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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: schrader on Wednesday 21 December 22 23:04 GMT (UK)
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I have certificates that refer to all these places and can see from google they are close to each other.
Can anyone tell me what sort of area it was around 1820 - 1860? ie slum and overcrowded.
He was a master mariner, or so the cert say. Or was it just handy for these workers?
I would just like some basic knowledge of this area.
Wife & family emigrated to Australia in 1858. Family name Richardson.
Thank you & Merry Christmas
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You might find these articles of interest...
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/gallery/north-shields-notorious-old-low-20755674
http://northshieldsnsp.co.uk/about/north-shields-the-place/
I have many, many relatives who lived in those streets (including some Master Mariners), often in houses of multiple occupation. Life must have been very tough indeed, even for the gainfully employed!
The old housing was cleared away long ago.
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Thank you very much for the info.
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This may also be of interest.
It is a document produced by the local council about two conservation areas in North Shields - relevant to your area of enquiry. Hope the link works OK.
https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/sites/default/files/web-page-related-files/Fish%20Quay%20and%20New%20Quay%20Character%20Appraisal_0.pdf
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You can often get an idea what sort of area a family lived by looking at them and neighbours in the census, eg how many people lived in the one dwelling and the occupations of the residents and neighbours. Locate the streets on an old map - some show quite a lot of detail so you can get an idea of size of house, whether overcrowding is likely etc.
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The world's greatest comedian of all time (not that I'm biased!), Stan Laurel, lived in North Shields when he was a young boy. Years later he often wrote letters to friends, referring to his life there.
He lived in Dockwray Square for a while, in the upper part of town,and he once wrote that he spent a lot of time around the fish quay area, which could be reached by steep stairs such as LightHouse Stairs.
The stairs are said to have inspired that fantastic piano removal scene in Laurel and Hardy's The Music Box. I laugh just thinking about it!
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/jul/31/filmnews.film
https://www.twsitelines.info/SMR/13361
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Another link with a couple of photos of some of the 'stairs'...
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/photos-show-old-stairs-step-1394117
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From the 1861 census for Ropery Stairs:
15 households
7 heads born in Ireland
4 heads born in North Shields
plus 1 each from Essex, London, Lancashire, Hull,
total people 72
total Irish 25 (35%)
occupations of head of household include:
labourer 5, of which 4 Irish
waterman/mariner/seaman 6, of which 1 Irish
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Here is a side-by-side map showing Dockray Square with Lighthouse Stairs at the bottom right. The modern map reveals that Dockray Square now contains Laurel Park.
https://tinyurl.com/yznsey5u (https://tinyurl.com/yznsey5u)
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Shields Daily News - Monday 17 December 1866
NUISANCES IN NORTH SHIELDS.
DEAR SIR,—Allow me to say a little on the above subject. I wish the Corporation of North Shields would look after the condition of Linskill's Ropery-stairs, Tyne-street. Descending the stairs, your foot slips and away you go—the cause of this is rotten eggs, orange and apple peel. You have to blow your nose constantly, whether going up or down, for the smell is so awful. This is the cause of so many diseases in this town. Thanking you for the space I have occupied, and hoping that this will be looked into,
I remain, yours truly,
A YOUTH ON THE ROPERY STAIRS.
North Shields. Dec. 17, 1866
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Excellent map Alan. :) I’m sure that the information found by you and Sandra will be a great help.
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A very detailed book on the development of North Shields is 'Shiels to Shields: The Life Story of a North Tyneside Town' by Danny Lawrence, published in 2016.
Well worth a read, for anyone interested.
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I have an excellent modern paper back book called Stepping back in Time,North Shields by Jack Shotton
watch out for a copy coming up for sale its very good ,
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Also the Late Alan Beautyman maps can be found online, they are also available in North Shields Library ,they are part of a set showing where all the old pubs were ,they clearly show Bland square and the steps
BellSt/Tyne Street 1858
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Another good site you may enjoy is the Beamish peoples collection showing photo's of the Fish Quay and banks, obviously they aren't that old but do give you an idea of how overcrowded and run down the area wa
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The 1st photo is an 1887 view of the area.
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/north-shields-fish-quay.html?blackwhite=1&sortBY=relevant
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https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/photos-show-old-stairs-step-1394117
https://www.amazon.co.uk/North-Shields-Stepping-Back-Time/dp/1906721378/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1672683431&refinements=p_27%3AJack+Shotton&s=books&sr=1-1
I would recommend Jack Shotton's books if you are interested in the stairs and the old low town area of North Shields.
https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/category/1017/local-studies-and-information
North Shields local studies have a good photo collection too (over 50,000 indexed photos!) if you might be interested in contacting them.