In antiquity the area was known as Wearmouth. The name Sunderland was used from the 17th century. The name probably derived from ‘land’ which was ‘sundered’ or separated from the monastery at Monkwearmouth.
Sunderland's most prominent landmark is Penshaw Monument – it even appears on Sunderland AFC's crest. It was built in 1844 in honour of the first Earl of Durham, John George Lambton. Penshaw was modelled on the Theseion, the Temple of Theseus in Athens
Sunderland born inventor Joseph Swan demonstrated his electric light bulb in Fawcett Street on January 19th 1879. Edison's version was demonstrated in December 1879.
George Stephenson is famous for inventing the Locomotion Train, but a few years prior to this had built a railway to transport coal from Hetton to Sunderland.
The Sunderland International Airshow is the biggest free airshow in Europe
Without a Sunderland invention the TV character Dr. Who would have had to use a different method of transport as it was 1923 when Sunderland Chief Constable F. J. Crawley pioneered phone boxes.
Lewis Carrol often stayed with relatives in Whitburn and it was one night whilst they all chatted that Carrol created "Jabberwocky". A Walrus on display in the Sunderland Museum is said to be the inspiration behind Lewis Carrol's poem, "The Walrus and the Carpenter".
Newcastle United was formed by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and originally played in red and white stripes.
The US Flag – the stars and stripes could be said to be modeled from Sunderland's teams colours. Though in reality the coat of arms of the First US President George Washington, who hailed from Washington (UK) was red and white stripes.
When US President Abraham Lincoln was assasinated in 1865 he was watching a play by Sunderland born Tom Taylor – the play was titled "Our American Cousin".
James Herriot, the man responsible for an entire generation wanting to become vets, was not Scottish as many people believe; he was born in Sunderland as James Alfred Wight on October 3 1916.
The first stained glass produced in England was made at St. Peter's Monastery in 674 AD.
When the Wearmouth Bridge was built it was the largest single span bridge (also the largest iron bridge) in the world.
The Wearmouth Colliery shaft, opened in 1835, was the deepest mineshaft in the world, reaching a depth of 1700ft.
Sunderland was the largest ship building town in the world. The first recorded shipbuilder was Thomas Menville in 1346.
Sunderland became the first club to sign someone's manager. In 1949 they made a bid for Carlisle United player-manager Ivor Broadis. Broadis handled negotiations himself, accepted the bid for himself and he was over to Sunderland for a fee of £18,000. Carlisle can't have been too disappointed, as Broadis was replaced as manager by some bloke called Bill Shankly.
In 1990, Sunderland lost the play offs, but still got promoted, as Swindon were penalised for illegal payments.
Sunderland Parish Church was the first brick built church in England
The first patented rope factory in England (Websters) was opened in Sunderland, which means they have more threads than all the hotels in Portugal.
If you have ever wondered why all fire exits open outwards, here's why. During a show at the Victoria Hall in Sunderland, children were told that they could get free sweets from the stage. There was a sudden rush down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs was a door. The door opened inwards and there was a massive crush. Over 180 children were killed and legislation was brought into place that doors should open outwards. A monument to this tragedy stands in Mowbray Park
The first cholera cases of the epidemic in the country were seen in Sunderland in 1831.
The term 'nailing your colours to the mast originates from a Sunderland man. Jack Crawford, a sailor from Sunderland was on Admiral Duncan's ship at the Battle of Campdeown. During the battle, part of the mast was damaged and the Admiral's flag was lowered (considered a sign of surrender). Jack Crawford climbed the mast and nailed the colours back to the mast. He was presented to the King and given a state pension of £30 a year. He died in poverty, of cholera and was buried in a pauper's grave. A memorial to Jack Crawford is located in Mowbray Park.