Tripe, fried fish and fresh fruit all in Dundas Street
BACK IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE FRIDGE, SUNDERLAND PEOPLE SHOPPED FOR FRESH FOOD PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR – AND DUNDAS STREET WAS AN IDEAL PLACE TO GO TO FIND EVERYTHING YOU NEED
Before the days of refrigerators in homes, people shopped almost daily to guarantee fresh produce. Most suburbs of Sunderland had their own popular shopping street. In Monkwearmouth, it was undoubtedly Dundas Street. Most shops were in Lower Dundas starting with Gallons the grocers. Next to it was Hunters with shops on both sides of the street, one resembling a mini-department clothing store and the other specialising in shoes. Salter’s had a pork butchers in the street and Hall’s tripe shop served up delicious cow heels and pig trotters. Detta Smith’s fried fish shop was noted for its batter and Stewart’s newsagency was a regular calling-off point for pupils of the local Thomas Street School. Rowlands the fruiterers could be relied upon for fresh fruit and vegetables and the street had a ladies outfitters run by Miss Fowler. This was also used as a pawn shop but diplomatically kept its three-ball sign above a discreet rear entrance in order to spare any embarrassment to customers. John Tennick’s off-licence will be remembered well by Sunderland AFC supporters. John arranged the supporters’ coaches for the club’s away matches. Dundas Street also boasted three public houses. The Sheet Anchor, The Grapes in the centre of the shops and, on the corner with Church Street North, stood The Alexandra. At the top of the street stood Fred Williamson’s decorator’s store and further down was Jack Brown’s cycle retail and repair shop, next door to JW Tuckerman’s the funeral director. The demolition of the surrounding terraced streets and the new one-way road system
eventually saw the demise of this once thriving street. Today, it is dominated by health centres and a bus depot, but some retailers are still there. If you have memories of the old shops, email chris. cordner@jpress.co.uk