Dont call us "geordies"
by rob-craig
When visiting Sunderland do not offend the local people by calling them or suggesting that they sound like "geordies",as you will soon find out that the warm welcoming hospitality soon goes cold.We are "Wearsiders" or "Mackems"
Marsden Rocks (I)
by steventilly
Marseden Rocks are a formation of rock stacks a few yards offshore from the cliffs. As well as their scenic beauty they also provide an important breeding ground for Cormorants, having the largest breeding colony in the North East. The cliffs are also an important breeding site for Kittewakes.
This archway of rock collapsed in the 90's and a famous North East landmark was gone (see next tip).
Sunderland
by steventilly
Sitting on the mouth of the River Wear up in the North East of England, Sunderland was once, along with its near neighbours Newcastle and Middlesbrough, a great shipbuilding centre. The rivers once teamed with vessels and the banks were crammed with shipyards. 25% of all ships built during the war were built in Sunderland.
Like Newcastle too, Sunderland was a centre of the coalmining industry, having collieries of it's own and also being the major seaport of County Durham, with all its collieries.
Both of these industries have all but vanished from the region, leaving a great void in Sunderland that has taken some time to fill. The jobs that have come, with the exception of the Nissan car plant, seem to be largely in the "call centre" type of role, with whole industrial parks being filled by a variety of call centres. While being important to the economy of the region, these jobs are far removed from the mighty industries of the past that are now gone, never to return.