BUILDINGS IN SUNDERLAND

MUSEUMS AND WINTER GARDENS

FIRST MUSEUM The Athenaeum Building was on the corner of Fawcett Street and Athenaeum Street. it was built in the early nineteenth century. In its earliest days it housed a private museum which was opened to the public in 1843. In 1846 it was taken over by the Sunderland Corporation. By 1870 the space was limited for all the exhibits so the Corporation decided to build a new Museum and Library in Mowbray park. This new Museum was opened in 1879
MUSEUM Sunderland Museum is a fine Victorian renaissance style building. It was designed by local architects J and T Tillman and opened in 1879. The foundation stone had been laid two years earlier by the ex-President of the United States, General Ulysses S Grant. It is at present closed for refurbishment and will reopen in the autumn of 2000
WINTER GARDENS The Winter Gardens at the back of the museum was built at the same time. It was a large conservatory overlooking Mowbray Park. It offered a cool, colourful and tranquil haven for visitors to view a variety of tropical fish, plants and birds. It had to be demolished after extensive bomb damage in 1941. Another Winder Gardens is currently being built on the side of the museum and will open at the same time as the museum. 

TOWN HALL

TOWN HALL The Town Hall which stood in Fawcett Street in the town center was designed by Brightwen Binyon of Ipswitch. His design was chosen from entries in a competition held by the Sunderland Council. Its ornate Victorian architecture was sometimes called the "Italian Renaissance" style. The clock was the main focus of the building. Much to the outcries of many of the public it was demolished in 1960.

VICTORIA HALL

VICTORIA HALL The Victoria Hall was in Toward Road facing Mowbray Park and the Museum. It was a Gothic building opened in 1872. It was used for public meetings and entertainment and showed the first regular moving pictures in the town in 1901.
CHILDREN'S MONUMENT

 

A major tragedy occurred at the Victoria Hall on the 16th June 1883. A show was being presented for 2000 children, those in the gallery rushed down the staircase to receive their presents. A partly bolted door which opened inwards blocked their path and 183 boys and girls were killed in the crush. A white marble statue was erected in Mowbray Park in memory of the children, it was later moved to Bishopwearmouth cemetery. The Victoria Hall was destroyed in a bombing raid in 1941.

 
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