The Watch House Museum

The Roker Watch House opened in 1906 as the headquarters of the then Roker Volunteer Life Brigade; the Sunderland VLB then being stationed south of the river Wear.

It was built with a look out from which the Brigadesmen kept watch over the harbour, beaches and piers to the north of the river; this is now used by SVLB Coastwatch. When the Brigade in the south closed in 1958 its responsibilities transferred to Roker, and this later then became Sunderland VLB.

The Watch House, as well as being the headquarters of the Brigade, contains a huge amount of information and artefacts from the Brigade’s 130 year history. The Brigade opens the Watch House as a museum every Sunday afternoon plus Bank Holiday Mondays.

On display are memorabilia from some of the ships that came to grief around the coast and harbour, lots of photographs, information on the rescues and many model boats. One room, now used as a meeting room, used to be fitted out with bunks so that shipwrecked sailors could be cared for and accommodated overnight.

There are some children’s activities available for younger children such as colouring books, drawing paper, morse code and DVDs relating to keeping safe at the beach.

Also on display is a plaque commemorating the disaster of the sinking of the City of Benares in 1940 in which nine children from Sunderland died.

Hot and cold drinks are available for purchase along with crisps, biscuits and sweets. There are also Brigade mementos for sale including hats, pennants, car stickers, lapel pins and, seasonally, Christmas cards and calendars.

A short history of the Brigade is on sale for 40p and a published book that comprehensively covers the history of the Brigade is also available at £12.99 – all profits from sales go to Brigade funds.

The Watch House can be opened, by arrangement, at other times for group tours and educational visits and the museum volunteers are happy to give talks on the brigade’s history.