Fulwell
Encyclopedia
Fulwell is an affluent suburb of northern Sunderland
. It borders Seaburn
, Southwick, Monkwearmouth
, and Roker
. Fulwell is located near the district border between Sunderland
and South Tyneside
. Statistically, it is the most affluent of the City of Sunderland's 25 wards.
Housing in the area is varied. A large network of streets in the southern area of Fulwell contains many nineteenth-century terraced houses, with a large amount of Victorian architecture
. In the northern part of Fulwell, housing consists mostly of the semi-detached variety, much of it inter- and post-war, with many of the most popular streets constructed in the 1930s. House prices, particularly in the area's eastern and western edges, bordering Seaburn and Newcastle Road respectively, are amongst the highest in the city.
Due to Fulwell's role as an overwhelmingly residential area, economic activity in the ward is mostly restricted to the retail and leisure sectors. Local services centre around the main thoroughfare of Sea Road, where a large shopping parade has been established for many years. A mid-sized Sainsbury's store opened in 2006 at Station Road. There is also a fire station, a public library, a GP clinic and two dental surgeries, and the area is well-served by local bus services as well as by the Tyne and Wear Metro
network, at Seaburn station
. Fulwell Junior School is consistently ranked as one of the best in the City of Sunderland
LEA. Fulwell is also a popular area for social drinking, with a substantial number of pubs and social clubs.
Fulwell was primarily a farming village until it became part of the urban sprawl of industrial Sunderland in the nineteenth century. Relics of this agricultural past still survive in the form of three windmill
s, including the 19th century Fulwell Mill, the only windmill in the United Kingdom featuring a stone reefing stage. The mill, built in 1808, was restored to working order between 1996 and 2001 after over half-a-century out of use, and celebrated its bicentenary in 2008.
Politically, Fulwell has long been regarded as a staunch Conservative
ward in a region of traditional Labour
strength. Since the ward's creation it has always had at least one Conservative party councillor, and is currently represented on Sunderland City Council by three Conservative councillors.
City of Sunderland
The City of Sunderland is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough...
. It borders Seaburn
Seaburn
Seaburn is a seaside resort and suburb of Sunderland, North East England. The village of Whitburn borders the area to the north. To the west and south-west is Fulwell and to the south the coastal resort of Roker....
, Southwick, Monkwearmouth
Monkwearmouth
Monkwearmouth is an area of Sunderland located at the north side of the mouth of the River Wear. It was one of the three original settlements on the banks of the River Wear along with Bishopwearmouth and Sunderland, the area now known as the East End. It includes the area around St. Peter's Church...
, and Roker
Roker
Roker is a tourist resort and affluent area of Sunderland, North East England, bounded on the south by the River Wear and Monkwearmouth, on the east by the North Sea, to the west by Fulwell and on the north by Seaburn. It is administered as part of the City of Sunderland.The majority of the...
. Fulwell is located near the district border between Sunderland
City of Sunderland
The City of Sunderland is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough...
and South Tyneside
South Tyneside
South Tyneside is a metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear in North East England.It is bordered by four other boroughs - Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead to the west, Sunderland in the south, and North Tyneside to the north. The border county of Northumberland lies further north...
. Statistically, it is the most affluent of the City of Sunderland's 25 wards.
Housing in the area is varied. A large network of streets in the southern area of Fulwell contains many nineteenth-century terraced houses, with a large amount of Victorian architecture
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
. In the northern part of Fulwell, housing consists mostly of the semi-detached variety, much of it inter- and post-war, with many of the most popular streets constructed in the 1930s. House prices, particularly in the area's eastern and western edges, bordering Seaburn and Newcastle Road respectively, are amongst the highest in the city.
Due to Fulwell's role as an overwhelmingly residential area, economic activity in the ward is mostly restricted to the retail and leisure sectors. Local services centre around the main thoroughfare of Sea Road, where a large shopping parade has been established for many years. A mid-sized Sainsbury's store opened in 2006 at Station Road. There is also a fire station, a public library, a GP clinic and two dental surgeries, and the area is well-served by local bus services as well as by the Tyne and Wear Metro
Tyne and Wear Metro
The Tyne and Wear Metro, also known as the Metro, is a light rail system in North East England, serving Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Sunderland. It opened in 1980 and in 2007–2008 provided 40 million public journeys on its network of nearly...
network, at Seaburn station
Seaburn Metro station
Seaburn Metro station is a former National Rail station converted for use by the Tyne and Wear Metro for the Sunderland line extension in 2002...
. Fulwell Junior School is consistently ranked as one of the best in the City of Sunderland
City of Sunderland
The City of Sunderland is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough...
LEA. Fulwell is also a popular area for social drinking, with a substantial number of pubs and social clubs.
Fulwell was primarily a farming village until it became part of the urban sprawl of industrial Sunderland in the nineteenth century. Relics of this agricultural past still survive in the form of three windmill
Windmill
A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
s, including the 19th century Fulwell Mill, the only windmill in the United Kingdom featuring a stone reefing stage. The mill, built in 1808, was restored to working order between 1996 and 2001 after over half-a-century out of use, and celebrated its bicentenary in 2008.
Politically, Fulwell has long been regarded as a staunch Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
ward in a region of traditional Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
strength. Since the ward's creation it has always had at least one Conservative party councillor, and is currently represented on Sunderland City Council by three Conservative councillors.