BUSY DAY

I caught the bus to Gateshead at 9.40am.  Then I caught the Metro to Park Lane ( Sunderland ). I was meeting up with blip pal Pat ( Shygirl73)  who was  already on the Metro.  She was on a mission to find the grave of an ancestor who was buried in a cemetery in Sunderland. When we got to Park Lane we had to catch a bus to Bishopwearmouth Cemetery.

The place was massive ( I have found out this evening that its 80 acres ).  Pat didn't have much info as to where the plot might be - the only clue was a photo she had seen online of the tall monument marking the grave - and that the grave was near a fence beside a hedge.  We couldn't find anything like that.  We realised that we might not even be in the right cemetery as there is another one in Sunderland at Grangetown.

Anyway we got the bus back into Sunderland city centre and went to the Information desk at The Museum and Winter Gardens.  The chap there advised us to go to the Civic Centre who might be able to help.  So we walked there - it wasn't far.  The lady there said they could do a search - it might take a while and it would cost £30.  Pat decided to try and do some free research herself.

We walked back to the Museum and had a wander around.  We looked in the pottery room and at the mining display.  Then we went into The Winter Gardens -  a 21st Century addition to the museum.  Its a  tropical paradise where over 2,000 plants thrive in the glass rotunda and from the tree top walkway you get a  bird’s eye view of beautiful Mowbray Park.

By this time we were in need of a sit down so we headed for Greggs where we had a coffee and a mince pie. Then we made our way to the Metro station to start the journey back home.  I got off at Gateshead and did some shopping in Tesco before getting the bus home.

So I think another trip to Sunderland is on the cards - this time to Grangetown Cemetery and hopefully we will have better luck in finding what we are looking for.

My blip is of the Anglican Chapel in the cemetery. The chapel dates from 1856 and is Grade 11 listed.  I have tagged it for Derelict November. Thanks to 60plus for hosting.

In my Extra shots you can see Pat - searching in the cemetery - and Pat in Greggs.

Steps today - 15,109