HERITAGE WALK: NORTH SHIELDS OF YESTERYEAR

Join Steve Snowdon on a walk from the North Shields town centre to the fish quay and find out where industries and fishing once thrived and where people lived, shopped and worshipped.

Starting outside North Shields Metro Station and finishing at the Old Low Light Heritage Centre, this is an easy walk (with some steps) and will last a maximum of two hours.

Steve, who has lived all his life in North Shields, will start by providing some context about the history of the town, including the train station, a forerunner of the early railway network on Tyneside.

On leaving Railway Terrace, past the former European Hotel, walkers will head for Borough Road, originally called the ‘New Cut’, before passing by Amron House, once the vicarage for St Peter’s Church and later the ‘dole office’ and on the opposite side of the road the site of Walker’s House of Quality department store.

After crossing Saville Street, walkers can look back on the site of the Theatre Royal, once managed by Arthur Jefferson, better known as the father of Stan Laurel.

The next stop is Ropery Bank, once a hive of activity, and a great viewpoint of the river, passing by the Tyne Steam Packet Provident Society, a ‘friendly society’ for tug boat men and steam trawler workers.

Then its down some steps leading back onto Borough Bank but stopping off to look at the site of St Peter’s Church and school.

At the bottom of the steps is the former Sailors’ Home, built when the port was in its heyday to accommodate visiting seamen. Around the corner to New Quay, is the former town residence of the Duke of Northumberland, later the Northumberland Arms (better known as the Jungle), and beyond, the site of the Bull Ring and Smith’s Dock. Opposite the Northumberland Arms (now apartments), is a hidden World War 2 lookout.

Turning back and heading along the ‘Low Road’ to the fish quay, Steve will explain how the bankside was crammed with houses and the stairways leading to them. He will point out where some of the many public houses stood, including the Prince of Wales, well known as the site of the wooden dolly.

Heading towards the fish quay he will explain the significance of the Herring Girl sculpture, then the advent of steam trawlers and the huge growth in the fishing industry, including some of the local businessmen involved and the steps needed to cope with the glut of fish.

Finally, the walk comes to an end at Clifford’s Fort, outside the Old Low Light Heritage centre where Steve will talk briefly about the history of the high and low lights.