The Early Coal Trade

Whilst there is some evidence of small scale coal exporting in medieval Sunderland it was not until the closing decades of the 16th century that this trade began to flourish. This was as a result of the salt manufacturing industry, set up by Robert and Ralph Bowes in the late 1580s. Extracting coal from the family's pit at Offerton, the Bowes's began to ship out the better quality material not required in the salt making process. By the beginning of the 17th century, the coal trade had developed the roots which would enable the port of Sunderland to become a major exporting centre.