Sunderland

Sunderland, parliamentary (two members) and municipal borougn of Durham, is at the mouth of the Wear, being 13 miles N.E. of Durham and 12 S.E. of Newcastle. Upon the S. bank of the river are Sunderland proper, with Bishopwearmouth to the W., and on the N. bank is Monkswearmouth. The old parish church of St. Peter is in Monkswearmouth, and occupies the site of the monastery where lived the Venerable Bede. The N.E. Railway has a line here, crossing the river by a high-level bridge, and reaching the Central Station by means of a cutting and a tunnel. Among the buildings are a flne Town Hall, Museum, Art Gallery, Free Library, and many other halls, etc, The parks cover forty-four acres. Besides the railway bridge, there is a cast-iron bridge over the river. Two piers with lighthouses form the entrance of the harbour, and a harbour of refuge is being constructed. The docks and basin occupy 78 acres, the principal one being on the S., and having openings to both river and sea. The export of coal is very great, and over two millions of tonnage pass out and in annually. Shipbuilding gives cause for extensive manufacturing of ship requisites, and other indnstries are the making of glass bottles, sheet- and plate- glass, and earthenware. Much lime is burnt, and there is a large fish trade.