And it’s one that’s being honoured and preserved for future generations by the work of the Southwick Village Green Preservation Society. One of their many projects has been to create a blue plaque heritage trail which weaves its way around the community. Here’s where to find them all.
5. William Mills, The Times Inn, Wear Street
The blue plaque at The Times Inn celebrates the Sunderland-born inventor of the hand grenade which played a pivotal role in the First World War. William Mills was born in Wear Street in 1856 and would go on to become a celebrated engineer and inventor. His most well-known invention is the Mills Bomb, the ring-pull hand grenade used by British and allied forces in the First World War, a weapon which helped play a major role in their victory. It’s an invention which earned William a knighthood in 1922, however, there was little to recognise his contribution to the war effort in his home city – until now. Photo: Frank Reid
6. Lewis Carroll, Holy Trinity Church
The blue plaque on the rectory wall at Holy Trinity Church marks famous author Lewis Carroll's links to Southwick. He would visit his sister Mary who was married to the Rector of Holy Trinity Church.
(Photo by Oscar Gustav Rejlander/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Photo: Getty
7. Scot's Bank / Scott's Bank
This blue plaque marks the two spellings of Scots / Scott’s Bank and its importance as a throughfare in the village. There’s two interpretations of the name. Folklore says that it was known as Scots Bank after a Scottish Army who passed through the ancient village in March 1644 during the English Civil War.
The other interpretation of the name is that it is Scott’s Bank after Scott’s Pottery which was established in 1789. Photo: Stu Norton
8. West wall of the Queen Alexandra Bridge
The landmark Queen Alexandra Bridge opened on June 10, 1909. Southwick-on-Wear Urban District Council provided £11,032 for the building of the approach road and supporting arches on the Southwick side. The centre of the bridge was considered to be the boundary between Southwick and Sunderland. Photo: national world