Holey Rock

Holey Rock A short history of

A short history of

Holey Rock “The Playground of the People”

Matthew Dowell

The first references of Roker was in 1587 when the Abbs family was granted land on the condition that they provided six soldiers to defend the river mouth from attack. What was known as Abbs battery was perched on top of Holey Rock.

1587

Roker Park opened in 1880, a road bridge was constructed over the ravine, this led to the Holey Rock making it a feature in the public space.

1880

Many assumed the name came from a supernatural source and so chipped small parts as souvenirs but it actually comes from the caves and passageways. It famously resembling an elephant, it formed by the sea.

1923

In 1934 a decision was made to permanently close the caves and scale away parts of the cliff. It was demolished and the seawall and promenade were joined together.

1934

Big guns at Roker There have been defences on the cliff tops at Roker at various times for about 200 years. St Abbs Battery saw action during World War I – on 1 April 1916 gunners fired at a zeppelin which had carried out a bombing raid on the city. In 1940 6 inch guns were installed to repel enemy aircraft as air raids started to hit Sunderland.

“Holey Rock, a major attraction, Going in and out of the arches, then on to the front, staring with wonder at the elastic-skin man, who pulled his chest skin over his face, or the an who swallowed three feet of chain while the bathers were going in and out of the bathing cabins nearby…”

2020

I would like to thanks Pat and Peter O’Brien for their Archival Photographs book on Seaburn and Roker which was invaluable, Sunderland Local History Library, Ebay for its endless supply of postcards and all the Mackems who shared their memories.