East Durham

How the Newbottle ghost tale might have looked, according to AI.

The Wearside ghost who could predict horse races

Seaham Hall head chef Kenny Atkinson and Durham County tourist officer Sarah Burn were trying out desserts as part of the Taste of Durham campaign in 2008.

Serving up Sunderland and East Durham-linked chef memories

Women aged 40 to 60 in East Durham are benefiting from National Grid funding.

Fitness programme for women launched

Taking a look inside the pub in a Sunderland Echo archive photo from 2013. Tell us if you loved a cosy night at this venue.

The cosiest memories of Sunderland pubs at their warming Autumn best

A dinner with a Wild West theme at the school in 2008 and it looks like Connor Williams and Charli Smillie were enjoying the day. Also pictured is catering supervisor Jillian Jenner.

Sunderland and East Durham school meal memories as big changes loom

The Tray Cafe team with Natalie Lister, centre.

Sunderland woman appointed as head chef at an East Durham venue

Arsonist Neil Cook has been jailed after setting a house alight following a dispute over a car.

Arsonist's expert lesson in how to get caught

Sunderland people won these wonderful prizes in competitions

Did you enjoy swimming at Dawdon Pit Pond, seen here in August 1974?

Dawdon's glorious pit pond and the summer days you spent there

Seaham Youth Centre Jazz Band mascot Lee Davison, 4, was dwarfed by the drum of Michelle Tully (14) at the Castletown Carnival of 1981.

11 of the loveliest memories from Sunderland's jazz bands of the past

Young people from the academy's Foundation Hub engage in an outdoor multi-sensory session.

Students unite to create opera

Pictured front left is Les Todd, Durham County Council site manager, and front right is Mick Little, chief operating officer for Ascent Academies' Trust. Hope Wood Academy head, Adele Pearson, is standing middle back.

Specialist school opens fourth site in East Durham

St Anthony's head teacher Fran Craik was pictured after talking of her delight at the school's GCSE results in 2022.

A tribute to teachers pictured in Sunderland and East Durham

Karbon Homes form half of Seaham Garden Village

We've reached two-year milestone in 750 home Seaham development

An estimated 200,000 people from across the region are believed to have attended Durham Miners Gala.

Our heritage - 15 fab photos as thousands line streets for Miners Gala

The Monkwearmouth Lodge was finely represented in 2003.

Sunderland and East Durham memories at the Miners Gala in 11 scenes
Tradition, pride and spectacle
Chris Cordner

Defiant is a powerful new documentary film about the Miners' Strike

Powerful new film looks at The Miners' Strike and its legacy

SERMON … Kay Holborn Bond with her three pieces

New exhibition looks at impact of energy technologies on coalfields

Houghton Colliery, the oldest pit in the county, was closing in 1981.
Workers who had not opted for voluntary redundancy were being transferred to Seaham, Vane Tempest, Eppleton and Wearmouth pits, and the Philadelphia Workshops.

A sad day for the Durham coalfield as Houghton pit faced closure

Remembering the tragic day when more than 80 people lost their lives in the Easington pit disaster.

Remembering the Easington pit disaster victims 75 years on

Seaham Hall is celebrating 25 years as a hotel

Seaham Hall celebrating 25 years with summer party

At 81, Seaham grandmother Florence Islip was surely the Sunderland Echo's oldest paper deliverer in 2011, but she did the job with a smile.

The paper boys and girls of Wearside pictured in the past

John Appleby, headteacher of Easington Church of England Primary School, celebrates their glowing Ofsted report alongside pupils Alice, Oliver, Faith, Joseph, Katie and Cassius.

Headteacher ‘incredibly proud’ of school’s Ofsted report

Staff at Hope Wood Academy, in Easington Colliery, completed a five mile circular walk to raise awareness of mental health and suicide.

School staff take on five-mile charity walk

Staff at Hope Wood Academy, in Easington Colliery, completed a five mile circular walk to raise awareness of mental health and suicide.

School staff take on five-mile charity walk

Wingate farmer Andrew Thompson next to his wind turbine.

'How investing in a wind turbine slashed my energy bills'

Jenny Connor at the farm in East Durham

Hidden gem farm a stone's throw from a19 in line for national award
Tucked away behind a housing estate in East Durham, just minutes from the throng of the A19 and the hustle and bustle of Dalton Park, lies a unique farm that’s a masterclass in sustainable living.
Katy Wheeler

East Durham trust energy co-ordinator Eleanor Norton.

East Durham residents facing fuel poverty offered renewable energy lifeline

Latimer's Seafood owner Robert Latimer was pictured last year with Donald the fisherman statue.
The seafood favourite had a great shellfish summer due to good weather condition and producing a seafood summer picnic platter for this photo.

I'm serving up memories of 17 fish and chip shop scenes

It's 35 years since a film crew arrived in Dawdon to begin shooting for Alien III.

The 35th anniversary of Alien III filming on Dawdon beach

Some of the Little'n clothing line with co-founder Fiona Milroy

I've launched a fun unisex baby clothes line to plug gap in market

The crowds enjoying last year's Seaham Food Festival.

Dates revealed for 2026 Seaham Food Festival

Children and Santa in Joplings Grotto in November 1994. Tell us if it was your favourite grotto.

11 enchanting photos of Sunderland children in Santa's grotto

Grand Central is extending its service

Next stop Seaham as Grand Central to stop at East Durham town

Slice Derry launches next weekend

We've brought a new kind of pizza to an historic Seaham spot

A real sign of a bygone time as a youngster is pictured with fireworks at Saxons in Sunderland in 1952.

Sunderland and East Durham Bonfire Night scenes in sparkling retro

The most famous modern author from Sunderland is James Herriot; born Alf Wight in Brandling Street, Roker in 1916.
Herriot always saw himself as vet first and author second.

A toast to 21 Sunderland and East Durham writers for Authors Day 2025

A 'ghoul-like phantom' was said to haunt an area of Sunderland called The Swallow near Westheath Avenue in the era before World War II.
It was so scary that children would not go anywhere near it.

Monks, pink ladies and a phantom monk - 13 ghostly Sunderland tales

There are very few more stunning sights than sunset on Penshaw Monument. This was AI's pick for a top night-time view.

AI's choices for the best Wearside and East Durham's night time scenes

Shoppers visiting Sunderland Debenhams for the final time on May 8, 2021.

15 Sunderland stores you might have used for Xmas shopping in the past

Bobby Thompson with fans at the Sunderland Empire in 1981. AI said: "A comedian from Penshaw area, beloved locally for his humour and because he came from “ordinary” Sunderland roots.

15 Sunderland people who deserve a statue - according to AI

Year 9 students from St Bede's School in Peterlee hosted a visit in 2002 by Dr Saralyn Mark, a senior medical advisor at NASA, who talked about the space agency's mission to Mars.

A galaxy of Sunderland and East Durham photos for World Space Week

Cotsford Primary School in Horden create their own sustainable communities.

East Durham schoolkids imagine shape of things to come

Ian Jobling on hoopla at Penshaw Carnival in 1976.

Carnival scenes: Sunderland and East Durham's past

A drum bath will be held at Dalton Moor Farm

Immerse yourself in drum bath at hidden gem East Durham farm

Sunderland and East Durham kids really are the tops at creating sandcastles, as these photos show.

Sunderland's sandcastle stars: Were you snapped?

Kylie Minogue on what is believed to be Seaham Beach.

Kylie Minogue spotted on what is believed to be Seaham Beach after gig

Declan Williams (top left), Connor Hepple (top right), Ryan Corkhill (bottom left) and Ben Hepple (bottom right).

Wearside men sentenced in clampdown on supply of cocaine and heroin

Why there's a buzz about the honey being made without bees

The Mill Inn restaurant will open at the old Mill Inn

Historic Seaham pub goes back to its old name

How mine water will be used to heat new homes on major development

I retired from the NHS to set up my off-grid retreat in East Durham

There was plenty going on over the years on this day in Wearside history.

11 photos from this day in Sunderland's history

Trainee teacher Rukhsaar Hussain

Applications open for teacher training for September 2025 intake

We love this wonderful 2011 photo from the Premier Kindergarten at Plains Farm Primary School.

They'll be teenagers now! 11 photos of Sunderland kids at nursery

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