Sunderland

Sundered land, and a monastery of books

Sunderland's own name is thought to describe "sundered," or separated, land near the mouth of the Wear — but its recorded history begins in 674, when the nobleman-turned-monk Benedict Biscop founded St Peter's monastery at Monkwearmouth, on the river's north bank. Biscop filled it with books and craftsmen gathered on repeated journeys to Rome, and it was here, and at its sister house in Jarrow, that the scholar-monk Bede began the education that made him "the Father of English History."

Sunderland has never forgotten that debt: in 2007 its parish church, by then Sunderland Minster, formally adopted Benedict Biscop as the city's patron saint.

The largest shipbuilding town in the world

By the 19th century Sunderland's economy had turned decisively to the river itself. Shipyards crowded both banks of the Wear, and at its peak the town was popularly known as the largest shipbuilding town in the world, launching a huge share of the vessels afloat anywhere on Earth. A parallel glassmaking industry, now remembered at the National Glass Centre, added to Wearside's industrial identity. Locals still go by the nickname Mackems, a term that entered common use in the 1970s.

A city at last

Sunderland tried for city status five times before finally succeeding: the honour was granted on 14 February 1992, as part of the celebrations marking the 40th year of Queen Elizabeth II's reign. The University of Sunderland, whose roots stretch back to a technical college founded in 1901, gained full university status the same year, and the Stadium of Light, home of Sunderland AFC, was later built on the site of the former Wearmouth Colliery.

Sunderland today

Since the shipyards closed in the late 20th century, Sunderland has rebuilt itself around advanced manufacturing — above all Nissan's sprawling plant, one of Europe's most productive car factories — alongside its university, seafront at Roker and Seaburn, and the working-class streets of districts like Hendon closer to the old harbour. Inland, the borough also takes in the New Town of Washington.