Council defends moving war memorials to Air Museum where people must now pay to see them

Sunderland Civic Centre is no longer in use and could soon be demolished, while the new City Hall was officially opened earlier this month.

Previously the civic centre’s forum was where a memorial in a cabinet was on free display to the public, remembering 140 Sunderland men who fell in the 1899-1902 Boer War,.

It was previously kept in the town hall in Fawcett Street, before the building was demolished and replaced by the civic centre in 1971.

A brass plaque commemorating nine staff of Sunderland Corporation, a forerunner to Sunderland City Council, who died in World War One was also displayed in both of the council’s previous HQs.

The plaque is now stored in the North East Land Sea & Air Museum (NELSAM) on Old Washington Road and expected to be on display by Easter. The Boer War memorial is already on display there.

However, whereas the public could previously look at the memorial and plaque for free, there is a £6.50 museum entrance charge for adults, although it’s free if there is a genuine interest for family or research purposes

The council hasn’t said whether the artefacts are not in City Hall due to the terms of the lease on the building, but has defended its actions.

Leader of the council, Cllr Graeme Miller, said: “Memorials, plaques and commemorative items from the Civic Centre have been loaned to the North East Land, Sea and Air Museum, Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens and Sunderland Maritime Heritage Museum, organisations who form part of the Heritage Sunderland Partnership.

“The partnership brings together approximately 45 heritage sites and practitioners and aims to maintain and grow the city’s unique heritage. While some items are on display and others in storage, all are subject to insurance cover and short-term loan agreements.

“Items loaned to Sunderland Maritime Heritage Museum include the MN Borgsten ship’s bell, the bell from HMS Arrow and the Sunderland War Ships wooden plaque.

"Items loaned to Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens include a Virgin Trains ‘Spirit of Sunderland’ nameplate and a Samurai Warrior ceremonial helmet.

“Many of these items were previously located in parts of the Civic Centre which were not readily accessible by members of the public.”

Support your Echo and become a subscriber today.

Enjoy unlimited access to all of our news and sport, see fewer ads, experience faster load times, test your brain with daily puzzles and get access to exclusive newsletters.

Your support for our journalism means we can continue telling Sunderland’s stories for generations to come. Click here to subscribe – and click here to get a snapshot of the Echo’s news and sport to your inbox through our email newsletters.