South Moor is shown on Ordnance Survey first edition of 1856. The site is now occupied by South Moor School. The area now known as The Cedars was built on land previously owned by the South Moor Estate in the mid to late Victorian period.

Belford House has close historical associations with the political and industrial development of Sunderland. The property is actually made up of a pair of semis (originally called Belford Villas), comprising Belford House and Ashcroft. They were built in the 1870’s for Alderman J Coates, a prominent local politician (a member of the Liberal Club) and a ‘self-made man’, who began as an upholsterer’s apprentice, and who was described as a hot young radical in his obituary. He was elected to the Bridge ward in 1879 and died suddenly in 1904. By the time Coates became an alderman in 1895 the Thompson Family, of the prominent local ship building firm Joseph Lowes Thompson & Sons Ltd, had already become involved with the building.
Sir Robert Norman Thompson and his family lived in the stately house from 1906 until his death in the 1950’s following which the building was converted into a welfare and sports club for the workers of his family’s shipbuilding firm, a use that has been sustained until very recently in the name of Belford House Sports and Social Club.
Identification of the architects requires further research, but the involvement of Joseph Potts (1799-1885) or George A Middlemiss (1815-1887) should be considered. As already noted above, Potts completed a plan for a house on The Cedars, and Middlemiss not only built Ashbrooke Tower at Ashbrooke Cross as his own residence, he also owned the brickworks on Villette Road and was prolific in Hendon. However, he was renowned for his staunchly Tory views which would probably negate any involvement in the design of Belford house for the radically Liberal Coates!

Belford House and Ashcroft both received shed and garage extensions in the early 1910s and the former’s kitchen was extended in 1928 by Hedley & Dent architects.

Architecturally, Belford House is quite unlike anything else in the area, giving it much distinctiveness and great character. It is a large, well-designed Gothic style building with an imposing presence but a strong sense of being ‘hidden away’ in Belford Close. It was originally set in large gardens, later incorporating extensive sports grounds – tennis courts, bowling green and a playing field - following its conversion into a sports club.
The building is three storeys high and built in uneven dark red brick with a Welsh slate roof, roll topped ridge tiles and sandstone quoins, window surrounds and other details. It has a strong vertical emphasis, which is intensified by the tall, slender pattern of fenestration, pointed gables and steep roof pitch. The roofline is particularly interesting, with tall brick corniced chimneys and each of the 14 gables on the main elevations finished with a pronounced ogee-shaped stone coping, topped with a large finial.

Externally, the building is generally very well preserved with few alterations. It retains all of its traditional timber sliding-sashes, with the exception of the bricked-up attic windows of Ashcroft, and the majority of cast-iron rainwater goods are still in place. There have been several small extensions, which although not designed with as much flair as the main building are generally sympathetic to its character.

The immediate setting of Belford House has been compromised over time. The front gardens, separated by a substantial, stepped brick wall with an integral stone gate pier, are all but lost to hardstanding and the rear garden to Ashcroft has been largely developed for a bungalow. The original rear garden on the Belford House side is still evident but its formality and layout has been lost. The tennis courts and bowling green also remain but are disused and untidy/overgrown.

Belford House is a locally significant building, both historically and architecturally. It has strong associations with the political and industrial development of Sunderland, having been built for a prominent local politician and for a large part of its history used in associated with the City’s shipbuilding heritage. The architectural style and composition of the building is very impressive and relatively unique within the City, giving it a high degree of local distinctiveness that has on the whole been very well preserved. These attributes give Belford House an overall special quality and significance worthy of conserving.

The Victorian development which had taken place in the area is shown on the 1897 second edition OS map. The well arranged low density houses in their long gardens on The Cedars (1-11) had been built, as had Belford House and Belford Terrace, with Belford Road laid out to reach them. The construction dates for all of these require further research, but the helpful 1890s map by R S Routhwaite highlighting development built since 1878, shows all of the above as built (reproduced in Sunderland – River, Town and People, A History from the 1780s to the Present Day, Eds. G E Milburn and S Miller, Sunderland City Council, 1988). The house was lost to fire in 2006.

Originally a rear access to The Cedars (HER 12465) and known as Cedars End, this unadopted raod is used by pedestrians as a link between Ryhope Road and Montpellier Terrace. It is in a state of disrepair and would benefit from enhancement works. Montpellier Terrace, which links Cedars End to Burdon Road was laid out as another rear access for The Cedars. It is unadopted and in poor condition, with the exception of the entrance which has a series of attractive stone setts.

Formerly known as Richardson's Lodge, this gabled house with white render and slate roof has a high quality boundary wall with detailed door case and gate piers. It is similar to the wall along The Cedars (HER 12465). The house was the gardener's cottage for The Cedars but is now disconnected from the 'big house' by modern infill houses.

Edwardian planned terrace. Timber panelled doors, carved door canopies and sash windows. All white painted. Highest quality craftsmanship. Unique to this area. Ornate detailing in sandstone or terracotta. Two storeys with attic dormers. Heavily decorated and remarkable in their grandiosity. Classical Baroque-style timberwork. Doors are framed by brick panels with curved fluted brackets above terracotta tiles and pedimented porches. Windows are double height bays with slender sliding sashes and highly decorated stained glass transom windows to the top. Timber and tile hung dormers are original features of the terrace, with a finial on top like those on the porches. Original dormer windows are small sliding sashes, often leaded. There are terracotta swag friezes beneath the eaves.

Edwardian planned terrace. Timber panelled doors, carved door canopies and sash windows. Some of the timberwork is painted bright colours. Highest quality craftsmanship. Unique to this area. Ornate detailing in sandstone or terracotta. Two storeys with attic dormers. Heavily decorated and remarkable in their grandiosity. Classical Baroque-style timberwork. Doors are framed by brick panels with curved fluted brackets above terracotta tiles and pedimented porches. Windows are double height bays with slender sliding sashes and highly decorated stained glass transom windows to the top.

Edwardian planned terrace. Timber panelled doors, carved door canopies and sash windows. All white painted. Highest quality craftsmanship. Unique to this area. Ornate detailing in sandstone or terracotta. Two storeys with attic dormers. Heavily decorated and remarkable in their grandiosity. Classical Baroque-style timberwork. Doors are framed by brick panels with curved fluted brackets above terracotta tiles and pedimented porches. Windows are double height bays with slender sliding sashes and highly decorated stained glass transom windows to the top.

Victorian terrace. Grand, classical and ornate and laid out in a 'handed pair' arrangement with the end pairs brought forward to create a pavilion effect. Highly decorated with stone dressings including quoins, pediments, strings and parapets. Welsh slate mansard roof.

Edwardian semi with fantastical terracotta dragons perched on the roof.

An asymmetric Edwardian semi that may have been built as one dwelling. Arts and Crafts style with terracotta tile hung walls. A stained glass Rennie Mackintosh rose in the stairwell window.