About the Sunderland Antiquarian Society

Sunderland Antiquarian Society was founded on 21st November 1899 and held its first meeting on 1st February 1900.

Since then it has continued to serve the cause of local history in and around Sunderland and remains the only society of its kind which is devoted to the history of our entire local community.

The Society's vast collection of documents, books, newspapers, photographs and maps relating to Sunderland are housed at 6 Douro Terrace, Sunderland, SR2 7DX  (just up from Civic Centre)

The Society's aims are to communicate information regarding Sunderland's past and to preserve items of modern everyday life as a future archive for later researchers.

The Society holds talks from September to June in St George's United Reformed Church hall. These talks are held on the third Tuesday of each month.  A full programme of the talks is published during the summer recess. See the WHAT'S ON page for further details.

The archives also open every Wednesday and Saturday morning  for research purposes (9.30 - 12noon).

The Society publishes free to members a regular newsletter which contains articles on various aspects of the local history of the city. Over the years the society has acquired a vast collection of books, documents, maps, photographs and other sources of Sunderland's local history. These may be looked at during our Saturday research mornings.

If you have any queries at all about membership or information from the archives our secretary will be only too pleased to assist. - Contact Philip Curtis email: P11cur@aol.com      Tel: 01915101923

Membership is open to all and if you wish to join the Sunderland Antiquarian Society the subscription for one year is £15 (individual) or £25 for husband/wife or two people at the same address. Visitors to the archives/talks must pay a cover charge of £1.  On joining, a Welcome Pack including the latest newsletter will be forwarded to you. You may join on-line by going to the MEMBERSHIP page. Alternatively you can send your subscription to the Mr R. Hope, Treasurer, 25 St. Gabriel's Avenue, Grangetown, Sunderland, SR4 7TF. email address: Roberthope10@hotmail.com  Tel: 01915142964        If paying by cheque please make cheque payable to Sunderland Antiquarian Society.

 Members have exclusive access to the Members Area  of this website and we have now began to upload articles, features, photographs and our newsletters into this area. Already included are:

Sunderland Pubs                                                Southwick's Stately Homes      Josephs

Sunderland Street Name Origins                             John Street                         Villiers Street

History of Redby Junior School                               Mackie's Corner                   Southwick  1831-1881

Strawberry Cottage                                             Bainbridge Holme                Places of Worship

The Babbies                                        Coronation Street                    Sunderland  Empire 

St.Andrew's Church                                              Rain's Eye Plan c.1795 

Jack Crawford- Sunderland's Hero                           A Few Notes on High Street  

Sunderland Co-operative Society                            Rowland Burdon

Penshaw Monument                                             Benedict Biscop

Bishopwearmouth Rectory                                     The Athenaeum    

Sunderland' first Theatre and Music Hall                   A Policeman's Lot   

The Lost Shops of Sunderland (updated 14.2.13)       Monkwearmouth Station

Roker and Seaburn Images (updated Feb 2013)       The East End Markets    

Peggy Potts - A Smuggler in the Family?                 A Stroll Around Edwardian Sunderland (updated 5.3.13)

The First Decade of the Society

 Each week we will be adding new articles for Members to access so why not join now and receive your exclusive password to allow your access to the Members Only area.

OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY 2013-14

President:  Mr D.W. Smith, 7 Crow Lane, Middle Herrington, Sunderland, SR3 3TE  Tel: 01915220517

Vice President: Mr. R. Lawson

Hon. Vice President:   Mrs C. Davison

Secretary/Webmaster:  Mr P. Curtis, 14 Park Parade, Roker, Sunderland, SR6 9LU

email: P11cur@aol.com   Tel: 07931842745

Treasurer:  Mr. R. Hope, 25 St. Gabriels Avenue, Sunderland SR4 7TF

Image Archivists:  Mr R. Lawson, Mrs B. Ludvisgen

Map Archivist:  Mr N. Kirtlan Tel: 07765635128

Librarians:  Mrs C. Davison  Donations Sec:  Mr G. Prince, 15 St. Nicholas Avenue, Sunderland, SR3 1YG Tel: 01915287307

Membership Sec: Mr R. Davison, 17 Marion Street, Sunderland, SR2 8RG

Council Members: Mr J. Cheeseborough, Mr D. Bridge, Mr. W. Hawkins, Mr. C. Metcalf. Mrs. D. Lovell