COUNTY DURHAM - THE BITS TOURISTS DON'T SEE

OK, we've now left Sunderland behind and are heading for the coast. In Hollycarrside, near Ryhope, we find this Redby Bristol LH on service.

 As the sea approaches, we come across the Albion Inn. It's still open today, but no longer serves cask beer.

Seaham harbour was built to export coal from the nearby pits. A sailing vessel is departing in this period picture.

A more modern view, without any industry (Tim Bastin - Creative Commons License).

Looking out to sea from the churchyard of St Mary The Virgin, Seaham (Creative Commons License).

Back in 1989, when there was plenty of coal traffic through Seaham station.

JC Bell ran a local bus service around Seaham.

Inland now to Murton, to see the colliery in the 1890s.

Now it's 1905.

Northern General had a depot in Murton.

A fellow called Don Smith had a bus company in Murton and had this ex Coventry Bedford in use (Les Flint).

Don Smith also owned this beautiful Albion (Les Flint).

A bit further westwards and we come to Easington Lane, where the Sunderland District trams once terminated.

At South Hetton Colliery, this Sharp Stewart 0-6-0T "Haverhill" was in use.

Next stop, Easington station, NER, on the coast route.

Seaside Lane, Easington Colliery.

Away from the hustle and bustle of industry, Castle Eden village.

It was here that Castle Eden Brewery could be found, though Whitbread had taken it over.

Yet another pit - Wingate Grange Colliery.

Two views now, of Front Street, Trimdon Grange.

Trimdon Grange was once home to Trimdon Motor Services.

At West Cornforth another small bus company coulld be found - Scarlet Band. A little green light was displayed at the front of serice buses to assist prospective passengers in the dark. A good variety of vehicles were owned. The company ceased trading in 2022.

In Cornforth itself was a railway station, seen here in NER times.

All that was left in the early 1980s.

Another nearby NER station, Coxhoe Bridge.

A smart independent bus company, Gillett Bros., had a garge at Quarrington Hill, where a fleet of AECs was maintained.

United took over Gillett Bros., and continued to use the depot for a while.

Yet another NER station, named Sherburn Colliery.

At the colliery itself, 0-6-0 No  2 (Hudswell Clarke 72-1866).

In April 1931, a United bus came to grief near Sherburn.

To conclude this post, here's the NER station at Shincliffe. To see where we've been, here's a link to the map of the route so far.

Not too much beer in this post, but the next one will see us in the city of Durham - and there's plenty there!

SUNDERLAND

 Like the trams once did, we cross Monkwearmouth bridge into Sunderland's centre.

Borough Road, Sunderland circa 1910.

High Street, again around 1910.

We move forward in time to about 1925 and a view of Fawcett Street.

Sunderland's railway station is almost underground. 61475 calls (Ben Brooksbank - Creative Commons License).

The exterior of the station at street level (Creative Commons License).

Sunderland Corporation buses on Union Street in 1938.

A Sunderland Corporation Daimler in the town centre, 1973.

Tyne & Wear PTE took over in 1974.

In the days of Busways, various liveries and old fleet names appeared.

Eventually, Stagecoach took over.

Northern General was the other major operator. This Leyland National is still in Sunderland District dark blue in 1976.

Northern General liked its Marshall bodywork.

This old girl came second hand from East Yorkshire.

Northern's 3428 received the old style Sunderland District livery.

Some more modern offerings from Go Ahead Northern.

Economic ran along the coast up to South Shields.

OK Motor Services expanded into Sunderland after deregulation.

Other independents included George Bell Coaches, Michael Franks and Redby's.

A major feature of Sunderland was Vaux Brewery, seen here in 1914.

And here it is in 1977, with the Brewery Tap outside the gates.

Inside, a tiny brewery!

The bottling plant, always fascinating.

Samson the dray horse gets ready in the brewery yard.

Beer was delivered locally by horse drawn transport.

In 2009, there was no need to deliver beer to the Clarendon - it had a brewery in the cellar. Sadly, no real ale these days.

The Coopers Tavern, again with no cask beer now.

Plenty of real ales in the Dun Cow, a historical building.

Well known for its beers is Fitzgeralds. 

Another great beery pub, the Ship Isis.

A former Vaux house, the Museum Vaults.

The Borough was once the place to go for Vaux beers. No real ale these days.

Plenty of cask beer in the local Wetherspoons, the William Jameson.

Into the Deptford area of the city (as Sunderland has become) and a visit to the Kings Arms.

Unfortunately, the nearby Saltgrass no long purveys cask ales.

The Railway Tavern at Millfield has also lost its real ales.

Out of the city, on the Chester Road, is Chesters, another ex Vaux pub.

That's it for Sunderland. The next post will find us on the Durham coast.