The Ouseburn Bridge Pottery was set up by Robert Maling in 1815, having moved his business from the North Hylton Pot Works in Sunderland (HER 4969). In 1853 Christopher Thomas Maling took over the running of the Ouseburn Bridge Pottery from his father Robert. The firm prospered and expanded. Commercial wares were the main goods made. By 1859 the two kilns at the works were unable to cope with demand and the new Ford A Pottery (HER 4968) was built nearby. The Ouseburn Bridge pottery was sold to Bell Brothers who reopened the premises as the "Albion Pottery". The site then passed to Galloway and Atkinson (although by 1865 only Atkinson is listed at this site) and then to W Morris in 1871. The works eventually closed in 1875. Most of the early pieces were exported to the continent.
The Heaney Building was a two-storey building of modern brick construction with white painted walls and a flat roof. Hutton's plan of 1770 shows a building complex south-east of the 'New Bridge' in a position partly covering the Heaney Building site. Oliver's plan of 1830 indicates that part of the east wall and the internal N-S dividing wall were present by then. The building was probably built as part of the Ouseburn Pottery complex (c.1815). By 1896 the building was part of the Glass Works complex and by 1916 the west wall was in place. The west wall, fronting the Ouseburn is a multi-phase composition spanning the 19th-20th century. The building was demolished following archaeological building recording in 2010. The flues associated with the Ouseburn Bottle Works were attached to the north wall of the Heaney Building. They remain in-situ following the demolition and are on the Local List. An excavation of this area in 2013 by ARS uncovered a large stone built flue which had been backfilled by a mixed deposit of pottery and kiln furniture thought to be associated with the potteries formerly in this area.

In 1856 a fine wrought iron lighthouse was built on the old South Pier (NZ 4106 5825). At the top of the tower was a cast iron dome and internal access to the light was by a cast iron staircase. The 50ft high structure was designed by Thomas Meik who also designed the Hendon Dock and one of the nearby dock-side warehouses, which survived until the early 1990s. The lighthouse can be seen today but not in its original position. The lighthouse was dismantled and re-erected in 1983 when the Sunderland Port Authority shortened the pier to create an easier and safer entrance into the river. Public concern led to the resiting of the structure on the Roker sea front. {1} This is a white painted lighthouse, in good condition, and is approximately 50ft high. It consists of a base of cast iron, atop which is a tapering conical shaft of rivetted steel, above which is a cast iron dome containing the light, and a gallery. Internally there is a cast iron spiral staircase around a central column. Above the doorway to the lighthouse is a small circular plaque showing a sextant and the date 1856. The lighthouse is set on a circular base of two stone steps, and is surrounded by what appear to be the original railings, which are now much corroded and missing in parts. The value of the lighthouse lies in its unusual use of cast iron and steel in its construction. It is not known if it is unique, but it is certainly a rarity. {2}

Although of plain appearance, brick built and dating from the turn of the century (at a guess), this is a good survival of an unusual group. At the moment the house which is the former matron's house is occupied, whilst the former ward building and former mortuary are disused. We consider that the uniqueness of the group would merit a proposal to English Heritage/Department of the Environment for listing of the buildings. {1} Shown on Ordnance Survey third edition of 1919 as "Houghton and Hetton Smallpox Hospital". Now converted to houses.

Ryhope Pumping Station was commissioned in 1868, and was the last of a wide variety of steam powered pumping stations which had been used by the Sunderland and South Shields Water Company. Several factors combine to make the Ryhope Pumping Station pre-eminently worthy of preservation. Thomas Hawksley in his position as Engineer to the Water Company provided designs and specifications for the new works, and the engines were built locally by Messrs. Hawthorn of Newcastle. The design and manufacture were of the highest standard and the subsequent maintenance was of such a high quality that the engines are still in perfect condition even after a century of working. They are now possibly the finest pair of compound beam engines in Britain. The overall requirements for Ryhope Pumping Station were for two wells to be sunk; six boilers and two large compound rotative beam engines to be manufactured and assembled; the engine house, boiler house, smithy and chimney to be erected; two cooling ponds and one large reservoir to be excavated and constructed; main delivery pipes to be laid and suitable dwellings to be built for station personnel. The problems involved in the manufacture and assembly of such large components were great but even so, by February 1869, the sinking operations were nearly completed and by early 1870 the boilers were completed and the station began to operate satisfactorily. Ryhope Pumping Station is an example of a pumping station referred to as a "house engine". This is because the engine house does not merely surround and cover the engines but is a framework upon which the beams, fly wheels, cylinder etc. are supported. The construction of the engine and the engine house therefore has to proceed together. It would have been possible and presumably cheaper to provide an entirely functional engine house such as was the usual practice for colliery pumping engines at that time, but for reasons only partially clear, this was not the traditional practice for many water undertakings. In many cases considerable efforts were made to produce industrial structures which could not offend the most sensitive observer. At such pumping stations conscious attempts were made to plan in detail not only a unified engine house, but to produce an entire station where workmen's residences, cooling ponds, reservoirs, boiler houses, etc linked by flower gardens, lawn and trees, were all interrelated to achieve considerable aesthetic effect. Ryhope Pumping Station is not therefore a unique example of this 'waterworks' architecture but being designed by Hawksley it is typical of the best in the country. At Ryhope the 'power house' block containing engines, boilers and workshops and the chimney are aligned as a near symmetrical group and form aesthetically unified structures, particularly as seen from the south east. The engine house is clearly a massive structure eminently suited to its function, but the final ornamentation, the wall buttressing and the spined ventilation all suggest a verticality which prevents any feeling of ponderousness. Inside the house the many windows give a light and spacious atmosphere to the building. Adjacent to the engine house, the original boiler house and workshop occupied four single storey bays and maintain the ornamental style of the engine house. The chimney is almost 160ft high; originally it had an ornate iron palisaded crown to it, but flue gas corrosion combined with wind and rain subsequently caused its collapse. Similarly a wind vane which had been situated on top of the engine house ventilator has disappeared. The entire station was located in a garden setting with extensive lawns, flowerbeds and newly planted trees. The leaves of the trees became a considerable problem and were one of the reasons which led to the covering in of the large reservoir in 1956. It now appears as a large grassed area. The Ryhope engines remained virtually unchanged from the time of their commissioning and continued to work efficiently with surprisingly few troubles. However they eventually became too costly when compared with the alternative electric pumps. It was decided therefore to shut the station down in 1967. Now open to the public as the Ryhope Engines Museum. {1}

Milestone, circa 1780. Sandstone. Rounded top to square stone. '53' incised on north, '5' on south. Eroded coat of arms on west. {2}

Staith house.

Crosses North Walbottle Wagonway. Steel main girder, transverse trough girders.

A typical example of an early 20th century power station, built for a private local lighting company, operating 1903-1919. It was adapted as a substation post Second World War for supply to the tram system. The imposing double height brick building forms part of an important industrial group and retains a number of original features and its perimeter boundary walls with gateways. Buildings include the control room, power hall and reservoir. Built by DISCO in 1903 expanded in 1904. Possibly the first brick built power station in the country. The west part of the building contained three direct current Parsons turbo generators with a total capacity of 970kw. The generators had been used at Forth Banks Power Station and at Newburn Steelworks before being installed at Lemington. Steam was provided by three Lancashire boilers in the larger east part of the building. Cooling water for the condensers was drawn from Lemington Gut. Ceased generating in 1919 when demand fell as Newburn steelworks improved its own generators. Used as sub-station until 1946, supplying local tramway. Currently used by Reeds Cranes and Plant Ltd. Station building survives as intact shell adjacent to river. Brick shed with tall, round headed openings often picked out in darker or lighter bricks, circular openings high on the gables, full length ridge ventilator to west bay. Interior features included elevated control rooms, toilets and walkways, overhead crane to west bay, below ground reservoir (outlet on south side). Some electrical fittings interior and exterior. Perimeter wall survives in southern half of site, incorporating opposed entrance gateways. Recorded ahead of demolition in 2015 - described as in poor condition suffering from vandalism. The power station was formerly on the Newcastle local list.

Boat hulks uncovered at low tide in the bottom of Lemington Gut.

Could have been chimney for a brickworks (see SMR 4048).