Nostalgic memories of Sunderland's local history
Share your own memories of Sunderland and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 1 - 10 of 20 in total
John McCue was a Union Rep at Hendon Mill and left c.1910 following a dispute with management. As a result his son, then about two years old, grew up in Kent where the family relocated to work at The Imperial Paper Mills, Gravesend. John was well known in Hendon for his involvement with a local Quadrille dancing group. I'd love to hear any memories of this group.
I was born in 1951 my dad worked for steels in the shipyard, and I have such wonderful memories of Sunderland, I am a makam till I die. I visited the north east continuaslly for until my parents died. My grandfather lived in the town end with thirteen children and my mother in duke St millfield. I would give my right or left arm to know the history of my grandfather who was a diver on the building of piers around ...see more
My late father spoke fondly of his time at a new secondary school which I think was called Sunderland Technical School. Mr Robinson was headmaster. Does anyone have any information regarding the school? He worked in Monkwearmouth Colliery until injured. He left Sunderland in 1933 but we returned annually for holidays, travelling by tram to Seaburn, getting a beach tent and eating Nottriani's ice creams! Happy days!
at the time I lived in South hetton about 12 miles from town and on leaving school at age 14 started work in Turveys garage at the bottom end of holmeside,just around the corner from the south end of the station. I remember going into whites market with one or two of the staff from the garage.Some names to remember, Mr English the stores manager, Ted Gorman workshop foreman, Ken Laws and Tiny Dunn. Both mechanics. ...see more
I was born in Hawthorn Street, Millfield in 1930. Went to Diamond Hall School. I remember the day war was declared, my mother said the Germans would bomb us because of all the industry around us. My father was in the Territorial Army so he was called up the next day and was put in the Sunderlands 125th Anti - Tank Regiment. We never saw him again until after the war. The schools were closed down until air raid ...see more
I was sitting in a tall pram outside my grandfather's pie shop (Pyburns') and men were herding cattle down the High Street to some abattoir, I put my hand out and felt the side of one the cows and to this day can feel the scratchie feel of its short coat. I must have been about one and a half years old. I also remember I was 10 and my brother Brent was 8 and we went in search of a pet tortoise and after going ...see more
I have fond memories of visiting our grandparents on our mother's side, who lived at number 8. We recited the "ABC" streets and I can remember Smythes the cake shop at the top of the street, where we bought Snowball cakes from. We also walked to Barnes Park with my dad, obviously to get us out of the way for a bit of fresh air! I clearly remember the bandstand and on a recent revisit to Sunderland to retrace some ...see more
I lived there for 20 odd years and had the best time of my life there. Now I am 40 and I still remember it like it was yesterday but it was a sad day when it got pulled down. But I still have fond memories of Amberley Street, thank you.
I lived in Sunderland for 20 years then moved away. I now live in Australia and would love it if someone could give me some information on my family. The Floods were originally from Ireland then Seaham then Sunderland and the Farleys originally from Sheffield then moved to Sunderland.
I have some fond memories of Sunderland.
For anyone who may have any doubts about Sunderland being bombed put it to rest. I was born in 1935 in Hendon. I vividly recall the day war was declared September 3rd 1939 (my birthday). The next five years were spent in the air raid shelter in the back yard or curled up under the stairs. The bombers blew the hell out of every where except what they were aiming for (the dockyards). Every morning we would go around the ...see more