House Histories of Sunderland Point
The date stone at the Old Hall shows 1683, and research suggests a house existed there earlier. This is where the first legal quay, marking the origin of the village and many of its houses, was located.
Larger ships in the transatlantic trade could not reach Lancaster fully laden. As trade expanded, warehouses were mostly constructed on Second Terrace, while shipbuilding and repair services were predominantly located on First Terrace.
Farm buildings remained, and the King’s Arms was built.
Even before maritime activity ceased a century later, the warehouses and workshops began to be transformed into lodging houses as the village entered its period as a seaside spa.
New houses were built in the Lane in the 1880s, Dolphin House between 1912 and 14, and the Anchorage in 1925-26. Later renovations created five new homes on Second Terrace.
Today, a total of 37 homes. We wanted to collect what we could on the history of each one.
The 1840s OS map courtesy the National Library of Scotland
We used parish records, the 10-year censuses, electoral registers, the Tithe Survey, rate revaluations, auction for-sale and to-let notices, personal histories, listed buildings descriptions, photographs, and research by Hugh Cunliffe and Beth Hampson. We built the information into the various houses.
After the maritime age, up until the 1960s, the houses fell into two groups: those occupied as second homes and primarily visited in summer, and those occupied by residents who lived there year-round and engaged in fishing and farming
The temporary occupant’s lives were registered elsewhere. For the permanent residents, a web of interconnected families quickly emerged, with members of the same family appearing in different houses. In the early years, the Dickinsons, Spencers, and Gerrards were prominent, and later, but still connected, the Townleys, Gardners, and Smiths.
Villagers outside the Mission Church in late 1894
Click on the photo of a house, and a Word PDF will appear with the history.
Note 1: The history often ends in the 1970s, as research material is not readily available, and living relatives whose interests must be considered may still be around. Only those current residents who have given specific approval are named.
Note 2: The information has been checked by us, but there may be mistakes, and corrections are very welcome. We are also encouraging past residents or anyone with a connection to the village to send us their information about any of the houses.
James ‘Shirley’ Gardner, fisherman. A Sam Thompson photo courtesy of the Lancashire Archives
Farms and first houses
Sunderland Brows Farm
Meadow House
1. The Anchorage
2. Gravel Cottage
First Terrace
3A. Old Customs House
3. The Moorings
Number 4
5. The Little House
Number 6
7. The Haven
Number 7A
Number 8
Number 9
Number 10
11. The Ship Inn
12. Dolphin House
Second Terrace
13. Hall Farm Cottage
14. Hall Farm
15. Multum in Parvo
Number 16
Number 17
17A & 17B The Big House
Number 18
Number 19
Cotton Tree Barn
20. Cotton Tree Cottage
Hall End
21. The Old Hall
22. Hall End House
23. Hall End Cottage
The Lane
1. Upsteps Cottage
Number 3
4. Post Office
5. The Summer House
We are grateful for the kind assistance of many people, the work of Hugh Cunliffe and Beth Hampson, the research work of Kris Needham and Ann Hatton, and the notes on houses by James W Gardner, courtesy of the Gardner family. Thanks also to the Gilchrist, Gerrard, and Tomlinson families for information and photos. Also for material sent to us by Rosemary Thaker, Audrey Dunstan and Wendy Crockett.
Thank You
Hugh and Elizabeth Boyle, Number 16: from the collection of Beth Hampson
