A BLUE plaque has been unveiled honouring the centenary of a historic hall being used as an army recruitment office.

In January 1915, in a response to a request from the War Office, the then Mayor of Sunderland resolved to raise a Gun Brigade, numbering 800 men.

That brigade would become the 160th (Wearside) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.

Houghton Hall, in Houghton-le-Spring, was used as a recruitment office and today (Monday, March 3) a plaque was installed commemorating a century since the sign-up began, on March 1, 1915.

The plaque was unveiled by Councillor Stuart Porthouse, the current Mayor of Sunderland, Major Euan Quin, Battery Commander 3/29 (Corunna) Battery Royal Artillery, and Philip Adams, author of Idle and Dissolute: The History of the 160th (Wearside) Brigade Royal Field Artillery.

The brigade was deployed to the Western Front in January 1916 and saw action in many of the most infamous battles of the First World War, including the Somme, Arras and Passchendaele.

Maj Quin said: “It’s fantastic to see how proud everyone in this city is of the Gunners.”

Mr Adams, whose great uncle William Adams served with the brigade, said: “I hope that the blue plaque is the start of men of the 160th (Wearside) Brigade receiving just recognition for their sacrifices.

“I hope they can now take their rightful place amongst the proud military history of the North-East of England.”

Mr Adams hopes that a new brigade standard will be created and become part of the annual Remembrance Sunday parade.