Barnes, Sunderland facts for kids

Barnes is a lively area in the southwest of Sunderland, a city in northeast England. It's about a mile from the city centre. Barnes is split into two parts: Barnes (to the east) and High Barnes (near Barnes Park and the Bede Sixth Form Centre). The area is generally bordered by Chester Road, Durham Road, Springwell Road, and the city centre. However, these borders aren't official, so people might have different ideas about where Barnes starts and ends. In 2011, about 10,987 people lived here. High Barnes has two churches: Ewesley Road Methodist Church and St. Gabriel's Church.

A Look Back in Time

How Barnes Got Its Name

The name "The Barnes" comes from "The Barnes of the Manor of Hameldon." This was a medieval village near Humbledon Hill. After this large estate was divided, the Barnes area became the property of the Bowes Family.

Old Mansions and Homes

The Ettrick family once had a big mansion north of where Barnes Park is today. It stood on a hill overlooking the area. This mansion eventually became old and was taken down in the mid-1800s. Later, a Catholic care home, run by the Little Sisters of The Poor, was built on the same spot in the late 1800s. This large building is still a major landmark in the area. In 2013, the nuns handed over the care home to St Cuthbert's Care, and it still helps people today.

The Pemberton family owned the estate in the mid-1800s. They lived in a red-brick house called 'The Barnes'. This house was located where the lower bowling greens are now in Barnes Park. 'The Barnes' house was taken down in 1921 to make way for the bowling greens. It used to have two grand paths lined with Dutch Elm trees. Most of these trees are gone, but one path still remains as the entrance to the park from the A690 Durham Road.

During World War II, some houses on Colchester Terrace were damaged by bombs. You can't see the damage anymore, but you can notice that the houses change style there. Some are two-storey houses built in the 1920s, while others are more like cottages.

Images for kids

• 

  The large building that was once the Ettrick family mansion site.

Getting Around

Barnes is well connected by buses on Chester Road and Durham Road. You can catch frequent buses to the city centre, and also to places like Newcastle upon Tyne, Durham, Consett, and Washington. There are also services to Herrington, Silksworth, Farringdon, and Hastings Hill. Besides the main bus routes, the 8 and 35 services go from Ormonde Street and Barnes Park to the town centre.

Barnes does not have its own Metro station. However, Pallion, Millfield, and University stations are all close enough to walk to.

Barnes Park

Barnes is perhaps best known for its beautiful and historic public space, Barnes Park. This park opened in 1908 and is a very important part of Sunderland's history. In 2009, the park received a big £2.4 million makeover. This was made possible by a successful grant from the lottery, which helped to improve and restore many parts of the park for everyone to enjoy.