Delay to the opening of revamped tea rooms
The opening of one of Sunderland’s most historic buildings, the Elephant Tea Rooms, as the city's Local Studies Library, has been delayed, council bosses have confirmed.
The Grade II-listed Elephant Tea Rooms on the corner of Fawcett Street and High Street West has been bought by Sunderland City Council, who last year revealed plans to open a local studies library in the space.
Built between 1872-1877 by Henry Hopper and designed by Frank Caws, in its day, the Elephant Tea Rooms was once home to a business credited with controlling one of the largest retail tea, coffee and grocery trades in the North East of England.
The site was most recently used by the Royal Bank of Scotland and has stood empty since the branch closed in 2018.
After buying the site, council bosses have pressed ahead with plans and are well on their way to finally welcoming the public through the doors.
But they have announced that there will be a delay to its official opening following system problems.
When it reopens, the building will be named Sunderland’s Local History Library @ETR, offering better access for customers than the current Fawcett Street site, while the space on the first floor will be used to deliver events and activities.
Living History North East, Regional Oral History Centre will also have a presence in the renovated building.
The Local Studies Library holds the largest collection of records and information on Sunderland, which includes photographs, maps, film, trade directories, parish registers, newspapers and much more.