What are your memories of Sunderland's historic tea rooms?

The Elephant Tea Rooms building is currently being revamped to house Sunderland City Council library service’s extensive collection of records and information on the city.

The council is currently renovating the ground and first floors of the building and, to mark its rebirth, the libraries services have teamed up with The Regional Oral History Centre: Living History North East and audio

producer Jay Sykes to feature it in a brand new podcast series.

To celebrate the building’s vibrant history and heritage - they want to hear the memories and voices of residents.

The podcasts – An Elephant Never Forgets – is due to launch next year.

A spokesman for the library service said: “We are calling out to the people of Sunderland to come and help us celebrate this iconic building and its history.

“If you have any memories of this building, its past, and how it’s been a part of your life and the town’s development, we want to hear from you.”

People are being asked to call in at The Donnison School Heritage and Education Centre, in Church Walk, Sunderland, on Wednesday November 27 between 11pm and 4.30pm to share any stories, photographs, or memorabilia that relates to the building or the area.

Jay Sykes will be compiling your memories of the building - whether that’s opening a bank account, buying a suit from the tailors, or simply looking up at the elephants from across the street.

He said: “Come and join us and have your memories become part of our city’s audio history.”

“An Elephant Never Forgets” will be available for download as a new original weekly podcast. The episodes will also be showcased at live events in Elephant Tea Rooms Building, where the project will continue to collect more memories.

The Elephant Tea Rooms have been part of Sunderland’s past since 1872.

Built by Henry Hooper and designed by Frank Caws, for the tea merchant Ronald Grimshaw, it was once home to a business credited with controlling one of the largest retail tea, coffee, and grocery trades in the North East of England.