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Sunderland:
City and People Since 1945
Neil Sinclair
Few cities have changed so dramatically since the
end of World War Two as Sunderland. In 1945 it was
the largest shipbuilding town in the world and its
economy and employment depended on its heavy industries.
By 2000 the shipyards, coal mines and industries had
vanished along with famous names such as Vaux Breweries
and Binns department store. In a few decades Sunderland
was transformed. Working life altered forever with
the coming of car manufacturing and telephone call
centres, and the social and cultural changes that
occurred were just as rapid and wide-ranging.
Neil Sinclair’s beautifully illustrated and
meticulously researched history of this period gives
a fascinating insight into the process of change.
He recalls the personalities, events and underlying
trends that had a major impact on the development
of the city. The slum clearance programme is well
described, as are the development of the vast post-war
housing estates and the changes in the city centre.
A fine selection of illustrations shows how the old
industrial sites, often on the river-banks, have been
reused for housing, leisure facilities and the growing
university campus.
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