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The old East End of Sunderland was home to barracks until the 1900s. They were located on the south side near the south docks, near present-day Warren Court (formerly known as Warren Street). The "Gladstone Bridge", the first aluminium bascule bridge in the world, spans the junction of Hendon and Hudson Docks. It is a listed structure. The Victoria Hall Disaster occurred in the area on 16 June 1883 when 183 children died during a crush in a theatre, while running down the stairs in search of free toys. It remains the worst stampede disaster in British history. The area was home to Sunderland AFC's first ground, The Blue House Field. The club was founded at the nearby Hendon Board School in 1879 by James Allen. Partly on its site now is the Raich Carter Sports Centre, named after a famous footballer born in the area. A notable figure from Hendon was Jack Crawford, the British naval hero who nailed the Union Flag to the fallen mast during the Battle of Camperdown, to avoid insinuating surrender. |