Bridges, River, and Stadium – A Sunderland Snapshot from Above

The twin crossings at Monkwearmouth are one of Sunderland’s most recognisable landmarks. The Wearmouth Bridge, opened in 1929, has served as the city’s main artery for generations, its distinctive green steelwork carrying thousands of cars and commuters every day. Just behind it is the older railway bridge, completed in the 1870s, which played a huge role in Sunderland’s industrial growth by linking the docks, shipyards, and coal network to the wider region. Together, they tell the story of a city built on engineering, trade, and the energy of the River Wear.

Capturing the scene from above adds an entirely different perspective. You get the two bridges lined up, the river curving around them, and then the Stadium of Light rising above everything like a modern landmark tying past to present. From a drone’s-eye view, Sunderland feels both tightly knit and surprisingly open — pockets of green in between the roads, the river pulling your eye out to the North Sea, and the sense of a city that still works hard and looks forward. A proper Wearside view.