In 1768 , South Shields Market place was laid out and the lovely Town Hall was built . The picture on the right shows what it must have looked like. Underneath the Town Hall was a favourite gathering place for sailors in the 18th & 19th century looking for a ship. A favourite place also for my Mother , who during the 20th century who used to sit there on the far seat on Market day`s and watch the World go by .

The Market Place on a cold winters day in the 1950,s		The Old Town Hall just prior to Xmas 2002, unfortunatley surrounded by monstrous 1970,s architecture .

The Market Place , looking East, after the raid by German bombers on the 2nd October 1941 . The entrance to King St. is on the right . - compiled by Michael Lawrenson

These two views are of a busy Market Day in June 2003

St. Hilda`s Church is situated on the South side of the Market place . In about 650 AD the church was founded by St Aidan and put in charge of Princess Hild , a Northumbrian princess . It is thought the original church was destroyed by the Vikings in one of their raids on the coast . It is one of the oldest religious sites in Britain .

This is the junction of King St (left) and Mile End Rd (facing) , the "Piccadilly " of South Shields as it was in 1903 , with a trolley bus service and as it is today . They show the original Scotia pub on the corner and its present day replacement .

This is King St looking towards the Old Town Hall with a Metro train on the bridge and Fowler St. looking towards the New Town Hall with Kepple St to the right .Riddicks shoe shop is on the corner which has been there for "years" .

Kepple St looking East towards the junction with Fowler St. , in the 1950,s

Ocean Rd and the old Marine School with the Observatory on the top in 1924.	Mr & Mrs Flagg and daughter Amy ( 1890s) . Mr Flagg was the 1st Superintendent of the Marine School in 1896 and Amy went on to be the expert on So. Shields history and taking many pictures that have been used on this site .

These are two views of the same Market corner , as it was in 1938 and as it is today which I think is horrible . On the old picture notice the cobbles (road surface ) and tram lines and the horse trough in the centre .

Another view of the same corner of the Market Place during its demolition in the 1960,s . Courtesy of So Shields Gazette .

On the left is a picture taken in 1938 looking south down Mile End Rd towards the junction with King St. . On the right is how it is today . Every thing has changed except for the white building in the distance , which is currently a Furniture store .

Above is the old Railway Station around 1938 . I remember this station vividly in the 1960`s as I used it every day going to and from work . It was a beautiful old Victorian station built in 1879 by the London and North East Railway (L.N.E.R). It was demolished in 1998 and on its site some small business units were built (left picture) . The work of morons .