Minster Park

The new Minster Park was a major public realm investment for the Townscape Heritage Scheme using public funding to improve public access, enhance the historic built environment and invigorate this part of Sunderland City Centre.

The park was once the heart of Bishopwearmouth village with groups of 17th and 18th century cottages and later mansions centred around a village green. Reconnecting the historic relationship between the space and Sunderland Minster was an important part of the project which was completed in August 2020.

The project included creating a new central sensory garden, paving, planting, seating and lighting based on historic research and using reclaimed historic materials wherever possible. The stone boundary walls to the churchyard were rebuilt improving their stability, surviving historic railings repaired and 1974 steel railings replaced with cast iron to match the historic pattern. Heritage features and reclaimed materials were carefully integrated into the design retelling the story of the lost village and creating a more positive visual relationship with the historic church.

The shape of the central sensory garden replicates the historic footprint of the lost streets of South Gate and Little Gate, with views through the space towards the listed church and almshouses. Reclaimed materials were used to ensure a sustainable project that reflects local built character and using local specialists and craftsmen. To create new cast iron replica railings a local foundry in Sunderland were commissioned and used recycled brake pads. Reclaimed carboniferous limestone and handmade red bricks were carefully used to construct new boundary walls to the sensory garden using traditional methods. Not only was this a sustainable reuse of locally significant materials but it also helped create the impression of the derelict streets, with alpine planting to enhance this perception. Two original street name signs for The Green and Little Gate were donated to the project and fragments of an 1867 restoration plaque from the lost Bowes Almshouses were mounted within the central garden.

The planting design was carefully developed to create interest throughout the year with a mix of evergreen and deciduous plants being used. These comprise of both native and ornamental species and include a large number of flowering species known for their benefits to pollinating insects. In addition semi mature trees on site were lifted and replanted to minimise loss of existing trees whilst the mature trees & hedging on site was recovered from another site and incorporated into the design to ensure its survival.

Find out about the wonderful array of plants and trees   in our Minster Park guide. (PDF, 1 MB)(opens new window).