Sunderland Point
Encyclopedia
Sunderland, commonly known as Sunderland Point, is a small village
among the marshes, on a windswept peninsula between the mouth of the River Lune
, and Morecambe Bay
, in the City of Lancaster
district of Lancashire
, England. It was used as a port for slave ships and cotton ships but its importance declined as other ports such as Lancaster
were opened up.
The village is linked to neighbouring Overton
1.5 miles (2.4 km) away by a single-track road crossing a tidal marsh
, which is flooded at high tide
.
Strictly speaking, "Sunderland Point" is the name of the tip of the peninsula on which the village of Sunderland stands, but the name is frequently applied to the village itself.
by Robert Lawson, a Quaker, at the beginning of the 18th century. Reportedly, stonework from the ruined Cockersand Abbey
just across the river was utilised in the construction of the quay and buildings. Lawson finally went bankrupt in 1728, which began a steady decline until it was totally surpassed by Glasson Dock
, which opened in 1787.
Ships could unload here, or wait for the tide before moving up to the main docks at St. Georges Quay in Lancaster and registering at the Customs House. Sailors were known to press gang
new recruits at the Three Mariners, just off the quay in Lancaster, and at the Golden Ball on the way back along the river at Snatchems. Both public houses can still be visited. Fit, young candidates were often plied with copious amounts of alcohol, before being whisked away for an extended service at sea. Another local place called Catchems must also have been involved in the press-ganging which was rife in the locality. Many a young man disappeared from the farms and villages around the marshes.
's of Lancaster, and in particular, are of some renown. Black Africans were almost unheard of in Lancaster, thus the master of a slave called Sambo thought it advisable to leave him at Sunderland Point whilst he travelled on to Lancaster to undertake his business in the rest of Britain. Sambo died in 1736 in the old brewery, which still stands on the corner of the pathway that leads to his grave. Sambo's Grave on the unconsecrated (as he was not a Christian
) and windswept shoreline of Morecambe Bay
is still a local tourist attraction today. The grave almost always bears flowers or stones painted by the local children.
thought worthy of note. There are stunning views over the River Lune and the hamlet was featured in the TV drama The Ruby in the Smoke
with Billie Piper
and Julie Walters
in December 2006.
Many properties at Sunderland Point suffer regular flooding, with individual properties made resilient to the effects.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
among the marshes, on a windswept peninsula between the mouth of the River Lune
River Lune
The River Lune is a river in Cumbria and Lancashire, England.It is formed at Wath, in the parish of Ravenstonedale, Cumbria, at the confluence of Sandwath Beck and Weasdale Beck...
, and Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay is a large bay in northwest England, nearly due east of the Isle of Man and just to the south of the Lake District National Park. It is the largest expanse of intertidal mudflats and sand in the United Kingdom, covering a total area of 310 km².-Natural features:The rivers Leven,...
, in the City of Lancaster
City of Lancaster
The City of Lancaster , is a local government district of Lancashire, England, with the status of a city and non-metropolitan district. It is named after its largest settlement, Lancaster, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Morecambe, Heysham, and Carnforth, as well as...
district of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England. It was used as a port for slave ships and cotton ships but its importance declined as other ports such as Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
were opened up.
The village is linked to neighbouring Overton
Overton, Lancashire
Overton is a village and civil parish within the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. It is located to the south west of Lancaster, between Heysham and the estuary of the River Lune. Neighbouring villages include Middleton and Sunderland Point; Glasson is on the opposite side of the river...
1.5 miles (2.4 km) away by a single-track road crossing a tidal marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
, which is flooded at high tide
High Tide
High Tide was a band formed in 1969 by Tony Hill , Simon House , Peter Pavli and Roger Hadden .-History:...
.
Strictly speaking, "Sunderland Point" is the name of the tip of the peninsula on which the village of Sunderland stands, but the name is frequently applied to the village itself.
History
It was developed as an out port for LancasterLancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
by Robert Lawson, a Quaker, at the beginning of the 18th century. Reportedly, stonework from the ruined Cockersand Abbey
Cockersand Abbey
Cockersand Abbey is a former abbey near Cockerham in the City of Lancaster district of Lancashire, England. It was founded before 1184 as the Hospital of St Mary on the marsh belonging to Leicester Abbey. It was refounded as a Premonstratensian priory and subsequently elevated to an abbey in 1192...
just across the river was utilised in the construction of the quay and buildings. Lawson finally went bankrupt in 1728, which began a steady decline until it was totally surpassed by Glasson Dock
Glasson Dock
Glasson Dock, also known as Glasson, is a village in England, south of Lancaster, at the mouth of the River Lune. It is in the City of Lancaster district of Lancashire.-History:...
, which opened in 1787.
Ships could unload here, or wait for the tide before moving up to the main docks at St. Georges Quay in Lancaster and registering at the Customs House. Sailors were known to press gang
Impressment
Impressment, colloquially, "the Press", was the act of taking men into a navy by force and without notice. It was used by the Royal Navy, beginning in 1664 and during the 18th and early 19th centuries, in wartime, as a means of crewing warships, although legal sanction for the practice goes back to...
new recruits at the Three Mariners, just off the quay in Lancaster, and at the Golden Ball on the way back along the river at Snatchems. Both public houses can still be visited. Fit, young candidates were often plied with copious amounts of alcohol, before being whisked away for an extended service at sea. Another local place called Catchems must also have been involved in the press-ganging which was rife in the locality. Many a young man disappeared from the farms and villages around the marshes.
Sambo's Grave
The Port of Lancaster, once the third largest in the country, was part of the slavery triangle. The furniture makers of GillowRobert Gillow
Robert Gillow was an English furniture manufacturer.Born in Singleton, Lancashire he served an apprenticeship as a joiner and cabinet maker. He joined with a family of traders called Sattersthwaite and sailed with them to the West Indies as a ships carpenter. In Jamaica he became interested in...
's of Lancaster, and in particular, are of some renown. Black Africans were almost unheard of in Lancaster, thus the master of a slave called Sambo thought it advisable to leave him at Sunderland Point whilst he travelled on to Lancaster to undertake his business in the rest of Britain. Sambo died in 1736 in the old brewery, which still stands on the corner of the pathway that leads to his grave. Sambo's Grave on the unconsecrated (as he was not a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
) and windswept shoreline of Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay is a large bay in northwest England, nearly due east of the Isle of Man and just to the south of the Lake District National Park. It is the largest expanse of intertidal mudflats and sand in the United Kingdom, covering a total area of 310 km².-Natural features:The rivers Leven,...
is still a local tourist attraction today. The grave almost always bears flowers or stones painted by the local children.
Today
Sunderland Point still maintains some of its former grandeur with the warehouses and buildings along the quay, which are now being converted into homes and flats. They once stored rum, tobacco and cotton and several are listed as Grade II. Along the quay at Sunderland Point are a number of fine Georgian dwellings well protected against the weather, one of which is a former hostelry. There is also a fine early 18th century gatepier on the quay that PevsnerNikolaus Pevsner
Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...
thought worthy of note. There are stunning views over the River Lune and the hamlet was featured in the TV drama The Ruby in the Smoke
The Ruby in the Smoke
The Ruby in the Smoke is a novel by the English author Philip Pullman. It was also adapted for television in 2006.-Plot summary:This book takes place in 1872. A sixteen year old girl named Veronica Beatrice “Sally” Lockhart goes to visit where her father used to work, a shipping company named...
with Billie Piper
Billie Piper
Billie Paul Piper is an English singer and actress.She began her career in the late 1990s as a pop singer and then switched to acting. She started in acting and dancing and was talent spotted at the Sylvia Young stage school by Smash Hits magazine who wanted a "face" for their magazine...
and Julie Walters
Julie Walters
Julie Walters, CBE is an English actress and novelist. She came to international prominence in 1983 for Educating Rita, performing in the title role opposite Michael Caine. It was a role she had created on the West End stage and it won her BAFTA and Golden Globe awards for Best Actress...
in December 2006.
Many properties at Sunderland Point suffer regular flooding, with individual properties made resilient to the effects.