#wearside — Public Fediverse posts

In the recent summer sunshine, Webster's Ropery, on the banks of the River Wear at Pallion, NE England.
It opened in 1793 and once went by the name 'Grimshaw Webster and Company' a patented rope works.
It was the first ropery on Wearside to be driven by steam and it was also the world’s first factory producing machine-made rope, thanks to Richard Fothergill, a Sunderland schoolmaster, who had patented a machine to spin hemp.
I heard it mentioned on a number of occasions that is was here where the ropes for Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory, were made.
Until relatively recently, the larger part of the building was occupied as office space, although is currently standing empty.
The other half of the building has seen a number of ventures come and go but following a major refurbishment is now a bespoke wedding and events venue, described as the perfect place to 'tie the knot!'
#sunderland #webstersropery #historic #wearside #august #summer #landscape #photography

I seem to have taken quite a few photographs this last week in the summer heat that includes the River Wear, which flows through the heart of Sunderland.
This view, looking upstream at high tide, features the three city centre crossings of Wearmouth Bridge, Monkwearmouth Rail Bridge and the newest, Keel Crossing, the pedestrian and cycle bridge than links the city centre to the Sheepfolds area on the north side of the river.
The Keel Crossing has become Sunderland's 'Wembley Way', providing an impressive approach on match days to the Stadium of Light.
#sunderland #wearside #riverside #bridge #monkwearmouth #landscape #photography

Took a photograph near this spot on the north bank of the River Wear in Sunderland a couple of months or so back, but I was here again this week and I thought it was worthy of another shot, bathed as it was in the gorgeous warm light of a summer's evening.
This skyline is set to change soon as residents of the Lambton, Londonderry and Lumley Towers in the background are relocated to alternative accommodation before they are demolished.
All three blocks of flats are set be brought down with repair costs of more than £15m needed for each block being cited as the reason.
#sunderland #wearside #riverside #august #summer #landscape #photography

The boats and buildings of Roker's North Dock Marina pictured against blue skies and drenched in August sunshine.
Often referred to as the 'Roker Riviera', on a day like this, it lives up to that nickname.
Always remember photographing Sir Charles Blyth CBE BEM (known as 'Chay' Blyth), the Scottish yachtsman and rower who was the first person to sail single-handed non-stop westwards around the world, on a 59-foot boat called British Steel.
Chay was called upon to officially open the Marine Activities Centre which is based down at the marina.
#sunderland #roker #marineactivitiescentre #wearside #august #summer #landscape #photography

The view downstream on the River Wear from South Hylton in Sunderland this afternoon at high tide.
The object that appears to be at the base of the bridge's central pylon is the wreck of the 'Cretehawser', the only surviving hulk of a First World War era concrete tug in the UK, launched on 15 March 1919.
The wreck actually lies some distance upstream from the bridge and is not as close as it appears in the view.
Out and about on yet another warm and sunny day during the record-breaking summer of 2026.

#sunderland #wearside #bridge #landscape #cretehawser #august #summer #photography

Looking upstream on the River Wear in Sunderland, NE England.
For anyone not local, spanning the river are Wearmouth Bridge, which carries road and pedestrian traffic, behind it the bridge which carries rail the East Coast railway line and then a little further, Keel Crossing, the new pedestrian and cycle crossing.
At 60 miles (97 km) in length, the river is one of the longest in the region.
This section of the city's riverside is relatively quiet and peaceful these days, a far cry from how it looked in the late 19th century and early 20th centuries when shipbuilding and coal mining was at its peak.
Back then, the riversides were heavily industrialised and some of the scenes were captured by the artist LS Lowry, who visited Sunderland repeatedly, spending time booked in at the Seaburn Hotel, overlooking the sea.
Must admit, I like this perspective of my home city – I might well be back!

#england #sunderland #wearside #river #wear #landscape #photography

Back in the day, this coming weekend would be such a massive occasion for my home city of Sunderland, as crowds poured in to watch the 'International Airshow' taking place down on the seafront between Seaburn and Roker.
This photograph was taken at the 2019 event, which as it happened, turned out to be the last.
There was no appearance that year of the famous Red Arrows as they were doing a summer tour across in the USA.
The show was cancelled in 2020, 2021, and 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and then Sunderland City Council announced in October 2022 that it has "no plans" to hold the airshow again, citing the "global climate emergency" and the city’s aim to be carbon neutral by 2040.
The Sunderland International Airshow remains a big summer miss for many!

#england #sunderland #wearside #airshow #events #coast #planespotting #photography

I had a wander along Sunderland's riverside in NE England yesterday afternoon, to take a look at the new pedestrian/cycle bridge, Keel Crossing.
Stopped en route to also capture Wearmouth Bridge in the lovely warm sunshine.
Good to see cyclists once again using this last section of the C2C cycle route (it had been previously been closed while construction of the new bridge had been underway).

#england #sunderland #wearside #bridge #may #spring #landscape #photography

Sailing towards spring with a River Wear vista in NE England, captured late afternoon during this week's Springtime taster.
It was lovely to see the slight haziness diffusing the warmer hues of the sun's rays across Sunderland's city skyline.
Bit of a weather blip today (Friday), but the sun is forecast to be back on Saturday.

#england #sunderland #wearside #landscape #march2026 #weather #photography

Felt really good to enjoy another day out and about, staying dry and having some decent light as the sun climbs ever higher in the sky.
Down on Sunderland's River Wear footpath this afternoon, which is also the final stage of the C2C cycle route (if you're doing it from west to east).
The afternoon sunshine warming up one of Ray Lonsdale's sculptures while drawing admiring glances from others passing by.
Based in South Hetton, Co Durham, artist Ray Lonsdale has a number examples of his work gracing the city, usually drawing on the rich historical heritage for inspiration.
This installation is called 'It Says Here' and portrays two shipyard workers having their bait and catching up on all that's happening with a copy of the local newspaper.

#england #sunderland #wearside #sculpture #photography

The view downstream at low tide on the River Wear, Sunderland from near Claxheugh Rock.
Very near this spot, during dredging operations in the 19th century, a bronze sword was found which was thought to be of Roman origin.
In 1892 it was recorded to be in the possession of a 'H.H. Wake', although sadly after that, it subsequently disappeared, whereabouts unknown.
An ordnance survey map dated 1956, marks the location of the find as being in almost the middle of the river about half way between where I was standing to take this photograph and the old lime kilns in the near distance.
The map marks the location with the OS antiquity symbol and 'Roman Sword found AD1885'.

#sunderland #wearside #history #landscape #photography

Walking along the River Wear footpath on the approach to South Hylton late this afternoon and great to take in this lovely view, bathed in exquisite golden hues.
The sun is already setting more than 20 mins later than at the winter solstice and by the end of the month, that difference will be more than an hour!
For anyone not too sure of where this location is, the bridge in the background carries the A19, spanning the river between South Hylton and North Hylton. The white-walled buildings are on the North Hylton side, the one nearest the camera being the popular Shipwrights public house.
Although the ground was frozen and covered in a light dusting of snow, the air was absolutely calm and the only sounds this far downstream from the bridge was of curlews as they flew up and down the river making their distinctive call.

#sunderland #wearside #winter #january

Final 'snow' picture from last weekend's venture outside into the great snowy wastes of Wearside in NE England!
Grabbed a few images from Sunderland's East End, of which this view of the Grade II listed Trafalgar Square was one.
The 14 almshouses were completed four years before that other Trafalgar Square in the capital and were constructed to house the families of lost seamen.
Funding came from the Muster Roll in 1840 and the almshouses were named in honour of the 76 sons of Sunderland who took part in the Battle of Trafalgar.

#sunderland #wearside #snow #january #historicengland

Started out gorgeously sunny this morning down on Sunderland's seafront, but it wasn't too long before visible signs of change on the way.
The Cat & Dog Steps beach at Roker was sparkling at lunchtime as high tide approached but slightly more than an hour later, the skies were looking rather ominous.

#England #Sunderland #Wearside #coast #beach #weather #BankHoliday #landscape #seascape #photography

Sunderland's riverside (north bank) this afternoon, bathed in wall to wall sunshine.
A cyclist pictured passing the Sir Tom Cowie Campus of Sunderland University, heading towards Wearmouth Bridge.
If the temperature had been a few degrees higher, it would have been the perfect Spring day.

#Sunderland #Spring #wearside #seasons #landscape #photography

Passing by one of the installations that form Sunderland's River Wear Sculpture Trail, featuring the work of the talented Colin Wilbourn, Craig Knowles and Karl Fischer.
If you're visiting the city, it's definitely work checking this and the other pieces between Wearmouth Bridge and Roker on the north side of the river.

#Sunderland #Wearside #art #installation #sculpture #photography

Probably Wearside's best-known landmark, Penshaw Monument, pictured in a snowy setting.

#NationalTrust #Sunderland #Wearside #snow #Winter #England #llandscape #photography #Christmas

Just chilling out at Sunderland's Northern Spire!

#Sunderland #Wearside #Winter #Advent #Christmas #cold #weather

After dark at the National Glass Centre, Sunderland, on the banks of the River Wear.
Opened in 1998, the centre continues a long history of glass-making, situated as it is, alongside St Peter's Church, once a monastic site dating from AD 674.
It was here that Benedict Biscop introduced glass making into Britain, by bringing French glaziers to make the windows for the priory.

#Sunderland #Wearside #glass #night #photography

Only time of the year it looks like this!
Love how the darker evenings showcase Sunderland's Winter Gardens, overlooking Mowbray Park, in a completely different light.

#Sunderland #Wearside #night #longexposure #Autumn

Another photograph on the December theme of looking back and seeing how my home town of Sunderland has appeared when the snow has lain all about.
A view of the bridges spanning the River Wear in the city centre as snow falls from leaden skies.

#December #snow #winter #Wearside #Sunderland

Another photograph on the December theme of looking back and seeing how my home town of Sunderland has appeared when the snow has laine all about.
A view of the bridges spanning the River Wear in the city centre as snow falls from leaden skies.

#December #snow #winter #Wearside #Sunderland