Sunderland buildings with a colourful past and bright future

Below are 15 historic buildings in Sunderland which the city is working to preserve, in order to protect the region's heritage...

River Wear Commissioner Building

An imposing three-storey building on the corner of John Street and St Thomas Street, is the River Wear Commissioners Building. Originally built on the site of the old post office, its interior features beautiful oak paneling, ornate wood carvings, granite, marble, and sandstone features. A private business is currently restoring it for use as a quirky new business centre. 

The Norfolk Hotel

A building that plays a huge role in Sunderland history, as the location of the formation of Sunderland AFC. Built in two parts, the first in the late 1800s and other in early 1900s, the Norfolk was initially a popular city-centre hotel, before being converted into a hostel. It had become a magnet for anti-social behaviour. However, Sunderland City Council bought it in 2019 and plans to regenerate the building.

​Simpson Street School

Simpson Street School opened in 1867 as Deptford Yard Church of England School, consisting of boys and infant departments. It was known as The Laing Church of England, later becoming Simpson Street Boys Board School, with a separate Simpson Street Girls Board School, created in 1884 after Sunderland School Board took control of the building.  It was bought by North East architects BDN earlier this year, with plans to convert it into offices and luxury apartments.

The Elephant Tea Rooms

A Grade 2 Listed Building, the Elephant Tea Rooms was built between 1872 and 1877 by Henry Hopper to a design by architect Frank Caws for Ronald Grimshaw, a local tea merchant.  The property blends Victorian Hindu Gothic and Venetian Gothic styles. The building has always attracted attention; its striking style and name advertising the exotic origins of tea sold there.  The council took charge of the building and is transforming it into a Local Studies Library.

Hylton Castle

Hylton Castle is a distinctive and decorative castle gatehouse-tower built shortly before 1400 by the wealthy Sir William Hylton. The castle originally contained four floors of self-contained family accommodation; its entrance front displays royal family heraldry, including Richard II's white hart badge. It is set to open soon as a community heritage hub.

Ryhope Pumping Station

This beautiful eye-catching structure was built in 1868 by Thomas Hawksley, said to be "a true real-life hero" for the part he played in saving people from the spread of deadly cholera. The station is regarded as one of the finest industrial monuments in the North East. It ceased operation in 1967 after 100 years of continuous use, but has been beautifully preserved since.  The site is now home to the Ryhope Engines Museum.

​Roker Pier & Lighthouse

This cast iron Roker Lighthouse was designed by Thomas Meik in 1856. Constructed on the south pier of Sunderland's dock. Roker pier was hailed a triumph of Victorian engineering by Henry Hay Wake, when it first opened in the early 1900s (between 1885-1903). In 2012, extensive restoration of the pier, tunnel and lighthouse began, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Sunderland City Council.  Visitors can now walk beneath the pier to the lighthouse after the tunnel was restored and reopened last year.

The Old Fire Station

A new £11m auditorium, currently being constructed, will stand alongside the original 1907 Fire Station, attracting local, regional, national and international artists, and giving new and emerging artistic talent a platform to shine. Led by the Sunderland Music Arts and Culture Trust, the building also houses restaurant and bar The Engine Room and dance and performance studio space.

Sunderland Minster Quarter

Formerly St Michael and All Angels Bishopwearmouth or Bishopwearmouth Parish Church, the church was built around 900AD but due to alterations little remains of the earlier constructions. In 1998, the church was inaugurated as Sunderland Minster. The Town Park has recently undergone a makeover costing £700k as part of the Bishopwearmouth Townscape Heritage Scheme.

​The Dun Cow

The Dun Cow is a Grade 2 Listed Building, originally built as a gin palace in 1901. It has since been regenerated and restored to its former grandeur as part of a new cultural quarter for Sunderland.

Sunderland Winter Gardens

The Winter Gardens is a 21st century addition to Sunderland Museum. This tropical paradise has over 2,000 plants in the glass rotunda and from the tree top walkway visitors have a bird's eye view of beautiful Mowbray Park. Originally established in 1846, in the Athenaeum Building on Fawcett Street, the Winter Gardens Museum was damaged during World War 2 by a parachute mine in 1941 and was later demolished with a 1960s extension taking its place. However, in 2001 a lottery funded refurbishment of the museum created the new Winter Garden extension and improved facilities.

Washington Old Hall

The manor of Washington Old Hall was the ancestral home of the family of George Washington, the first President of the United States. Construction of the old manor house, located in the centre of Washington, began in the 12th century and finished around the 17th century.  It is stunningly maintained today.

Mackie's Corner

This distinctive Sunderland landmark was built in 1845 on the site of a large house owned by Dr William Clanny, inventor of the miner's safety lamp. The building's first tenant was Robert Mackie, a hatter, whose shop attracted passers-by as his workers could be seen through the windows making hats. Planning permission has been  granted for improvement works to the roof and shop fronts- funded through a heritage grant scheme, after a Sunderland family took charge of the building.

​JJB Sports Building

The iron-cladding hides a beautiful Victorian façade, in keeping with its time of construction. Plans have been mooted to transform the former High Street West sports store into a pub. A 'change of use' bid has been lodged A heritage statement submitted to the council outlines plans to give the building a new lease of life.

The Peacock

One of Sunderland's oldest pubs, The Peacock was bought in 2017 with a programme of internal improvements transforming the venue. The iconic Edwardian pub is now flanked by scaffolding, as vital work is carried out to restore its roof and brick work.  Though many think the name is 'new', between 1770 and 1834 there was an inn called The Peacock - eventually renamed The Londonderry - before being knocked down.  Opened in 1901, the impressive Edwardian building which has stood on the site ever since was named after a local mining magnate, the Marquess of Londonderry.  The current owner renamed it to The Peacock after discovering his family - and many others from the village they lived in - were made homeless by The Marquess. She had sent a squad of impolite bailiffs to throw families and their possessions out of properties he owned in Silksworth.

Find out more about Sunderland's history and heritage, which will continue to contribute towards Sunderland's exciting future plans and development. 

Many of the above developments have since been completed or are underway. You can discover more information about The Elephant Tea Rooms, as well as the Commissioner's Building which is now an office space. Developments at Simpson Street School are well underway, while Mackie's Corner is now home to a number of new independent businesses.