Mowbray Park, Seaburn fairground and the sea front - enjoy this rare cine film footage from 1973

Take a look at this cine film taken by Norman Smith in 1973.

The footage shows birds enjoying a feed in Mowbray Park as well as a visit to the sea front at Seaburn

It was uploaded to social media by Rob Kilburn of Sunderland Antiquarian Society and originally filmed by Norman who said: “I am a Sunderland lad but lived in the West Midlands for a long time.

"After getting married in 1970, I brought my wife Christine to visit relations in 1971 and 1973. I believe I took the film of Mowbray Park and Seaburn in the second visit. I took the small 50mm film for my records,

"Little did I know that I would be asked to move with my employer in November 1973 and so have lived in Eaglescliffe ever since.”

Rob said: “One positive I've been able to take away from the pandemic is people have had more time to root around attics and garages hunting out old footage they haven't seen in years.

"There has been some real gems uncovered like this clip which features some rare footage of Seaburn fairground full of life.

“Since my first go at documentary film-making a number of years ago when I was researching Seaburn Zoo I have always hoped to uncovered some footage of the inside and have been very intrigued by the Seaburn of old.

"I am still holding my breath that someone out there has some footage of the zoo and and a closer look at the fairground.”

Sunderland Antiquarian Society holds extensive archives which have been amassed and donated over the past century by the people of Sunderland.

Although the society’s centre in Douro Terrace can not open for visitors at the moment because of the pandemic, people can still find out more at the Antiquarian Society’s Facebook page or its website at http://www.sunderland-antiquarians.org

What are your memories of Mowbray Park and Seaburn in 1970s? Get in touch and tell us more by emailing [email protected]

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