressions and during each there was a scarcity of work, wage cuts and mass unemployment. The first occurred from 1884-7 and when wages were reduced, those on piecework suffered the most. The second occurred in 1908-10, after a national fall in ship production. It was the worst depression known until the 1930s, when there was a huge fall in demand after the boom of World War I and the post war years. In 1921 there were 15 yards, but by 1937 there were only 6. Those yards that survived went for 4 or 5 years without launching one ship. This time the depression had a deeper impact as fewer men wanted to join the industry and many left to join other professions. In later years, this meant that there were fewer skilled workers and managers in the UK industry.
Here is a video where you get to see pictures of the old shipyards. It was very helpful because it showed me key parts of the cities past.
Sunderland AFC
Sunderland Association Football Club are an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. They were formed in 1879, and played several years in the FA Cup and local cup competitions before joining the Football League in the 1890–91 season in place of Stoke. They played in the top league in England until the 1957–58, season when they were relegated into the Second Division. Sunderland are England's sixth most successful club of all time, having won the English League championship six times: in 1892, 1893, 1895, 1902, 1913, and, most recently, in 1936. They have also been runners-up on a further five occasions: in 1894, 1898, 1901, 1923 and 1935 (see Sunderland A.F.C. seasons).
Sunderland have also won the FA Cup twice, in 1937 against Preston North End and in 1973 against Leeds United. They were finalists in 1913 and 1992, where they were beaten respectively by Aston Villa and Liverpool. They were finalists in the 1985 and 2014 Football League Cup Final, where they were beaten respectively by Norwich City and Manchester City. Their other honours include two Charity Shields, in 1902 and 1935
Sunderland and the River Wear were one of the most productive shipbuilding regions in the United Kingdom for over two centuries. Sadly the last shipyard closed in 1988, symptomatic of the decline in British shipbuilding in the face of international competition and the need for ever larger ships. Throughout its history, Sunderland has had over 400 registered shipyards. These are some of the key yards in the development of the shipbuilding industry. J.L. Thompson and Sons was a shipyard on the River Wear, Sunderland, which produced ships from the mid-18th century until the 1980s. The world-famous Liberty Ship was among the designs to be created, produced and manufactured at the yard's base at North Sands.
In March 1814 there were 23 yards at Sunderland, with 31 ships under construction. By 1815, it was the leading shipbuilding port for wooden trading vessels. That year, 31 yards built around 600 ships. By 1840 there were 76 yards. In 1850 Sunderland built five times more ships than in 1820. The ships were almost twice as big and yards had increased production from two to five vessels per year. The Sunderland Herald proclaimed the town to be “the greatest shipbuilding port in the world” and during 1846-54 Wearside produced almost one-third of all ships built in the UK.
The shipbuilding industry suffered regular fluctuations in demand for new ships or repairs. There were many periods of low demand, or “depressions”, which normally followed periods of high demand. There were three Great Depressions and during each there was a scarcity of work, wage cuts and mass unemployment. The first occurred from 1884-7 and when wages were reduced, those on piecework suffered the most. The second occurred in 1908-10, after a national fall in ship production. It was the worst depression known until the 1930s, when there was a huge fall in demand after the boom of World War I and the post war years. In 1921 there were 15 yards, but by 1937 there were only 6. Those yards that survived went for 4 or 5 years without launching one ship. This time the depression had a deeper impact as fewer men wanted to join the industry and many left to join other professions. In later years, this meant that there were fewer skilled workers and managers in the UK industry.
Here is a video where you get to see pictures of the old shipyards. It was very helpful because it showed me key parts of the cities past.
Sunderland AFC
Sunderland Association Football Club are an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. They were formed in 1879, and played several years in the FA Cup and local cup competitions before joining the Football League in the 1890–91 season in place of Stoke. They played in the top league in England until the 1957–58, season when they were relegated into the Second Division. Sunderland are England's sixth most successful club of all time, having won the English League championship six times: in 1892, 1893, 1895, 1902, 1913, and, most recently, in 1936. They have also been runners-up on a further five occasions: in 1894, 1898, 1901, 1923 and 1935 (see Sunderland A.F.C. seasons).
Sunderland have also won the FA Cup twice, in 1937 against Preston North End and in 1973 against Leeds United. They were finalists in 1913 and 1992, where they were beaten respectively by Aston Villa and Liverpool. They were finalists in the 1985 and 2014 Football League Cup Final, where they were beaten respectively by Norwich City and Manchester City. Their other honours include two Charity Shields, in 1902 and 1935
Sunderland AFC began life as "Sunderland & District Teachers Association Football Club", and was announced to the world on 27 September 1880 by The Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. Founded by James Allan, a teacher at Hendon Board School. His object was to provide "recreational amusement" for the area's schoolteachers. Their first recorded competitive game was against Ferryhill Athletic on 13 November 1880, which they lost 1–0. Their first kit was an all blue strip, a contrast to the red and white stripes they play in currently. Their first ground was the Blue House Field in Hendon, close to James Allan's school, and they would change their home four times in seven years before settling at Newcastle Road in 1886.
Here is a video about the history of Sunderland AFC. It briefly explains the clubs history. That is helpful information to know.
Here is a video about the history of Sunderland AFC. It briefly explains the clubs history. That is helpful information to know.
The Coal Mines
Monkwearmouth Colliery (or Wearmouth Colliery) was a major North Sea coal mine located on the north bank of the River Wear, located in Sunderland. It was the largest mine in Sunderland and one of the most important in County Durham in northeast England. First opened in 1835 and in spite of the many accidents at the pit, the mine was the last to remain operating in the County Durham Coalfield. The last shift left the pit on 10 December 1993, ending over 80 years of commercial coal mining in the region. The Colliery site was cleared soon afterwards, and the Stadium of Light, the stadium of Sunderland A.F.C., was built over it, opening in July 1997 to replace nearby Roker Park. The winding towers were demolished the following October. Although the entrances are sealed and the foundations filled, the mines themselves still run miles out to sea, now hidden forever.
Here is a video about the coal mines. It really helped me learn more about what things were like back then.
Here is a video about the coal mines. It really helped me learn more about what things were like back then.
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