It’s 700-up for the Antiquarian
THEY’RE ANYTHING BUT OLD FUDDY-DUDDIES ... THEY’RE DIGITAL, THEY’RE CLUED UP ON ALL THINGS TO DO
It’s 700-up for the Sunderland Antiquarian Society. That’s the milestone that the growing group has reached in its number of members and the latest one signed up from Tasmania! The society is a real success story and proof that history remains hugely popular among the people. Society spokesman Philip Curtis explained more about the society and how to get involved.
“It just shows the interest there is in the history and heritage of Wearside,” said Philip Curtis. He spoke as the Sunderland Antiquarian Society celebrated an impressive milestone in its 117-year history. It welcomed its 700th member and Philip added: “Our membership is phenomenal and I believe that we are now one of the largest heritage societies outside London which I feel is something the city of Sunderland should really be proud of.” Most members are from Sunderland and the surrounding area, but there are ex-pat Wearsiders across Britain and overseas members from America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The society was formed in 1900 by a small group of Wearsiders who were dedicated to exploring and recording Sunderland’s history and heritage. Since then, donations of archives have flooded in from industry, commerce and the families of the town. They are all available to the public at the society’s Heritage Centre which is based in Douro Terrace. Philip said: “Thanks to help from Gentoo the society holds a long lease on its premises and the society’s heritage centre in Douro Terrace now boasts nine rooms packed with archives on everything ‘Sunderland’. “We have books, documents, maps, posters, paintings and photographs. There are also collections from the shipyards, churches, police, family history, shopping and schools. All are available to peruse and use for research.” There are real treasures in the centre including letters from local lads who served on the Victory at Trafalgar, to Reverend William Ettrick who penned his detailed diary back in 1806. There is a massive photographic archive of the old town and the society is also custodian of the Echo’s photographic archive. The society also recently retrieved some of its paintings from the Museum and Art Gallery which were loaned