HERITAGE TALK: IN OR ABOUT 1225

In 2025 North Shields is celebrating the 800th anniversary of its founding in 1225. As part of a programme of special activities and events co-ordinated by North Tyneside Council, the Old Low Light will have an exhibition exploring the town’s history.

During 2024 Old Low Light staff and volunteers began researching and preparing material for display in 2025, building on the extensive knowledge and previous findings from exhibitions over the past ten years. Throughout the year we will be introducing new display boards setting out different aspects of the town’s history up to the present day.

In setting the scene for this 1225 exhibition, Guy will begin the year with a look at the founding of North Shields and the historical context of the town’s origins. After summarising the evidence for the earliest settlement in the area and sharing insights into myths and legends pertaining to the area, he will move onto the 1225 date and ask what was North Shields like at that time.

From there he will outline the town’s next 100 years of history, exploring how the better part of a century of peace and plenty was brought low by international politics and the activities of kings, churchmen and the collapse of good relations between England and Scotland.

His talk will conclude at the end of the Middle Ages, just prior to the next period to be included in our exhibition, being covered in our talk - The Tudor Tyne - on Saturday 8 February by Old Low Light trustee Nina Brown.

Host or Publisher The Old Low Light