The opening of Sunderland South docks in 1850 - the first "strike" had been held here in 1768. This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA ...

It draws on Sunderland Docks, Hendon Paper Works, the ropeworks and the 700 female shipbuilders who lived and worked in wartime Sunderland at the shipyards which once lined the banks of the Wear.