VCH Explore

Explore England's Past

Sunderland

Footnote: 

Content generated during research for two paperback books 'Sunderland and its Origins: Monks to Mariners' (ISBN 13 : 9781860774799) and 'Sunderland: Building a City' (ISBN 13 : 978-1-86077-547-5 ) for the England's Past for Everyone series

By 1700 Sunderland was 'noted for its sea coal trade', supplying a 'great quantity of coals' and employing 'great numbers of ships yearly in carryi

Almost 500 wills and inventories, pertaining to Sunderland in the period 1549-1700, have now been identified and transcribed thanks to the sterling

The foreshore at Hendon where, acording to 14th century records, ships were moored.

  Disposing of sand ballast was a problem which grew with trade.

By 1700 it was only too clear that a new approach towards the river and harbour was essential.

Sunderland’s religious diversity, after the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660,  is illustrated by the presence a number of nonconformist  groups.

By the early 1700s the wealthy urban élite of Sunderland were complaining that  most pews in Bishopwearmouth were owned by local landowners.

The changing face of the Sunderland quayside

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