Sunderland

Sunderland is Wearside’s largest town and delights in the fierce rivalry that exists with Newcastle. Historically Sunderland’s prosperity was founded on industries such as mining and shipbuilding and when they fell into decline, the town went with them. Recently there has been a spate of regeneration as Sunderland readied itself for the 21st century and learned to promote itself among a wider audience.

The centre of Sunderland is the same collection of shops and offices that you will find in any number towns up and down the country and to reach its more interesting parts you have to head north over the River Wear.

The first heavy investment in the future came in the mid-90s when the Monkwearmouth Colliery was razed to the ground to make way for a £21 million football stadium for Sunderland FC. The Stadium of Light is now regarded to be among Britain’s best football stadia.

The north bank also at Monkwearmouth is St. Peter’s Church, which was founded in 674AD and was home to the ‘father of English history’, the Venerable Bede. Bede lived either here or at St Peter’s sister church in Jarrow from the age of 8 until his death in 735AD. The church is of such historical importance that it has been put forward for the distinction of UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nearby is another of the town’s major attractions the National Glass Centre, which covers the role of glass in history, manufacture and design, as well as exploring Sunderland’s glass heritage.