Ashbrooke

Ashbrooke
Ashbrooke  Ashbrooke shown within Tyne and Wear
OS grid reference	NZ393557
Metropolitan borough	City of Sunderland
Metropolitan county	Tyne and Wear
Region	North East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	SUNDERLAND
Postcode district	SR2
Dialling code	0191
Police	Northumbria
Fire	Tyne and Wear
Ambulance	North East
EU Parliament	North East England
UK Parliament	Sunderland Central
List of places UK England Tyne and Wear

Ashbrooke is a residential area of Sunderland, North East England directly south and south-west of the city centre.

A typical Victorian street in Ashbrooke.

Ashbrooke developed through the Victorian era as Sunderland's first suburb. Originally occupied by large middle-class families, including much of Wearside's Jewish population, a fair number of the larger residences have been reorganised into dwellings of multiple occupancy, home to the local University of Sunderland's students and young professionals.

The large, well-built houses, the wide, tree-lined avenues, and the often colourful street names ('The Esplanade', 'The Oaks', 'The Elms', 'West Lawn', 'Holmlands Park') signify the area's affluence.

The area lies within walking distance of Park Lane and University stations on the Tyne and Wear Metro system.

Local punk band The Toy Dolls wrote a song about Ashbrooke Launderette on their 1987 album Bare Faced Cheek. Various members of the band still either live or work in Ashbrooke.

Ashbrooke is part of St. Michael's ward and is represented by three Conservative councillors.

Sport

Ashbrooke Sports Ground, opened May 30, 1887 for cricket and rugby, is home to many amateur sports associations such as bowls, cricket, tennis, hockey, squash and rugby union. A Tennis tournament before Wimbledon was used as a warm up for players such as Jimmy Connors and Martina Navratilova.