South Shields
South Shields shown within Tyne and Wear
OS grid reference	NZ365665
Metropolitan borough	South Tyneside
Metropolitan county	Tyne and Wear
Region	North East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	SOUTH SHIELDS
Postcode district	NE33, NE34
Dialling code	0191
Police	Northumbria
Fire	Tyne and Wear
Ambulance	North East
European Parliament	North East England
UK Parliament	South Shields
List of places: UK • England • Tyne and Wear

Coordinates: 54°59′32″N 1°25′43″W / 54.9921, -1.4286

South Shields is a coastal town in Tyne and Wear in north east England at the mouth of the River Tyne. The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using Latitude and Longitude The districts of England are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government South Tyneside is a Metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear in North East England. Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties are one of the four levels of Subdivisions of England used for the purposes of Local government outside Greater London The region, also known as the government office region, is currently the highest tier of local government sub-national entity of England, with only one North-East England is one of the nine official Regions of England and comprises the combined area of Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear Constituent country is a phrase used often by official institutions in contexts in which a country makes up a part of a larger entity or grouping England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland This list of sovereign states, alphabetically arranged gives an overview of States around the world with information on the extent of their Sovereignty. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located A post town is a required part of all postal addresses in the United Kingdom, and a basic unit of the postal delivery system UK Postal codes are known as postcodes. UK postcodes are Alphanumeric. The NE postcode area, also known as the Newcastle upon Tyne postcode area, is a group of postal districts around Alnwick, Ashington, Bamburgh The UK Telephone numbering plan, also known as the National Telephone Numbering Plan, is the system used for assigning Telephone numbers in the United There are a number of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom. Northumbria Police is the Home Office Police force responsible for policing the areas of Northumberland and Tyne and Wear in England. The fire service in the United Kingdom operates under separate legislative and administrative arrangements in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, formerly Tyne and Wear Metropolitan Fire Brigade is the Statutory fire and rescue service covering the The North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NEAS is the authority responsible for providing NHS Ambulance services in North East England, covering North East England is a Constituency of the European Parliament. This is a list of the 646 constituencies currently represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, as at the 2005 general election South Shields is a Borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. A Gazetteer of place names in the United Kingdom showing each place's County, Unitary authority or council area and its geographical coordinates List of places --> List of cities in the United Kingdom List of towns in England Lists of places This is a list of cities, Towns and Villages in the ceremonial county of Tyne and Wear, England. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The River Tyne is a River in England. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers the North Tyne and the South Tyne. The town has a population of about 90,000 and is part of the metropolitan borough of South Tyneside, which includes the riverside towns of Jarrow and Hebburn and the villages of Boldon, Cleadon and Whitburn. South Tyneside is a Metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear in North East England. Jarrow (ˈjæroʊ or /ˈjærə/ is a Town on the River Tyne, England with a Population around 27000 (2001 Census) Hebburn is a small Town situated on the south bank of the River Tyne in North East England, sandwiched between the towns of Jarrow The Boldons are a group of three villages in England - East Boldon, West Boldon and Boldon Colliery - bordering the north of Sunderland Cleadon is a Suburban Village in North East England in the county of Tyne and Wear.

History

Roman times

The earliest inhabitants of the area were the Brigantes, a strong and fiercely independent Ancient British tribe. The Brigantes were a Celtic tribe who in pre-Roman times controlled the largest section of Northern England and a significant part of the Midlands However, there is no evidence to suggest they built a settlement where the present day town now stands. It was John Leland in the 16th century who first suggested the town had been known as 'Caer Urfa. This is about John Leland antiquary For other people called John Leland see John Leland (disambiguation. ' The Brythonic word 'Caer' meaning a fortified place or seat of royal power, 'Urfa' is suggested to be a simple corruption of 'Vide Infra', the Aramaic name for the Roman stronghold. The Brythonic languages (or Brittonic languages or British languages) form one of the two branches of the Insular Celtic language family the other being In the Welsh language, caer means "fortress" "fort" or "citadel"/"castle" ^[1]

A large Roman fort, Arbeia, has been excavated in South Shields on the Lawe Top overlooking the River Tyne. Arbeia is the remains of a large Roman fort in South Shields, Tyne & Wear, England which has been partially reconstructed The River Tyne is a River in England. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers the North Tyne and the South Tyne. In 2005, it was the setting for an investigation by the Channel 4 Time Team programme. Channel 4 is a public-service Television and Radio broadcaster in the United Kingdom centred around a television channel of the same name which began Time Team is a British television series that has aired on Channel 4 since 1994 ^[2][3] Founded c. AD 120 the fort is mentioned in The Notitia Dignitatum (a list of forts and bases compiled in the 4th century) where it is referred to as Vide Infra. The Notitia Dignitatum is a unique document of the Roman imperial chanceries This is from the Aramaic for "place of the Arabs" (the local garrison came from the areas near the River Tigris in modern day Iran and Iraq). The Tigris is the eastern member of the two great Rivers that define Mesopotamia, along with the Euphrates, which flows from the mountains of southeastern For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. A Latinised version of this name is Arbeia, by which the fort is well known. It is recorded that over 70 men were brought from this Middle-Eastern Region to work as bargemen. Their expertise was needed to navigate the river with supplies. Arbeia was intended as the maritime supply fort for Hadrian's Wall and contains the only permanent stone-built granaries yet found in Britain. Hadrian's Wall ( Latin: perhaps Vallum Aelium, "the Aelian wall" is a stone and turf Fortification built by the Roman It was occupied until the Romans left Britain in the 5th century. A Roman gatehouse and barracks have been reconstructed on their original foundations, while a museum holds artefacts such as an altarpiece to a previously unknown god, and a Roman-era gravestone set up by a native Palmyrene to his freedwoman and wife, a Briton of the Catuvellauni tribe. Palmyra ( Arabic: تدمر Tadmor) was in ancient times an important city of central Syria, located in an Oasis 215 km northeast of Damascus The Catuvellauni were a Celtic Belgic tribe or state of south-eastern Britain before the Roman conquest. There is also a tablet bearing the name of the emperor Alexander Severus. Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander, commonly called Alexander Severus, (October 1 208 &ndash March 18, 235) was the last Roman emperor

The fort was at the end of a road named Wrekendike connected to a larger road which lead between Newcastle upon Tyne (Pons Aelivs) and Chester-Le-Street (Congangis). Newcastle upon Tyne ( (often shortened to Newcastle) is a city and Metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, England Chester-le-Street is the main town in the Chester-le-Street district of County Durham, England. Parts of this road are still visible in Wrekenton near Gateshead. Wrekenton is a suburb of Gateshead, England. Wrekenton is probably best known to passers by as the location of a large branch of the Co-op supermarket Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England. It lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne, opposite Newcastle upon Tyne. The Romans also built a small wharf in nearby Marsden Bay for the purposes of loading sandstone from a quarry. The wharf's remnants remain today although time and tide have left little to see. Arbeia was abandoned by the Romans c. AD 400, when Emperor Honorius informed the people of Britain that they must look to their own country's defences. Honorius may refer to Honorius (emperor (Flavius Augustus Honorius western Roman emperor 395-423 Honorius of Canterbury (Saint Honorius One of the many peoples to take advantage of the Roman Empire's collapse were the Anglo-Saxons. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial For their language see Anglo-Saxon language. Anglo-Saxon is the term usually used to describe the invading Tribes in the south

Dark Ages

Britain in the 6th century is often considered a confused and violent place, the Romans taking their laws, gods and legions with them when they left. However, the north east of England became a centre of learning and education, a beacon of light throughout Europe. King Oswald of Northumbria united the kingdoms of Bernicia to the north of the River Tees and Deira stretching south to the River Humber, creating the powerful and influential Kingdom of Northumbria. Oswald (c 604 &ndash August 5, 642) was King of Northumbria from 634 until his death and is now venerated as a Christian Saint. Bernicia was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom established by Anglian settlers of the 6th century in what is now the South-East of Scotland and the North-East of The Tees is a river in Northern England. It rises on the eastern slope of Cross Fell in the Pennines, and flows eastwards for about 85 miles Deira was a kingdom in Northern England during the 6th century AD The Humber is a large tidal Estuary on the east coast of northern England In AD 647 King Oswy of Northumbria (Oswald's brother)^[4] at the request of St. Aidan allowed a monastery to be built. " Augustine was the Apostle of Kent but Aidan was the Apostle of the English The site today is in the very town centre of South Shields and is named St. Hilda's Church,^[5] although the original Anglo-Saxon building is but a remnant under the present Norman nave. Hilda of Whitby (c 614&ndash680 is a Christian Saint. The source of information about Hilda is The Ecclesiastical History of the English St. Hilda's was one of many monastic institutions along the coast of north east England including Jarrow, where the Venerable Bede lived and worked. Jarrow (ˈjæroʊ or /ˈjærə/ is a Town on the River Tyne, England with a Population around 27000 (2001 Census) Bede (ˈbiːd (also Saint Bede, the Venerable Bede, or (from Latin Beda (beda (c

In about AD 865 the monastery at St. Events By Place Europe Ethelred succeeds as king of Wessex (or 866) Hilda's was raided by the Vikings. A Viking is one of the Norse ( Scandinavian Explorers Warriors Merchants, and pirates who raided and colonized wide areas However, the Vikings (or Danes) weren't just raiders; they created settlements, brought new customs, laws and gods, effectively controlling all of northern England. The term Dane may refer to People with a Danish ancestral or ethnic identity whether living in Denmark, emigrants or the descendants of emigrants This form of government was known as the Danelaw. The Danelaw, as recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (also known as the Danelagh; Old English: Dena lagu; Danish: Anglo-Saxon and Danish influence can be seen to this day; the Geordie dialect and accent spoken throughout the north east contain more words and pronunciations of Anglo-Saxon and Danish origin than standard English. Geordie (ˈdʒɔrdi is a regional nickname for a person from the Tyneside region of England, or the name of the Dialect of English

Middle Ages

In 1100 the Normans built St. Hilda's Church where the nunnery once stood, in the town's market place. The church remains one of the oldest churches in the UK.

The first reference to 'Scheles' (fishermens' huts) occurs in 1235, and the town proper was founded by the Prior and Convent of Durham in 1245. Durham (ˈdʌrəm in RP, locally ˈdʏrəm is a small city and main settlement of the City of Durham district of County Durham, England On account of the complaints of the burgesses of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, an order was made in 1258, stipulating that no ships should be laden or unladen at 'Scheles,' and that no shoars or quays should be built there. Newcastle upon Tyne ( (often shortened to Newcastle) is a city and Metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, England South Shields then developed as a fishing port.

Salt panning along the Tyne began in 1499 and achieved major importance; Daniel Defoe speaks of the clouds of smoke being visible for miles, while a witness in 1743 mentions two hundred boiling-pans. Daniel Defoe (1659/1661 — April 24, 1731 was an English Writer, Journalist, and Pamphleteer, who gained enduring fame for Glass manufacturing was begun by Isaac Cookson in 1650 and there were eight glassworks by 1827. Coalmining and chemical manufacture also became important. South Shields had the largest alkali works in the world. In Chemistry, an alkali (from Arabic: Al-Qaly القلي القالي) is a basic, ionic salt of an Alkali metal

In 1644, during the English Civil War, Parliament's Scottish allies under Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven laid siege to Newcastle-upon-Tyne and captured the watchtower on the Lawe Top at South Shields (Sunderland declared for Parliament and invited the Scottish army in). The English Civil War (1642-1651 was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Alexander Leslie 1st Earl of Leven (c 1580 - April 4, 1661) was a Scottish soldier in Dutch and then Swedish service from 1605 A watchtower is a type of Fortification used in many parts of the world Sunderland (, or /ˈsʌn(dlən/ is a City in Tyne and Wear, England. The Royalist forces retreated to the south but turned to fight at the small town of Boldon (halfway between South Shields and Sunderland). The Boldons are a group of three villages in England - East Boldon, West Boldon and Boldon Colliery - bordering the north of Sunderland The ensuing battle is known as the Battle of Boldon Hill and was a victory for the Scots who later destroyed the rest of the Royalist army at the Battle of Marston Moor. The Battle of Boldon Hill was a skirmish fought during the English Civil War in March 1644 between a Royalist army attempting to bring the army of the Scottish Covenanters The Battle of Marston Moor was fought on July 2 1644 during the First English Civil War of 1642&ndash1646

19th century

The Industrial Revolution changed the way we live forever. The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture manufacturing and transportation had a profound effect on the South Shields was at the forefront of this revolution from the start. With the North Sea to the east South Shields had a plentiful supply of salt water. The North Sea is a marginal, Epeiric sea of the Atlantic Ocean on the European Continental shelf. In 1767 the town had 200 salt pans where sea water was boiled away to leave the salt. These pans consumed 1000 tons of coal per year and produced hydrochloric acid that caused terrible pollution as well as smoke that could be seen for many miles. Hydrochloric acid is the Solution of Hydrogen chloride ( H[[Chlorine Cl]] in water Demand for chemical products such as soap, bleach and dyes for the cloth market increased the industry on Tyneside and in South Shields' Tyne Dock area an alkali works was opened in 1822. Tyneside is a Conurbation in northern England, which is home to over 80% of the Metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear. Alkali could be mixed with other substances to produce soap, alum and also glass. South Tyneside was noted for glassmaking as far back as the 17th century and by 1845 the town was producing more plate glass than anywhere else in England. South Tyneside is a Metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear in North East England. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland

South Shields was under the ownership of the Bishops of Durham for centuries. Durham (ˈdʌrəm in RP, locally ˈdʏrəm is a small city and main settlement of the City of Durham district of County Durham, England The bishops had a long running dispute with the mayors of Newcastle-upon-Tyne who claimed the monopoly on exporting coal from the Tyne. Ports were banned from shipping coal apart from at populated Newcastle with its labour force. The king (King Edward I) supported the mayor's case because Newcastle already had the infrastructure and he could profit from the taxes and duties where as any profit the bishops made went to the Church. Despite the fact that it was more attractive for the king, country, Newcastle and the whole Tyne working population, to have the Tyne spread and increase its population with the highly valued empty land on the Tyne’s shipping lines developed for an economic nexus of various linked industries; with the benefits being a sustained economy, jobs, housing, and more taxes for the king and the British Empire. The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power.

Coal seams around the Tyne are comparatively shallow and coal had been fairly easy to obtain in the area for many years. In the 18th and 19th centuries, demand for coal was growing exponentially. The king needed more taxes and he needed reform. It was logic and strategic that the Tyne with its useful shipping ways needed to spread its population with migration and to encourage further migration from other places like rural County Durham, rural Northumberland, Scotland and Ireland. Northumberland is a county in the North East of England. The non-metropolitan county of Northumberland borders Cumbria to the west Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world It needed to develop its land for future industry.

Reform: Though with nothing like the democracy we see today, the Great Reform Act of 1832, championed by Lord Grey and the Whigs, County Durham was forced to return two members for two divisions, and the boroughs of Gateshead and South Shields acquired representation. Charles Grey 2nd Earl Grey, KG, PC (13 March 1764 &ndash 17 July 1845 known as Viscount Howick between 1806 and 1807 was a British Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England. It lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne, opposite Newcastle upon Tyne. South Shields got its own MP and would eventually go on to be more representative of the spreading and growing population on the Tyne. The king's Tyne shipping lines were freer politically from County Durham and its balancing act with three rivers. It could now develop its industry and use its land to good effect for its own interests and destiny. The king was to soon use quality land with industry to tax. The Tyne was to become one of the most productive rivers in the world.

It was a slow start, however, as large scale shipping and skilled shipbuilding was at first not possible; there was not the local population available to raise and train a skilled labour force.

With easily accessible resources like coal and a need to develop more Tyne shipyards along the shipping lines on the valued land, the needed migration eventually became a reality and began to bring about the industrial and economic boom. This involved mining, shipbuilding and shipping the produce; bringing more taxes for the king.

As the demand continued to grow the coal industry reached new heights with pits opening all over the north east but especially around the River Tyne. In South Shields the population soared from approximately 12,000 in 1801 to 75,000 by the late 1860s. Collieries in South Shields included:

• Templetown (1805-1825)
• St. Hilda's (1810-1940)
• West Harton (1844-1969)
• Boldon (1869-1982)
• Marsden (1879-1968)
• Whitburn (1879-1968)
• Westoe (1909-1993)

Coalmining was very hazardous. Shafts could collapse at any time and naked flames carried by miners to light their way could ignite gas underground causing explosions and many deaths. Some mines even had shafts that stretched several miles out under the sea. However, the mines created jobs and migrants flocked to the North East from all over Britain and Ireland. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world South Shields was over-crowded and sanitation was a problem, partly solved by Cleadon Water Pumping Station (a large tower erected in 1858 above the town following an outbreak of cholera). Cleadon is a Suburban Village in North East England in the county of Tyne and Wear. Cholera, sometimes known as Asiatic cholera or epidemic cholera, is an infectious Gastroenteritis caused by the Bacterium

The mayors of Newcastle-upon-Tyne not only controlled the flow of coal but most of the other shipping as well. Until the tiny population along the valued land could be organised by planners, grown, housed and maintained for industry, to sustain the needed industrial growth, it was feasible that ports along the Tyne were strategically temporarily prevented from being built to build ships, until the population reached its sustainability tipping point. Nevertheless, fishing boats from sparsely populated North and South Shields travelled as far as Iceland in search of fish. Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland (

South Shield's place at the mouth of the Tyne with shifting and unpredictable sand bars and channels into the river meant ships running aground was a frequent event on the town's beaches and as a result the world's first self-righting lifeboat was designed by William Wouldhave in 1790. William Wouldhave (1751–1821 is a rival of Lionel Lukin for the title of inventor of the lifeboat. Wouldhave's design, however, lost to a rival design of lifeboat.

In the 1850s, with the Tyne’s growing shipbuilding industry and the mouth of the Tyne becoming populated to sustain it, South and North Shields needed to stop the flow of sand that threatened to topple and ground ships. North Shields (or locally just Shields) is a town on the north bank of the River Tyne, in the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside, in North In 1854 the first foundations were laid of the North and South Piers. They were both completed in 1885. ^[6]

An engineering problem was encountered with managing the new piers. The sand on Littlehaven Beach was now flowing up the Tyne through the incoming tide. Littlehaven is a neighbourhood of Horsham, in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England. As a solution the Herd Groyne Pier was erected in 1882. ^[6]

Industries like shipping and shipbuilding, that was now sustained by the growing population of the Tyne, was increasing exponentially on the Tyne and in 1859 Tyne Dock was opened. Tyne Dock had a much needed capacity to hold 500 vessels coming in and out of the bustling coaly Tyne. ^[6]

South Shields-born Charles Palmer opened his shipyard in 1851 at Jarrow, at first building wooden ships and then moving onto iron. Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships These can be Yachts military Jarrow (ˈjæroʊ or /ˈjærə/ is a Town on the River Tyne, England with a Population around 27000 (2001 Census) His shipyard patented rolled armour for warships. In 1865 Alderman John Readhead founded his shipyard in South Shields and the various slipways and dry docks can still be seen today stretching from Tyne Dock towards the mouth of the Tyne. Readhead & Sons built small cargo ships and colliers for clients the world over until the yard was closed in 1968.

Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775-1851. Year 1775 ( MDCCLXXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a 1851 ( MDCCCLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year 'Shields on the River Tyne' 1823

Turner made an engraving of Shields on the River Tyne in 1823. Joseph Mallord William Turner (23 April 1775 &ndash 19 December 1851 was an English Romantic landscape painter, Watercolourist and ^[7] This is now in Tate Britain in London. He also painted Keelmen Hauling Coals by Night in 1835, having himself rowed out into the Tyne at Jarrow Slake in order to do so. Year 1835 ( MDCCCXXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common

The town became famous for its maritime industries and the Marine School was founded by Dr. South Tyneside College is a large Further education college in South Tyneside in the United Kingdom, with its main sites in the towns of South Thomas Winterbottom in 1837. ^[8] Originally in Ocean Road, it is now part of South Tyneside College in Westoe Village and has an international reputation. South Tyneside College is a large Further education college in South Tyneside in the United Kingdom, with its main sites in the towns of South It possesses the nationally unique combined public observatory and planetarium, which has provided education and entertainment for twenty thousand children a year. The old Marine College building is impressive and is now a public house. During the industrial boom years of the 19th and early 20th centuries, many notable public buildings were built across the town, reflecting its wealth. These include the new town hall, the Customs House and buildings in areas such as the town centre, Mill Dam, Lawe Top, Harton and Westoe. Harton may refer to one of these places in England Harton North Yorkshire Harton Shropshire Harton South Tyneside Westoe is a suburb of South Shields, Tyne & Wear, United Kingdom.

South Shields was able to elect an MP after the Great Reform Act of 1832 and was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1850 under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835. The Representation of the People Act 1832, commonly known as the Reform Act 1832, was an Act of Parliament that introduced wide-ranging changes to the electoral system Municipal boroughs were a type of Local government which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974 in Northern Ireland from 1840 to The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 (5 & 6 Wm IV c76 - sometimes known as the Municipal Reform Act - required members of town councils ( Municipal corporations It became a county borough in 1889 with the passing of the Local Government Act 1888, and remained as such until 1974 when it became part of the Metropolitan Borough of South Tyneside in the (now former) county of Tyne and Wear. County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (excluding Scotland) to refer to a Borough or a City The Local Government Act 1888 (51 & 52 Vict c 41 was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom in 1888 and established County councils and County borough South Tyneside is a Metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear in North East England.

Conversation Piece Created by acclaimed Spanish sculptor, Juan Munoz in 1999. The 22 bronze life size figures command a superb view of South Shields Harbour and the Tyne Piers.

The Shields Gazette, founded in 1849, is the oldest provincial evening newspaper in the United Kingdom. The Shields Gazette, established in 1849, is a daily evening newspaper Year 1849 ( MDCCCXLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common ^[9]

20th century

The impressive South Shields Town Hall of 1910 bears a copper weather vane in the form of a galleon. The town's crest (pre-1974) featured the lifeboat and the associated motto - Always Ready - which was later adopted as the motto of South Tyneside. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. South Tyneside is a Metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear in North East England.

Zeppelin airships raided the Tyne in World War I and the town's seafront amusement park was attacked in 1915. A Zeppelin is a type of Rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century based on designs he had outlined Terminology In some countries airships are also known as dirigibles from the French (fr ''diriger'' to direct plus -ible) meaning "directable" World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All In World War II, South Shields suffered well over 200 air raid alerts and 156 people were killed. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Many houses were damaged, particularly by incendiary bombs and parachute mines. One direct hit on the market place killed more than 40 people who had taken shelter in tunnels below the square. There was a memorial to them in the form of a cobbled Union Flag on the ground of the market square, however, this was removed as part of an overhaul of the town centre in the late 1990s. The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

South Shields lost more seafarers than any other port in Britain during World War II. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including

In 1977 the town was visited by boxer Mohammed Ali, whose wedding was blessed in the local mosque at Laygate. Biography Early life Cassius Clay Jr was born on January 17 1942 The visit has since been the subject of a BBC documentary. Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt in one fashion or another to " Document " reality Ali visited the town after receiving an invitation from a local boys' boxing club. ^[10]

South Shields has undergone significant economic change in the light of de-industrialisation. Service industries, including tourism and retail, play an increasing role in the economic make-up of the town and indeed across the wider area.

Marsden Bay. Much of the South Shields' coastline is undeveloped, due in part to natural erosion

Geography

Sandhaven Beach

South Shields is situated in a peninsula setting, where the River Tyne meets the North Sea. It has six miles of coastline and three miles of river frontage, dominated by the massive, functional, if not beautiful, piers at the mouth of the Tyne. These are best viewed from the Lawe Top, which also houses two replicas of cannon captured from the Russians during the Crimean War, the originals having been melted during World War Two. The Crimean War, also known in Russia as the Eastern War (Восточная война Vostochnaya Vojna) (March 1854–February 1856 was fought World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including

The town slopes gently from the Cleadon Hills down to the river. Cleadon is a Suburban Village in North East England in the county of Tyne and Wear. The Cleadon Hills are made conspicuous by the Victorian water pumping station (opened in 1860 to improve sanitation) and a now derelict windmill which can be seen from many miles away and also out at sea. Culture The Victorian fascination with novelty resulted in a deep interest in the relationship between modernity and cultural continuities A windmill is a machine that is powered by the energy of the wind

The town has extensive beaches including sand dunes as well as dramatic sandstone cliffs with grassy areas above known as The Leas, which cover three miles of this coastline and are a National Trust protected area. The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organization in England, Wales Marsden Bay, with its famous Marsden Rock, is one of the largest seabird colonies in Britain. Marsden Rock is a rock formation in Tyne and Wear, North East England, situated in Marsden, South Shields.

One of the most historic parts of the town is Westoe village, which consists of a quiet street of Georgian and Victorian houses, many being built by Victorian business leaders in the town, including those who owned mines and shipyards. Westoe is a suburb of South Shields, Tyne & Wear, United Kingdom. The arts Especially during the mid-18th century the period was marked by cultural vibrancy with the establishment of the British Museum in 1753 and the contributions This street was the setting for a number of books by the novelist Catherine Cookson. Dame Catherine Ann Cookson DBE ( 27 June 1906 – 11 June 1998) was an English author ^[11] Westoe village was once a separate village about a mile from South Shields but urban sprawl has now consumed it along with the village of Harton slightly further along the same South Shields to Sunderland road. Harton may refer to one of these places in England Harton North Yorkshire Harton Shropshire Harton South Tyneside Sunderland (, or /ˈsʌn(dlən/ is a City in Tyne and Wear, England.

Demography

(1892 - 1915) John Simpson Kirkpatrick. Year 1892 ( MDCCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year John (Jack Simpson Kirkpatrick ( July 6, 1892 &ndash May 19, 1915) was a stretcher bearer with the Australian and New Zealand Lost son of the Gallipoli campaign in WWI,^{[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]} seen with his donkey; Ocean Road, South Shields

Having been a predominantly rural economy with some small-scale shipbuilding, glass making and salt processing along the riverside, the area was populated in the main by migration at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture manufacturing and transportation had a profound effect on the The majority of the people are descendants of those who migrated to the area during the Industrial Revolution from up the Tyne, with others from rural County Durham, Northumberland, Scotland and Ireland who settled there to work in coalmines and shipyards. Northumberland is a county in the North East of England. The non-metropolitan county of Northumberland borders Cumbria to the west Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world

Yemeni community

South Shields has been home to a Yemeni community since the 1890s. The term Yemeni British refers to citizens and non-citizen immigrants in the United Kingdom of Yemeni ancestry The main reason for the Yemeni arrival was the supply of seamen, such as engine room firemen, to British merchant vessels. Similar communities were founded in Hull, Liverpool and Cardiff. Kingston upon Hull ( almost invariably referred Liverpool ( is a City and Metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary Cardiff ( 'kɑːdɪf) is the Capital and the largest city and county in Wales. ^[22] In 1909, the first Arab Seamen's Boarding House opened in the Holborn riverside district of the town. The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding At the time of the First World War there was a shortage of crews due to the demands of the fighting and many Yemenis were recruited to serve on British ships at the port of Aden, then under British protection. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Aden (ˈeɪdən Arabic: عدن) is a city in Yemen, 170 kilometers east of Bab-el-Mandeb. At the end of the war, the Yemeni population of South Shields had swelled to well over 3,000. Shields lost one of the largest proportions of Merchant Navy sailors. Approximately 1 in 4 of these men was of Yemeni background.

Disputes over jobs led to riots - also called the Arab Riots - in 1919. The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding Often incorrectly reported as 'race riots', these were in fact trades union disputes involving equal pay protests championed by Communist union activists. A trade union or labour union is an organization of workers who have banded together to achieve common goals in key areas such as wages hours and working conditions forming Communism is a Socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of an egalitarian, classless, stateless Society based In fact, the Yemeni had already become a successfully integrated into the wider community. In 1930 a further dispute broke out over working practices, which the Yemeni seamen felt to be discriminatory, and led to more rioting. However, over time, attitudes to Yemenis in the town were softened and there was no significant recurrence of this violence. ^[23]

After World War II, the Yemeni population declined, partly due to migrations to other industrial areas such as Birmingham, Liverpool and Sheffield. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Birmingham ( ˈbɜːmɪŋəm Ber -ming-um Liverpool ( is a City and Metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary Sheffield ( is a city and Metropolitan borough in South Yorkshire, England ^[24]. However, the main reason for the reduction in numbers was the end of the shipping industry and the need for sailors as coal burning ships decreased in numbers. Today, the Yemeni population of South Shields numbers around 1,000. ^[25] Many Yemeni sailors married local women and became integrated with the wider community, resulting with a migrant population less distinct than in other mixed communities across the UK. The Yemeni are the first, settled Muslim community in Britain and a successful example of multi-culturalism. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion The term multiculturalism generally refers to a state of racial, cultural and ethnic diversity within the Demographics of a specified

There is a mosque at Laygate, including the Yemeni School, which was visited by American boxer Mohammed Ali in 1977. A "mosque" in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated for Islamic worship although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller privately owned mosque and the larger Biography Early life Cassius Clay Jr was born on January 17 1942 He had his marriage blessed at the Al-Ahzar Mosque, the first purpose-built in the UK. This story is covered in a documentary film, The King of South Shields film website. Throughout April and early May 2008, the BALTIC Arts Centre in Gateshead will be chronicling the Yemeni community of South Shields, including interviews with the last remaining survivors of the first Yemeni generation. The exhibition depicts the Yemeni story as an example of early successful multi-cultural integration in Britain, as well as showcasing the high-profile 1977 visit by Mohammed Ali.

Economy

The town was once famous for its shipyards, coalmines, salt pans and glassmaking. The last shipbuilder (Readhead's) closed in 1984 and the last pit (Westoe Colliery) in 1991. Westoe is a suburb of South Shields, Tyne & Wear, United Kingdom. Today, the town relies largely on service industries, while many residents commute to work in Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside and Sunderland. Newcastle upon Tyne ( (often shortened to Newcastle) is a city and Metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, England Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England. It lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne, opposite Newcastle upon Tyne. North Tyneside is a Metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear in the North East of England. Sunderland (, or /ˈsʌn(dlən/ is a City in Tyne and Wear, England.

Despite a skilled local workforce, for many years South Tyneside had the highest unemployment rate in mainland Britain, but between December 2002 and June 2004 unemployment fell by 24%, so the borough climbed up to 21st in the highest unemployment table. South Tyneside is a Metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear in North East England. December 2002: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - June 2004: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September

The Port of Tyne is one of the UK's most important and is further developing its freight and passenger activities. Manufacturing and ship repair/engineering are other significant sectors.

There is continuing extensive work to the town centre of South Shields to bring it back to its former glory, part-financed by grants from central government and the European Regional Development Fund. There is increasing private sector interest in the town and wider area.

Landmarks and tourism

Key
	Abbey/Priory/Cathedral
	Accessible open space
	Amusement/Theme Park
	Castle
	Country Park
	English Heritage
	Forestry Commission
	Heritage railway
	Historic House
	Museums (free/not free)
	National Trust
	Zoo

As well as being the oldest and largest town in South Tyneside, South Shields is also one of the region's most popular seaside resorts, a status it has built up by marketing itself as Catherine Cookson Country. Abbeys and priories in England lists Abbeys priories, friaries and other Monastic religious houses in England. This is a list of amusement parks which are or were based in the UK This page lists Castles in England. Bedfordshire Berkshire Bristol A country park is an area designated for people to visit and enjoy recreation in a countryside environment English Heritage is a Non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom government ( Department for Culture Media and Sport) with a broad remit of The Forestry Commission (established in 1919 is a Non-ministerial government department responsible for Forestry in Great Britain. A heritage railway ( United Kingdom) preserved railway ( United Kingdom) or tourist railroad ( United States and Canada) is a Historic houses in England is a link page for any Stately home, Country house or other Historic house in England. A museum is a "permanent institution in the service of society and of its development open to the public which acquires conserves researches communicates and exhibits the The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organization in England, Wales The following is a partial list of zoological gardens ( Zoos: Africa Algeria Algiers Zoo Oran Zoo Dame Catherine Ann Cookson DBE ( 27 June 1906 – 11 June 1998) was an English author Thousands of people come to see where the famous author was born and brought up before visiting the town centre and coastal attractions. The local council and its partners intend to make further improvements and develop new additions to the seafront. ^[26]

The town has much to offer both locals and visitors alike:

• the reconstructed Roman Fort and excavations at Arbeia, which form part of the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site
• the town's museum & art gallery, including a permanent exhibition dedicated to the life and times of Catherine Cookson
• the Customs House theatre and arts venue and the historic Mill Dam riverside
• traditional, continental and farmers' markets and high street shopping
• seafront complete with promenade, parks, fairground and amusement arcades, crazy golf, skate complex, quasar laser, miniature steam railway and boating lake and live entertainment
• coastal scenery, beaches and dunes at Littlehaven, Sandhaven and Marsden Bay
• the National Trust-owned Souter Lighthouse and The Leas cliff tops
• Temple Park Leisure Centre, and
• an extensive network of cycle paths and trails

There is a good choice of restaurants, cafes, public houses and nightlife as well as hotels, guest houses and caravan parks. Arbeia is the remains of a large Roman fort in South Shields, Tyne & Wear, England which has been partially reconstructed Littlehaven is a neighbourhood of Horsham, in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England. Sandhaven is a small Fishing village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland that lies between Rosehearty and Fraserburgh. South Shields plays host to an annual free summer festival and each autumn the town is the seaside finish to the world-famous Great North Run. The BUPA Great North Run is the world's most popular Half marathon Road running event

The Groyne sits atop a short pier built to protect the Harbour Beach

Education

South Shields is home to South Tyneside College, one of the two leading maritime training centres in the UK, with facilities including a marine safety training centre and a simulated ship's bridge for the training of deck officers. South Tyneside College is a large Further education college in South Tyneside in the United Kingdom, with its main sites in the towns of South The college is also home to the only planetarium in the region, as well as an observatory, making it a popular visitor attraction for local schools and visitors in general. A planetarium is a Theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about Astronomy and the night sky or for training in Celestial navigation An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial and/or celestial events The college provides a wide range of other vocational and training courses.

Local schooling is generally regarded as being very good, which is reflected in continuing improvements to school results and independent inspections.

In 2007, Brinkburn Comprehensive and King George V Comprehensive merged forming South Shields Community School; the school will be built at a cost of £19million; the school will be built on the King George V School site. Brinkburn is a parish in the district of Alnwick in Northumberland, England. The new school buildings could be open in 2009. ^[27][28]

Regional identity

The 1998 sculpture Spirit of South Shields, by Irene Brown, embodies the town's maritime heritage. It overlooks the mouth of the Tyne.

Residents of South Shields identify as "Geordie" (with a historical example found in Dickens, Jnr, Charles (1872). Geordie (ˈdʒɔrdi is a regional nickname for a person from the Tyneside region of England, or the name of the Dialect of English All Year Round, new ser. :v. 8. Charles Dickens, 487.  ““the engineer, a brawny Geordie from South Shields, imbued with a thoroughly English contempt for everything foreign;”” ^[29]), a term commonly associated with all residents of Tyneside. Tyneside is a Conurbation in northern England, which is home to over 80% of the Metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear. ^[30]

It is thought that the term Geordie has its origins in the coal mining industry of the North East of England^[31]. Geordie (ˈdʒɔrdi is a regional nickname for a person from the Tyneside region of England, or the name of the Dialect of English It was latterly applied to the connected ship building industry, which came to employ descendants of earlier coalminers. The coalmining industry was once the major employer of working men in the [[North East of England, with the River Tyne once being the largest coal trading shipping hub in the country^[32] in the world attracting migrant workers from near and far; and then with the Tyne along with the River Clyde being a major hub for shipbuilding. The River Tyne is a River in England. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers the North Tyne and the South Tyne. The River Clyde ( Gaelic: Abhainn Chluaidh, avɪɲˈxɫ̪uəj is a major River in Scotland. ^{[33][34][35][36][37][38]}

Geordie was the most common name given to keelmen and pitmen in the early 19th century. The Keelmen of Tyne and Wear were a group of men who worked on the keels large boats that carried the coal from the banks of both rivers to the waiting collier ships Geordie (or "Geordy") was noted in ballads and songs as early as 1793.

Wales^[39]observes that "Geordy" and "Geordie" was a common name given to pitmen in ballads and songs of the region, noting that one such turns up as early as 1793. It occurs in the titles of two songs by songwriter Joe Wilson (1841–1875): Geordy, Haud the Bairn and Keep your Feet Still, Geordie. Citing such examples as the song Geordy Black written by Rowland Harrison of Gateshead, she contends that, as a consequence of popular culture, the miner and the keelman had become icons of the region in the 19th century, and "Geordie" was a label that "affectionately and proudly reflected this", replacing the earlier ballad emblem, the figure of Bob Crankie.

A less commonly used colloquial term, specifically for people from South Shields, is Sandancer (sometimes written as Sand-Dancer or Sanddancer). A colloquialism is an expression not used in formal speech, writing or Paralinguistics. Sandancer (or Sanddancer) is a Colloquialism used to describe those who come from the town of South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England The term is widely presumed to originate from the town's beach and its large Yemeni population. The Sand-dance was a popular music-hall act that parodied Egyptian and Arab culture as it was understood in Britain at the time. Wilson Keppel and Betty were a popular British Music hall act in the middle decades of the 20th century who capitalised on the trend for Egyptian imagery This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding

People

Famous residents - past and present

A full list of famous residents of South Shields can be found here. They include Ridley Scott, William Wouldhave, creator of the lifeboat, Eric Idle, Sir Frank Williams, Phil Brown (manager of Hull City AFC), Elinor Brent-Dyer,Catherine Cookson and Jack Brymer. Sir Ridley Scott (born November 30 1937 in South Shields, Tyne and Wear) is a British Academy Award Nominated and Golden Globe Emmy Award and BAFTA Award winning William Wouldhave (1751–1821 is a rival of Lionel Lukin for the title of inventor of the lifeboat. Eric Idle (born 29 March 1943 is an English Comedian, Actor, Author, Singer and Composer of comedic songs Sir Francis Owen Garbatt Williams CBE (born April 16 1942 is founder and manager of the WilliamsF1 Formula One racing team Philip "Phil" Brown (born 30 May, 1959 in South Shields, England) is an English former footballer, and the current Hull City Association Football Club are an English football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire. Elinor M Brent-Dyer (1894 &ndash 1969 was a children’s author who wrote over 100 books during her lifetime the most famous being the Chalet School series Dame Catherine Ann Cookson DBE ( 27 June 1906 – 11 June 1998) was an English author John (Jack Alexander Brymer ( 27 January, 1915 – 15 September, 2003) born in South Shields, was a British Clarinetist

Football

South Shields FC is the town's main football team. South Shields FC are a football club based in South Shields, England. Originally formed during the first decade of the 20th century, the team played in the Football League during the 1920s, when the world record transfer was held by the team. The Football League, also known as the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons is a league competition featuring professional football clubs The 1920s is sometimes referred to as the " Jazz Age " or the " Roaring Twenties " when speaking about the United States and Canada In 1922, Warney Cresswell moved from South Shields to Sunderland AFC for a then-world record fee of £5,500. Warneford Cresswell ( 5 November, 1897 &ndash 20 October 1973 known as Warney, was an English professional footballer Sunderland Association Football Club is a professional Association football team based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, which plays in The record was not broken again for three years. Later in the 1920s, the team folded and moved to Gateshead. Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England. It lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne, opposite Newcastle upon Tyne.

The team reformed and played in various leagues until it became a founding members of what was to become the Unibond League. History The Northern Premier League (NPL was founded in 1968, as the northern equivalent of the Southern League, decades after the other two leagues at what In 1974 the Progressive councillor Jim Leighton sold Simonside Hall and again moved the side to Gateshead.

A new side was formed from the ashes and competed successfully in the Northern Alliance and Wearside League before finally gaining promotion to the Northern League. Member teams 2008-09 season Premier Division Alnwick Town | Ashington Colliers | Blyth Town | Carlisle City | Cramlington Town | Gillford Park | Harraby Catholic Member clubs for 2008-09 season Annfield Plain | Ashbrooke Belford House | Boldon Community Association | Cleator Moor Celtic | Coxhoe Athletic | Easington Colliery | East History The Northern League ran as one of two major amateur competitions (with the Isthmian League) in tandem with the professional Football League Southern League After gaining promotion to the first division in their first season, the club was relegated in 2000. However, in 2008 the team finally won promotion back into the Northern League's first division and is expected to progress further.

Rugby

South Shields is the home of two rugby clubs; The established Westoe RFC and South Tyneside College RUFC

South Tyneside College RUFC^[40] have been playing at Grosvernor Road since they were formed. Westoe is a suburb of South Shields, Tyne & Wear, United Kingdom. South Tyneside College is a large Further education college in South Tyneside in the United Kingdom, with its main sites in the towns of South South Tyneside College is a large Further education college in South Tyneside in the United Kingdom, with its main sites in the towns of South

They are currently playing in Durham/N'thm'land 3 and have just recently won the Durham County Junior Vase Trophy for the 2nd year running. There 2nd string play in the friendly league. Running two teams (1st and 2nd team), the STC Massive are a great social rugby club who welcome all types of players to the club.

Westoe RFC was established on the same ground in Wood Terrace since 1875. Westoe is a suburb of South Shields, Tyne & Wear, United Kingdom. In 1875 a young South Shields man called Charlie Green and a bunch of his friends, all aged between 16 and 19, accepted a challenge to play Tynemouth, a prominent local rugby club at that time, and beat them. In high spirits, they discussed forming a rugby club of their own as they returned home on the ferry crossing the River Tyne. The outcome was a meeting at Green’s home in Westoe, then a village a mile from the town then clustered along the bank of the river, but now part of the urban sprawl - and Westoe Rugby Club was formed that night. Westoe is a suburb of South Shields, Tyne & Wear, United Kingdom.

The Westoe fourth team made up of club veterans like Derek Kirton and David Arundel has won the Durham 4th team cup for an unprecedented 7th time in a row this season, making them the most decorated team in the cups history.

The club is currently in North Division 1. They recently had a big Powergen Intermediate Cup run and got to the Twickenham final in 2005, and on the run despite being the underdogs they beat mighty Staines in the semi-final, taking many travelling fans;^[41] but unfortunately in the final they were beaten 21-10 by Morley RFC from Yorkshire. Twickenham is a suburb in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, in south west London. Staines is a Thames -side town in the Spelthorne borough of Surrey and part of the London Commuter Belt of South East England, Morley Rugby Union Football Club is a Rugby union club based in Morley, Leeds, West Yorkshire. Yorkshire is a historic county of Northern England and the largest in Great Britain.

Politics

South Shields is a safe Labour Party Parliamentary seat, currently held by cabinet minister David Miliband, who is currently Foreign Secretary. South Shields is a Borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the David Wright Miliband The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, commonly referred to as the Foreign Secretary, is a member of the United Kingdom Government heading the He is seen by some as a prospective future leader of the Labour Party. ^[42]

The local authority (South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council) is also controlled by Labour. South Tyneside is a Metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear in North East England.

The town also has a local independent political party, the Progressive Party. This broadly centre-right party was formed in the 1950s to address hostility towards the Conservative Party. The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive The Progressives have no representation beyond South Shields. Progressivism is a term that refers to a broad school of international social and political philosophies. Having controlled the old County Borough of South Shields council until 1974, they still hold several seats on the borough council and have experienced a resurgence in recent years, sitting in alliance with independent members of the council[1]. County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (excluding Scotland) to refer to a Borough or a City

Public transport

King Street is South Shields' main shopping street, which was pedestrianised in the 1980s. The Metro station can be seen above the street.

The Tyne and Wear Metro is a light rail system introduced in the 1980s, which replaced heavy rail services. The Tyne and Wear Metro is a metro system serving stations in Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, South Tyneside North Tyneside and Sunderland, The network connects South Shields to the rest of South Tyneside as well as neighbouring Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, North Tyneside and Newcastle Airport. Newcastle Airport is located in Newcastle upon Tyne, about 6 Miles (11 km) north-west of the city centre The platform at South Shields Metro Station is situated directly above King Street - the main shopping street in the town - and is adjacent to Keppel Street bus station. South Shields Metro station is the main Tyne and Wear Metro station for South Shields, England When the Metro service was introduced, the railway line via the former High Shields Railway Station at Laygate was re-routed eastwards to the then-new Chichester Metro-bus interchange. Chichester (ˈtʃaɪtʃɛstə is an area of South Shields in the administrative area of Tyne and Wear, North East England. The former South Shields Railway Station was also closed but the buildings survived as an entrance to the Metro station until demolished in 1998. There are further Metro stations at Tyne Dock and Brockley Whins, while a new Metro station at Simonside has recently opened. Brockley Whins Metro station is on the Tyne and Wear Metro Green Line Simonside Metro station is the name of a Tyne and Wear Metro station in South Tyneside, England, which opened on 17 March 2008 Plans to re-open the former West Harton/Westoe mineral lines between Tyne Dock and Brockley Whins/East Boldon would allow for a direct Metro service between South Shields and Sunderland.

There is a frequent pedestrian ferry service to North Shields on the opposite bank of the Tyne. The Shields Ferry operates across the River Tyne between North Shields and South Shields. North Shields (or locally just Shields) is a town on the north bank of the River Tyne, in the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside, in North The River Tyne is a River in England. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers the North Tyne and the South Tyne. The ferry service carries tens of thousands of commuters and pleasure trippers each year. There has been a cross-river ferry service between the two towns since 1377.

Bus routes are operated by Stagecoach North East and Go North East and are planned to interchange with the Metro system. Stagecoach North East is a major operator of Bus services in North East England. Go North East was originally the founding company of the Go-Ahead Group. Buses operate direct to Washington, Durham City and the MetroCentre, as well as providing local services across South Tyneside and to Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland. Washington ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. MetroCentre is the second most visited shopping centre in the UK attracting 24 million visitor a year In terms of retail area it's regarded as the largest Mall in the There is also a direct National Express coach link to London via towns and cities in the North East, Yorkshire and East Midlands. National Express Group plc ( is a UK -based Transport group with headquarters in London that operates Bus, coach, rail London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Yorkshire is a historic county of Northern England and the largest in Great Britain. The East Midlands is one of the Regions of England and consists of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands.

South Shields is situated close to the A19/Tyne Tunnel at Jarrow while the A194(M) motorway leads direct to South Tyneside from the A1(T) trunk road/A1(M) motorway.

The town also benefits from an extensive network of strategic and local footpaths and cycleways.

See also

• South Shields (UK Parliament constituency)
• North Shields

References

External links

• SouthTyneside.info - Local Council website
• [2] - Arbeia information website
• [3] St. Hilda's Parish website
• South Shields Sanddancers - Local Information website
• Curly's Corner Shop, the blog! Local commentary
• Photos of South Shields
• South Shields Daily Photo A South Shields or North of England picture every day, comments invited
• South Shields: The Sites, The People, The Place - Tourist Information Website