Mowbray Park

Mowbray Park is a Victorian park built on former quarry land, featuring curved pathways that wind through landscaped mounds and tree-lined lawns near Sunderland's center. A railway cutting divides the site, while multiple entrances provide access to the adjoining museum and recreational facilities including a playground, bowling green, and tennis courts.

The park opened in 1857 on former limestone quarry land, taking its name from the family who previously owned the property. Over its lifetime it evolved as a public space reflecting changing attitudes toward recreation and green space in the industrial city.

The grounds display bronze statues of historical figures and a cast-iron fountain that reflect local heritage and civic pride. Visitors walking through can encounter these monuments and learn about the people who shaped the community over time.

The park has several entry points, making it easy to access from different directions, especially near the museum complex. The paved paths offer straightforward walking, though the landscaped mounds provide gentle slopes that reward a slower pace of exploration.

Russian artillery cannons captured during the Crimean War once stood in the park as war trophies before being melted down during World War II. These pieces of military history served as reminders of a distant conflict for generations of visitors until they were repurposed for wartime needs.