By the 1840,s Sunderlands population was growing rapidly  and open recreational areas were necessary. Building Hill Quarry, which was where much of our Town Centre building stone came from became available  so it was purchased by the Council. 

Bought from the Mowbray family for £2,000 in 1854 it was laid out by the gardener of the Marquess of Londonderry as a park. At the Toward road side of the park was the Victoria Hall which was destroyed by German bombers in 1941 when it was hit with a parachute mine.