Visit North Shields Places

Welcome to Visit North Shields Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in North Shields

  

North Shields Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about North Shields

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North Shields history

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Earliest records

North Shields is first recorded in 1225, when the Prior of Tynemouth, Germanus, decided to create a fishing port to provide fish for the Priory which was situated on the headland at the mouth of the River Tyne. The burgesses of Newcastle upon Tyne were determined to preserve custom rights that they had enjoyed up till then. They successfully petitioned the king in 1290 and managed to suspend trade from North Shields.

Geographic development

The town was originated on a narrow strip of land alongside the river (around the present-day Clive Street) because of the steep bank which hemmed it in. Prosperous businessmen and shipowners occupied the new town whereas working people remained in the lower part of town. The low, riverside part of the town was linked to the newer, higher part by a series of stairs.

Landmarks

Clifford’s Fort, located on the Fish Quay, was built in the 17th century as a coastal defence against the Dutch. The site of the fort was used to build new fish processing facilities and very little now remains of the original fort. The “Wooden Dolly” statue was used by seafarers as a source of good-luck charms, by cutting pieces of wood from her to be taken with them on voyages.

Industry

In 1887, North Shields was listed as a marine engine, chain cable and anchor manufacturer, shipbuilding yards, roperies, salt-works, and an earthenware and stained glass manufacturer. Smith’s Dock Company was another major employer for many years, eventually closing in 1987.

Culture

In 2009, seating inspired by Plasticine was installed on Bedford Street in the town centre. The seats proved unpopular as their shape prevented rainwater draining off. They were replaced by more traditional metal benches and moved to the Royal Quays Marina in 2011.

Regeneration

In 1992 the Government granted £37.5 million over five years to regenerate an area of the town. An extensive regeneration programme costing £16 million saw the revitalisation of the redundant Albert Edward docks. The Wet N Wild indoor water park, an outlet shopping centre, a bowling alley, a soccer dome and a marina form the centrepiece to the Royal Quays development.

North Shields culture & places

Art

A number of pieces were installed as part of the Royal Quays development. They include works by Richard Broderick, Graham Robinson, Linda France, Alec Peever, Gilly Rogers, Mark di Suvero, Perminder Kaur and Andy Plant.

In film

Dream On (1991) was produced by Amber Films and filmed on location in Meadow Well. Original release was around the time of the Meadow Well riots.

On television

The BBC series When the Boat Comes In was essentially set in North Shields. Spender, which starred Jimmy Nail, and Vera, with Brenda Blethyn, were also filmed there.

In songs

Swedish troubadour Evert Taube wrote the song in North Shields in 1909. Mary Strand is the proprietress of the cigar shop Tiger Brand on Dock Street. The song is based on Taube’s own experience when he ran away from the steamship Australic.

Twin town

In 2017, the town was twinned with Merthyr Tydfil, in Wales, as part of the Carnegie Twin Towns Project. The project aimed to pair towns that had similar characteristics, and socio-economic challenges, in order to consider how they might make positive changes.

North Shields economy & business

Business

Mercantile Building Society, established in the town, merged with Leeds Building Society in 2006. Over 100 businesses in North Shields are members of The North Shields Chamber of Trade and Commerce.

North Shields geography / climate

North Shields is bounded to the north by Whitley Bay and to the south by the River Tyne. It is part of the North Tyneside conurbation. Cullercoats and the Marden Estate are considered suburbs of North Shields.

Meadow Well

A large council estate, Meadow Well, was constructed in the 1930s to house residents displaced by the clearance of the Dockwray Square and Low Town slum areas. Its present name is derived from a well situated in a meadow upon which the estate was built.

You can visit North Shields places with Walkfo North Shields to hear history at North Shields’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo North Shields has 61 places to visit in our interactive North Shields map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout North Shields, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at North Shields places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to North Shields & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 61 audio facts unique to North Shields places in an interactive North Shields map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit North Shields Places Map
61 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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North Shields historic spots	North Shields tourist destinations	North Shields plaques	North Shields geographic features
Walkfo North Shields tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in North Shields

  

Best North Shields places to visit

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North Shields has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied North Shields’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo North Shields’s information audio spots:

North Shields North Shields is a coastal town on the north bank of the River Tyne. Historically part of Northumberland, it now falls within the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside. The town’s name derives from Middle English schele meaning “temporary sheds or huts used by fishermen”

Silverlink Shopping Park The Silverlink Shopping Park is a retail park in North Tyneside, England containing more than 20 stores with retail accomodation of 208,000 square feet (19,300 m) It was developed by the Crown Estate, has 927 car parking spaces, and has an annual footfall of 7.2 million.

Visit North Shields plaques