Formed in 1875 at South Shields Cricket Club's grounds. Cricket was the first game to adopt and develop its own private grounds and so it was at cricket grounds that many rugby and football clubs formed. Groundsharing was common. The cricket and rugby clubs still share today. The Durham County Rugby Football Union was founded in 1876.

Formed in 1873 at the grounds of Sunderland Cricket Club's grounds. Cricket was the first game to adopt and develop its own private grounds and so it was at cricket grounds that many rugby and football clubs formed. Groundsharing was common. The cricket and rugby clubs still share today. The Durham County Rugby Football Union was founded in 1876. For many years the club was known as Sunderland FC or Sunderland Foot-Ball Club. Hence when the local soccer team formed in 1879 they called themselves Sunderland Association Football Club. Crowds reached 2-3000 soon after 1890 so turnstiles were installed. During the first 1900s the First XV won the Durham County Cup and supplied players to the Durham County side. In the early 1920s a timber terrace was built on the north touchline. A roof was added in 1926, costing £258. It is still standing today. In 1953 Hartley Elliott designed the club crest, depicting a single sail boat with oars (lymphad).

One of the earliest rugby clubs to form in Tyne and Wear. Formed in 1872 at Percy Main Cricket Club's grounds. Cricket was the first game to adopt and develop its own private grounds and so it was at cricket grounds that many rugby and football clubs formed. Groundsharing was common. The Northumberland Rugby Union was formed in 1880.

Designed by Hubert Laws and opened in 1888. Built for members of the Union Club on Westgate Road. Rackets (or racquets) was a cross between real tennis and squash. An earlier uncovered court measuring 112 feet x 62 feet had been built in Newgate Street in 1823. The College Street court conformed to the new standard 60 feet x 30 feet, established by the Prince's Club in London in 1853. The balls were made of compressed cloth covered in white sheepskin. The court is a plain unadorned brick building. It has a viewing gallery on the fourth side, accessed by an ornate spiral staircase. The Newcastle court is only one of two surviving in the north. The other is the Manchester Tennis and Racquet Club, dating from 1880. Squah has since become more popular and the College Street court has also been used for badminton, judo and a creche. It has lain empty since 2010.

In 1864 the North Durham Cricket Club (NDCC) was formed. The club had illustrious patrons including the Earl of Durham, the landowner Sir Walter James Bt., the Rt. Hon. William Hutt M.P and the Archdeacon of Durham. An offical opening day was held on the 23rd May 1864. The Band of the Gateshead Volunteers Rifles was in attendance. The Rifle Volunteers had continued to use a small part of the field following the construction of the cricket club. They later had a drill hall constructed (HER16108). The cricket club ground became the amateur sporting centre of Gateshead. In June 1872 a 2 day sporting event was held which included pole-vaulting and wrestling. In 1876 the committee of the NDCC formed a football club, then rugby football began in the town the same year that was also played here and by 1881 bicycle racing had also been introduced. In the late 1890s an improvement scheme was undertaken which merged the cricket ground and remaining Drill Field. The sporting facilities included a new pavillion, a 440 yard running tack and spring track. The form of this ground remained until the late 20th century. These facilities were separated by a boundary wall from the adjacent Bowling Green (HER15708). From 1866 the sports ground was also the home of North Durham RFC (founded 1876). It also had a cement-lined cambered cycle track. A photo of a race survives from July 1900. The cycle track did not survive but the pavilion and ground remained in use until the 1990s.

George Gibsone was born in Deptford, Kent in 1762, the son of an architect. George was brought up to follow in his father’s footsteps and joined his father’s practice on leaving school. Like his father he travelled to Italy before commencing practice, later designing several London residences and country mansions. In 1796 Gibsone married Elizabeth, daughter of Prebendary Waring and some time later the whole family moved to Newcastle upon Tyne. Father and son worked with local lead works owner Richard Fishwick on designing and erecting an iron works at Lemington. This venture was short lived and ended with the collapse of the enterprise and the ruination of all three partners. Gibsone then became manager of his brother John’s colour manufactury at Bill Quay, near Gateshead. In 1812 Gibsone’s wife, Elizabeth, opened a school for girls in Forth House, Newcastle. By 1827 the school is listed in a Newcastle directory as a “ladies’ day and boarding school” at 5 Saville Row. It is not known whether George took any part in the running of the school but it is possible that he taught drawing. This enterprise proved so successful that the couple were able to retire in 1831 to Belle Vue Cottage in Low Fell, Gateshead. For many years after moving to Newcastle, Gibsone had taken a keen interest in the natural sciences, and was a member of what is today the Natural History Society of Northumbria. He painted coins, plants, minerals, shells and acquired great dexterity in illustrating conchology. He travelled the coasts of England, Scotland and France to obtain specimens for his illustrations and olleagues provided him with specimens from more distant countries. When he died, in 1846, he left behind him a vast number of watercolours consisting of 7,260 prints of 3,025 species in 16 portfolios. This collection was purchased by public subscription in 1890 and presented to Newcastle Public Library where it has been housed ever since. In 2007, with the help of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the collection has been preserved and made more accessible to visitors.

This seems to be the only documentary reference to a cross at Whitburn: '4 September 1329. Simon son of John of Kelloe and John of Wingate (Wyndgates) had an argument in the exchequer in Wingate opposite the forge over a small hay-rick on 19 August. Afterwards Simon's son Nicholas stabbed John in the arm with a long knife. He died on 29 August.
18 September 1329. Matilda Corter of Chester, coming to Durham, was travelling towards Beutroue manor on 4 September. Crossing the Wear around vespers at Ryolford, she fell in and (m2) drowned. She was washed up at Trollesden. William Gilet of Whitburn (Whitberme) and John Dunyng of Whitburn had an argument in Whitburn opposite the cross at night on 3 September. William struck John in the head with a long knife. He died on 6 September'.

Built in 1905. Seated 70 people. An unusually small chapel of brick with stone dressings. Out of religious church ?1998. Now Church House. Much altered.

This church is first shown on the Ordnance Survey second edition map of 1897. It was later named as St Columba Parish Church (C of E). It is now demolished.

Built in 1874. Closed after damage from mining subsidence around 1950.