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This large and elaborate picture shows the opening of Sunderland South Docks on June 20th 1850. Fifty thousand spectators gathered, and canons were fired. There was also a water procession with bands and banners. In this picture, ships are waiting to load coal from the staiths on the left. Sunderland's ceremonial barge, with a cabin decorated in gold and red, is in the middle front of the harbour. Mark Thompson was a Wearside artist who made his name painting local harbour and dock scenes such as this.
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