Hopper Street, Deptford.
The central building sign reads "Mark Bros Gill Joinery Works" and the lower buildings beneath are in Galley's Gill. The land lower right is an unused cemetary. The whole area was heavily banked with many retaining walls and it was criss-crossed by colliery railways in cuttings and tunnels running to Lambton drops on the river. A bridge was built (Gill Bridge) between Gillbridge avenue and Farringdon Rd for pedestrians to get over this difficult terrain and it is visible above the chimneys of the lower houses. Past the bridge lie Lambton drops and the river while on the skyline Sunderland's largest colliery the Monkwearmouth is visible on the north bank of the river. This colliery finally closed in 1994 and the Stadium of Light now occupies the old site. On the south bank the old Lambton drops and Galleys Gill have become part of a riverside park and the rest of the area including the old site of Vaux Brewery is part of a major ongoing development of parkland, housing and entertainment. The Gill Bridge is still there.
Photograph N Kirtlan, info Len Charlton.
Ayres Quay Bottleworks. Sunderland was famed for its glass and bottle works, no fewer than 10 of which were listed in the 1870s. Will Kirk and Co owned the Ayres Quay works which was one of the largest and situated on the south river bank between Wearmouth Bridge and Alexandra bridge. This area was heavily industrialised with much of the labour force living in packed terraced housing some of which can be seen.
Photograph N Kirtlan, info Len Charlton.
Millfield Station. Millfield was the first station on the Sunderland to Durham railway line. It is not surprising that it is deserted as the bridge on the photo carries High St West with a continual flow of trams to the town centre less than a mile away (also see next photo)
Photo N Kirtlan, info Len Charlton.
