The History of North Shields
From a medieval fishing settlement founded in 1225 to a regenerated riverside town, 800 years of history, heritage, and the people who shaped this place on the north bank of the Tyne.
800 Years at a Glance
The key moments that shaped North Shields from a medieval fishing settlement into a regenerated riverside town.
A Fishing Settlement is Founded
Prior Germanus of Tynemouth Priory established a fishing settlement on the north bank of the Tyne to supply the priory with fresh fish. The name comes from the Middle English 'shiels', the temporary huts and shielings of fishermen along the riverbank.
Suppressed by Newcastle
Newcastle's burgesses resented the rival port at the mouth of the Tyne. Edward I imposed trade restrictions that crippled North Shields as a port, and the settlement stagnated for around a century.
The High and Low Lights
A grant from Henry VIII to the Guild of the Blessed Trinity established leading lights on the riverbank. Lined up from the river, the two lights guided ships safely over the bar. Run by Trinity House of Newcastle, the surviving High and Low Lights date from 1727, with a later rebuild around 1808 to 1810.
Clifford's Fort
Clifford's Fort was built at the mouth of the Tyne as a coastal artillery fort during the Anglo-Dutch Wars. It survives today as a scheduled monument on the Fish Quay.
Roperies and the Riverside Industries
Rope-making became a major bankside industry, with long ropewalks producing cordage for ships. The trade is remembered in the Ropery Banks area name. Shipbuilding yards and coal staithes lined the Tyne bank alongside the fishing trade.
The Georgian New Town
As the cramped riverside 'Low Town' grew, developer John Wright's plan created a planned Georgian new town on the plateau above. Howard Street was laid out as a grand street leading to Northumberland Square, with the earlier Dockwray Square nearby. Long flights of stairs and 'banks' linked the riverside to the upper town.
The Old Low Light
As the channel shifted and the lights were rebuilt, the Old Low Light was remodelled as Trinity almshouses in 1830. Today it is the Old Low Light Heritage Centre on the Fish Quay, telling the story of the river and its people.
The Fishing Industry Contracts
The fishing industry, long the heart of the town, contracted badly during the 1980s. The decline reshaped the Fish Quay and the working riverside that had defined North Shields for centuries.
A Regenerated Riverside
Recent decades have seen the Fish Quay regenerated into a hub for dining and leisure while keeping its working roots. In 2025 the town marked the 800th anniversary of fishing in North Shields.
Heritage Articles
In-depth stories about the people, buildings, and events that shaped North Shields.
North Shields on Screen: Film and TV Locations
From DCI Vera's cup of tea on the Fish Quay to the streets that shaped Sam Fender, North Shields has quietly become one of the North East's most filmed corners. A guide to the town on screen.
Georgian North Shields: A Walk Up the Banks
Above the Fish Quay lies a hidden Georgian town of elegant squares and grand streets. Our guide to Georgian North Shields, from the riverside banks to Howard Street and Northumberland Square.
A North Shields Maritime Heritage Trail
North Shields grew up around fishing, the river and its lighthouses. Our walking trail through the town's maritime heritage, from Clifford's Fort and the High and Low Lights to the Georgian squares up the bank.