North Dock, Sunderland. The Wearmouth Dock Company was set up in 1834 by Royal Charter. Isambard Kingdom Brunel designed the dock, which was opened in 1837. It had an area of 6 acres with a 1½ acre tidal basin. The York and Newcastle Railway Company took over the dock in 1847 and they subsequently became part of the North Eastern Railway. Due to its size, and location the dock was not a commercial success. In the 1950s it was partially filled-in, in 1976 a bulk loader for limestone was installed and in the early 1980s it was fitted with facilities for RORO ships. Also during the 20th century the lock gates were removed to make it tidal {2}. In 1837 the North Dock was opened by the Wearmouth Dock Company, formed by Sir Hedworth Williamson, the major landowner in Monkwearmouth and Whitburn. The engineer for the project was, perhaps the most famous of the Victorian age, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The dock, however, was too small to be of any significance and its importance was diminished by the building of docks on the south side of the river (SMR 2874) {3}. The remaining walls of the 6 acre dock, 1834-38 are listed grade 2. The walls and four mooring posts to the North Dock Basin (HER 4815) are also listed grade 2. It was originally a square-plan dock with entrance gates from tide basin at south. High wall with curved batter and bull-nosed edging; vertical timber buffer strips set in at intervals. Construction was by building one course of back and front walls at a time, filling space with mortar and setting core stones within the mortar to ensure a solid structure. Part of the north-east and south-east wall survive behind late twentieth century landfill. Part of the south east wall has been demolished together with the entrance. A significant structure by one of the greatest engineers of the nineteenth century.

Rocket House on the North Pier, Sunderland. Probably associated with the adjacent Pilots Lookout and Life Boat House, (SMR 2712).

North Pier, with Sunderland Lighthouse at its seaward end. Also on the pier was the Rocket House, (SMR 2716). Now known as the Old North Pier, construction started in 1785 using timber carcasses filled with stone. By 1796 815' had been built, but in the late 1790s the sea had already begun to undermine it. Between 1832 and 1843 substantial rebuilding work was done by River Wear Commissioner's Engineer John Murray using stone from quarries on Gateshead Fell. The Roker Pier (SMR 4972) was built in 1885, lessening the importance of the North Pier, but during its construction, changes in tidal patterns caused splits in the roundhead of the North Pier necessitating the removal of its octagonal lighthouse {2}. In the late 18th century work began on building a North Pier. The project commenced in 1786 and was completed in 1797, although the piers did not reach their final form until further work was undertaken in the 1840s {3}.

Submarine Telegraph Works, adjacent to the North Dock, (SMR 2717).

Creosoting Works on the north east side of the North Dock, (SMR 2717).

Life Boat House.

Roker Lane Ropery and Rope Walk.

Brickfield, with clay pits.

North Beacon, on the south east extremity of Roker Rocks. Probably a warning light.

The North Eastern Railway, North Dock Branch, from the North Eastern Railway, Sunderland Branch (SMR 2289) to the North Dock (SMR 2717) and Creosoting Works (SMR 2713). This line was opened in 1837 by the Wearmouth Dock Company {1 and 2}.