Old Hall, Sunderland Point

The 1683 Old Hall with a West Indian style balcony at Sunderland Point on the Lancashire Coast.
In the late 17th century, Robert Lawson, a Quaker living at Old Hall and two other businessmen developed Sunderland as an out-port for Lancaster. It went on to become the main port for Lancashire, with large ships bringing in cotton, rum, sugar, tobacco and even slaves from the West Indies and Baltic. It is believed that stonework from the ruined Cockersand Abbey across the river was used in the building of the quay, houses and warehouses here. In 1728 Lawson went bankrupt and Lancaster proceeded to develop its own port. In 1787 another new port was opened at nearby Glasson and Sunderland’s trade disappeared.