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neheritagelib.bsky.social
North East Heritage Library
@neheritagelib.bsky.social
exploring and documenting the North East, one brick at a time (among other things) / this weeks focus: Sunderland

northeastheritagelibrary.co.uk / linktr.ee/nehl
Little addition to the site this morning!

I've popped on the Three Crowns, which is now the glorious 3 Stories on High Street East. This was one of Sunderland's most historic coaching inns on the main crossroads and at the town market.

www.northeastheritagelibrary.co.uk/features/the...
November 11, 2025 at 7:57 AM
How bloody gorgeous is The 3 Stories man 😍 a pub which has been stripped back top to bottom in 3 years to uncover its stunning toffee tiling.
November 9, 2025 at 3:58 PM
I wish the North East had another municipal maritime museum alongside Hartlepool, but this is why. The amount of funds it would even take to keep
static ships afloat would be a pain in the arse. Never mind getting them here in the first place. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Historic Hull trawler rescue abandoned for virtual version
The £3.5m plan to return the Viola trawler to Hull has been abandoned due to escalating costs.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Rob is the man for anything on North Eastern railways, so I cannot wait to get my teeth stuck into this. Book Club patrons will receive theirs, alongside this years Compendium, very soon!

If you fancy supporting us + a new book 6 times a year - patreon.com/NEHL 🩵
November 9, 2025 at 11:24 AM
From Feb to Oct 1644, Newcastle was besieged by a Scot army while Royalist defenders held out under Sir Marlay. Traveller William Lithgow recorded the drama in vivid detail, and Miriam has done an incredible job capturing it.

On the site now!

www.northeastheritagelibrary.co.uk/post/the-sie...
The Siege of Newcastle: A View from a Scot
From February to October 1644, Newcastle was besieged by a Scottish army while its Royalist defenders held out under Sir John Marlay. Traveller and writer William Lithgow recorded the drama in vivid d...
www.northeastheritagelibrary.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Always impressed that Hoults Yard has retained much of the furniture from the pottery days. This central tower is fantastic, as is the retaining wall which formed the narrow portal to the Riverside Line, shipping all these pots and plates to
the masses.
November 8, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Much of Sunderland's High Street West hasn't changed, but the Bridges resulted in a clearance of much of the south side. Where Primark now occupies was once the Sunderland Picture House - incorrectly labelled as Bridge Street on this postcard below.
November 7, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Keel Square is the site of one of Sunderland's long lost pubs - the Rose & Crown.

This one goes way back, very likely before the 1850s, when the pub was part of a much larger terraced row.
November 6, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Morning everyone.

I've added the famous Vaux Brewery onto the site as its own entry, with a short history and a generational timeline of historic maps. The third brewery on the library!

www.northeastheritagelibrary.co.uk/features/vau...
November 6, 2025 at 7:49 AM
If you're local to Corbridge, Whitley Bay or Alnwick this years North East History Compendium will soon be stocked at Forum Books, the bound and The Accidental Bookshop.

There's very limited stock, but I'm so proud they'll be available at the region's best indies! 🙌
Absolutely over the moon to let everyone know your copies of this years North East History Compendium have arrived! They all look pretty nifty together, if I may say so myself. 🤩
November 5, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Evening!

A great survivor of Edwardian Sunderland is the city Magistrates Court, pride in place on the renovated town square. Ironically it stands on the site of a massive old workhouse too.
November 4, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Morning all.

I've added another of Northumberland's most historic football centres - Shielfiel at Tweedmouth. This place has hosted football since at least 1889, and went on to host at least 3 clubs in the area.

The pitch is top left here.

www.northeastheritagelibrary.co.uk/sportsarchive
November 4, 2025 at 8:20 AM
And now for Vaux - one of the North East's most recognisable brands and one which is cemented within the social fabric despite being defunct for some years. So much so a phoenix brand brought it back to life.
November 3, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Morning! I’ve posted our monthly update for everything NEHL on Patreon. Have a great week :-)

www.patreon.com/posts/142706...
Monthly Update: November 2025 | North East Heritage Library
Get more from North East Heritage Library on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Sunderland’s new City Hall sits on the site its lesser known brewery - right next door to Vaux in fact. For this reason too, it’s difficult to find much detail about it!
November 2, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Delighted to share an exclusive piece by @drmabibby.bsky.social for patrons only.

It hones in on Newcastle in 1644 - one of the most dramatic years in the city’s history, from the view of Scottish writer William Lithgow who was present at the siege.

www.patreon.com/posts/142572...
The Siege of Newcastle: A View from a Scot | North East Heritage Library
Get more from North East Heritage Library on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 1, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Evening. We're at the Stadium of Light now, but rather than focusing on the ground, we're focusing on what's under it!

This was the site of one the largest, modern and the deepest coal mine in the world when it opened in 1835. It also had one of the longest lifespans, closing within living memory.
October 31, 2025 at 5:21 PM
The site undoubtedly familiar to many and as much part of Sunderland's sporting & industrial heritage as the sites we've mentioned countless times - the Colliery Tavern.
October 30, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Good morning!

I've added the Warwick St Methodist Chapel to the site as its own entry - one of the most intriguing little places of worship I've seen for a while. It's been used for worship almost its whole life.

www.northeastheritagelibrary.co.uk/features/war...
October 30, 2025 at 8:16 AM
One of my most interesting ecclesiastical finds in recent months is this lovely converted chapel - nestled within a Sunderland terraced row.
October 29, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Reposted by North East Heritage Library
The lads at @neheritagelib.bsky.social do excellent work and I'm very chuffed to be representing @nenature.bsky.social in this year's NE History Compendium
October 29, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Time for a new series covering Wearside - Sunderland’s city centre and its inner suburbs specifically. It’s been a while since I’ve been, but the opening of the new bridge was a perfect reason to come over.
October 28, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Morning! There's a few entries from the Coals Archive which didn't have too much info added back when I started it in 2021.

The Coronation Pit, opened in the 1820s was one such, so I've done a refresh of the page to include a bit more data.

www.northeastheritagelibrary.co.uk/coalsarchive...
October 28, 2025 at 7:44 AM
First trek in aaaaaages and I’m in Sunderland on this lovely clear morning. New bridge! Pubs! Churches and a city full of vastly underrated 18th and 19th century architecture. A town on the up (more than Newcastle in a few ways 👀) which deserves far more attention.
October 27, 2025 at 8:08 AM
I hope you’ve all had a lovely weekend! I’ve saved this one for today as I’ll be out walking tomorrow to start a new series.

There’s very very few collieries in the North East which are still materially evident of their former presence.
October 26, 2025 at 4:30 PM