Ryhope is a coastal village along the southern boundary of the City
of Sunderland, in Tyne and Wear, North East England. Ryhope from the
Old English reof hoppas, meaning 'rough valley' is first mentioned
in 930AD when king Athelstan granted the land of Bishopwearmouth
including the township of Ryhope to the Bishop of Chester-le-Street.
The older village section is three streets situated around the
triangle of the village green which contains a war monument. The
northern edge of the green is Sunderland to Stockton road,
consisting of houses and stone built cottages and at the other end
is the old church which became the village school when St Paul's
church was built in 1870. It then became a rent office which also
closed in 2005.
On the South side of the green there was Ryhope Hall which burnt
down, South-west of the village is Cherry Knowles Hospital. The
Ryhope Engines Museum is also in this area.
To the west of the green there was a stone built cottage this was
the home of the local official responsible for letting the green and
the conduct of the people who used it. The last official to live
there was Henry Story, a local farmer, the cottage has since been
demolished and in its place stands the "Cenotaph' in honour to the
fallen of the two great world wars.
In 1859 a colliery was opened, causing huge changes in the geography
of the village. Ryhope extended west toward the area of Tunstall,
creating two distinct areas of Ryhope, the 'Village' and the
'Colliery'. The post-WWII, council built estate of 'Hollycarrside'
forms a third section. Railway lines were introduced to the area,
linking Ryhope to Sunderland, Seaham and other Durham Coalfield
mining villages. In 1966 the pit closed, marking the end of an era for Ryhope.
