SUNDERLAND IN 50 BUILDINGS, by Michael Johnson. Published by Amberley Books (www.amberley-books.com). £14.99. Softback.

FROM its origins as one of the foremost centres of learning in Christendom to its industrial triumph as ‘the largest shipbuilding town in the world’, Sunderland has a rich and varied past which is embodied in the buildings that have shaped the city.
The author explores the history of this vibrant community by analysing a selection of its greatest architectural treasures, from the Saxon church of St Peter to the modern Stadium of Light. Churches, theatres, pubs and cinemas of Sunderland’s industrial heyday are examined alongside the innovative buildings of a 21st century city. The text is illustrated with colour photographs and archival images showcasing the best of Sunderland’s heritage.