The Eighteenth Century was the age of the Charity School. Small, local establishments were endowed by bequests from generous benefactors, usually in association with the church and often built in their shadow.

The Donnison was one such school established under church auspices in Sunderland Parish, through the provision made by Elizabeth Donnison in her will (1778). This provision offered free education for 36 poor girls between the ages of seven and sixteen. They were taught religious knowledge, reading, writing and arithmetic, spinning, sewing and knitting and were provided with clothing and shoes. Each girl received a full suit of clothing at Christmas, a part suit at midsummer, and two pairs of shoes.

In 1827 Mrs Elizabeth Woodstock built a house for the mistress in Church Walk, adjacent to the school. Although such combinations of buildings were not uncommon, few examples remain. The Donnison buildings are now not only a well-preserved example, but may be unique in the North East.

Today the school and schoolhouse lie within the Old Sunderland Conservation Area and are listed grade II. On Church Walk, they lie between Holy Trinity Church (listed grade I) and the Trafalgar Square Almshouses (listed grade II). Both the School and School House are classified as ‘at risk’ by the Local Planning Authority, Sunderland City Council, having been damaged by fire in May 2002.