The Vikings aren’t coming as Fair is postponed

The biennial Sunderland History Fair, which attracts hundreds of visitors from throughout the region and further afield, has been postponed due to the coronavirus lockdown.

The fair was due to take place on June 6 at Bethany City Church premises at Bede Tower, Ryhope Road. Historian Stuart Miller, chairman of the fair’s organisers, Sunderland History Forum,said :“We hope we will be able to run the event at a later date since it is so enjoyable both for participants and the general public and also because it displays the breadth and strength of the heritage community on Wearside.”

This year, 38 local history and heritage organisations were scheduled to put on displays; re-enactment groups representing eras from the Vikings and the Romans to the Second World War were due to appear in costume; a vintage bus was booked to take tours of local history sites, and entertainment included the Silver Shantymen singing sea shanties to complement the vintage craft from Sunderland Maritime Heritage Group.

Stuart said it was hoped the event could be re-scheduled to early September, before the Heritage Open Days events, but all would depend on the coronavirus situation.

Previous Sunderland History Fairs, which have been staged at Quayside Exchange, in High Street East, have attracted hundreds of visitors.

Attractions have included stalls from dozens of North East local history groups; re-enactments by groups, including the Time Bandits, Roma Antiqua, and Beamish; free rides on a vintage doubledecker bus; illustrated talks on a variety of historical subjects and even a visit by Bede.