The sad and disturbing history of the name behind the “Cut Throat Dene” (Seaburn Dene)

What is known as The Cut Throat Dene, or the Seaburn Dene, is a stream which forms part of the geographical boundary of the City of Sunderland and the borough of South Tyneside. The stream rises in the hills near East Boldon, making its way past Mere Knolls Cemetery and down into Seaburn, where it goes under the road and discharges into the sea. If it wasn’t obvious already, it is this stream which gives the name “Seaburn“, hence a burn (stream) going to the sea.

But how exactly, did this stream get the official name “Cut Throat Dene” which is even used on Google Maps. The answer is that there is a very disturbing and tragic history that lies behind it. It is popularly assumed first, that the area was the site of a murder, although there is no distinct record as to who it may have been. Secondly, the area was in the Victorian Times, strongly associated with suicide. The village of Fulwell had a higher rate of suicides per capita than any other area of Sunderland at the time, and with it being an isolated spot, it is likely this was a common place it occurred.

However, Sunderland City Council disagrees with this interpretation of the name. In a recent document promoting local walks around the Fulwell area, they claim that its name is a corruption of “cut through” that is, the dene cutting through the forest and into the sea, although they do not state any origins for this. Despite the competing theories, the name continues to attract interest.