Literary society relaunches after 150 years

The first meeting took place on Thursday at Sunderland's Athenaeum

A literary and philosophical society has relaunched more than 150 years after its last meeting.

Auburn Langley set up the new Sunderland Lit and Phil Society after realising there was a place for it amid "cultural investment" in the city.

Following the launch event on Thursday, the society will run monthly discussions about issues impacting the city.

"I feel like people really need to take ownership for where we're going culturally," Ms Langley said.

The original Lit and Phil Society closed its doors in 1873 after investing in the Athenaeum on Fawcett Street.

"Unfortunately, they bankrupted themselves," Ms Langley said.

"But the ideas lived on."

The next meeting will discuss the future of publishing in Sunderland

While doing historical research into the Sunniside area, she discovered besides ships and coal, the city had had a "huge enlightenment era" of bringing ideas from around the world.

"There's so much happening in Sunderland right now," Ms Langley said.

"We need to get back in person and we need to be having these discussions with other residents, talking about things that actually affect us here."

During the monthly meetings, the revived society will discuss topics with experts at the Athenaeum.

Next month month's topic will be the future of the city's publishing industry.

Roberta Redecke, marketing and events manager at Sunderland Business Improvement District (BID) said the organisation was "delighted" to support the new society in its original home to "encourage conversation, new ideas and healthy debate".