A digital reconstruction shows Pann’s Bank, Sunderland, as it might have looked in the 1800s. Shipbuilding has defined Sunderland since the 18th century. The industry’s roots go back to 1346, when merchant Thomas Menville established the first shipyard at Wearmouth. Demand for wooden ships soared during the Napoleonic Wars, and by 1814 the town boasted more than 20 active shipyards, 4 dry docks, 4 floating docks, and 5 boatbuilders’ workshops. Three shipyards lined the harbour’s south side, and two stood to the north. By 1840, Sunderland’s shipbuilding scene had expanded to 76 yards. Before the use of cast iron, bridges needed single spans so tall ships could pass beneath. As stone could not span the River Wear’s width, Hendon Dock Junction Bridge became the world’s first aluminium bascule bridge—a moveable structure counterbalanced by weights. Sunderland’s industrial legacy also includes salt production. Beginning in 1589, seawater was boiled in large pans over coal fires, leaving behind salt crystals. This process, known as salt panning, gave the area between the city centre and the East End its name, Bishopwearmouth Panns Bank. The East End, once a place of intrigue and danger, resounded with the life of the docks. Smugglers, sailors, merchants, and even murderers mingled among the shipyards and alleys that shaped Sunderland’s colourful maritime past.

Commissioned Work (March, 2014). Client: Differentia Design

Software / Tools

Blender 3D, Photoshop