Cause of Sunderland workmen's club fire remains 'unknown', and how the site looks now

Firefighters were called to the former New Herrington Workmen's Club on Langley Street in New Herrington in the early hours of Thursday, August 8. They were at the scene for around 13 hours.

The building had been closed for and stood empty for some time. An equivalent club is now run from a nearby bowling pavilion, which was not damaged by the August fire.

Thankfully there were no casualties, a despite the extent of the blaze.

The building was already in disrepair. Temporary fencing had been in place around it before the fire and is still there.

The former two-storey club has now been demolished and lies there as rubble. However, the cause of the fire is still to be established.

On October 15, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson told the Echo: “We can confirm that in the early hours of Thursday 8th August 2024, five appliances were dispatched to a derelict building in Sunderland.

“The initial emergency call was received at 5.08 am, and the first appliance was in attendance at 5.15 am. Crews from Farringdon, Marley Park, Rainton Bridge and Sunderland Central Community Fire Stations were in attendance, including an aerial ladder platform.

“The source of the fire at the former social club in Houghton was reported as unknown. Our crews left the scene at 6.25pm on Thursday, once the fire had been extinguished.”